Fourth of July Part 2

The Ping Pong Ball Drop

Whenever I mention this to anyone they say, "What?"

In Inlet's, Fern Park, there is an annual 4th of July tradition of having a sea plane fly over the park and drop hundreds of colored ping pong balls.

There are 3 drops for 3 different age groups.

The kids then run out into the field and are allowed to get 3 balls a piece.

They then turn in the balls, and depending on the color, get prizes.

Besides fireworks this is my favorite event of the day!

Watching and listening to the kids wait for the plane. 

Then hearing them scream with excitement as it approaches. 

To look into the crowd and see everybody with huge smiles on their faces, (parents included).

Watching the kids run onto the field with high hopes of getting the elusive "golden ball."

It is so unique, so cute, and so much fun!

Discussing their strategy.

Beth lucks out this final year of being in the 4 and under group. She gets Brian to go out there with her. He gives her even a better advantage of putting her on his shoulders. 

Next year she is on her own, competing with Sam!

Their loot.

Sam's big prize this year was his 'Adirondack Kid's' book.

I  just want to give a big shout out to the person who thought these whistle lips would be a good idea to put into the kid's prize bags.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

The hellions and their prizes.

The whistle lips person must have also thought Mountain Dew was appropriate too.

Oh that's right... it's a holiday.... no rules.

Making our way out of Fern Park.

Beth won a gift certificate for a free ice cream at Northern Lights.

(I can't go to this place and not think of my summers with Jenny.

In fact it is impossible for me to be in Inlet and not think of her.)

Up next- Big Moose.

Happy Fourth of July.... Part 1

Brian and I decided to take all the kids to the laundrymat.

Well, let me clarify.

I decided to get all the kids out of the house so that Kristin could take a breath for a couple of hours or so. (JJ hadn't slept much the night before.)

First stop was the laundromat. 

The washer wasn't hooked up yet at the house and with lots of dirty clothes from the previous day... the laundry became first priority.

But taking 4 wild animals, oh- I mean kids to an already crowed laundromat didn't turn out to be the wisest idea. So we put the load in and headed across the street to

 The Eagle Bay Donut Shop.

The best donuts on the entire planet.

I mean what else is there to do than to give wild children more sugar?

When it's a holiday all the rules get thrown out the window!

I know 4 little hellions that would agree.

Beth, being a much better mood that morning, decided to be "funny".

She was also doing a fine job of being head cheerleader of chaos and craziness.

It confirmed our suspicions of her having a devote following.

Although we still have not determined who the actual leader of their cultish group of chaos and anarchy really is. But these two are the top contenders.

Yes, they look sweet and innocent....

but don't be fooled...

that's their deadliest weapon with in their arsenal. 

Their goal- world domination.

Or better yet... parental domination.

The leaders won't be satisfied until their respective parents are in the fetal position, rocking back and forth in a corner, drooling, and have a look of fear and panic in their eyes whenever they hear the group's code phrase,

 " We're hungry, can we have snack?"

Up next...

the Ping Pong Ball Drop!

Rainy, Cold, and Yummy!

4th of July weekend around here is hit or miss when it comes to the weather.

Last year was sunny, hot, and beautiful.

This year was cold and rainy which, when you add the children pictured below,

 then equates to messy, dirty, and epidemic proportions of cabin fever.

What do you do when everyone's spirits need a little lifting?

S'mores!

While the kids hunted in the woods for suitable roasting sticks, Brian and Joe set up the canopy tent. Fortunately they were able to get a campfire started in between the sprinkling rain and drizzle. 

Megan savoring every bite!

JJ

aka; fang, viper

McKenna's s'more invention. Roasting a marshmallow with a piece of chocolate inside.

Sam and his marshmallow mess.

Everyone happy, having lots of fun and smiles....

that is until.....

(cue the dark, foreboding music)

Da da dum

Uh oh!

What do we have here?

Beth.... upset about something? 

No. It can't be. Not our Beth!

I can't even remember what it was about.

But something in my memory thinks it had something to do with the roasting sticks. 

Maybe hers was about 1/2 inch shorter than everyone else's?

Kristin, do you recall?

The parting shot.

She makes sure everyone sees her and tries to lay the guilt on pretty thick.

What do we do?

Nothing, it's just back to the business of s'more making!

Even JJ helps out.

(Note- the only one to play into Beth's drama was sweet Megan.)

Resourceful and creative Sam came up with the idea of setting his marshmallow on fire and heading back into the woods, using it as a torch.

It was like our very own "survivor" episode.

(Beth being the first one voted off the island! Mu haha)

Even caught Joe with one.

FYI.

Do not put Brian in charge of young babies.

He has some controversial ideas regarding teething and the use of certain pacifiers.

;)

Oh- there you go.

You redeemed yourself.

:)

Beginning of the holiday weekend.

Every year we head North to the Adirondack Mountains for the 4th of July holiday.

We stay and celebrate with our great friends, the Johnstons. 

Before we made it to their mountain house we stopped in Old Forge and had dinner at Slicker's.

We then made our way to the dock and fed the ducks.

Being in the mountains always brings out the simple pleasures.

Is he protecting her or getting ready to push her in?

You decide.

:)