hometown celebrations

The 24th of July, Pioneer Day, Statehood Day, whatever you want to call it, it is a big celebration for the town of Redmond. There's just nothing like small town celebrations. We enjoyed the dinner, chatting with old friends, the fireworks, the parade, games at the park, the Road Rally, and the Pioneer Program at the Cemetery. The boys loved the games at the park. The ring toss, the fish pond, bounce house, and a ride in a real fire engine were all awesome but the one that I couldn't pull them away from was the dunk tank. They are obsessed with dunk tanks. They play dunk tank in our swimming pool at home. One with throw some thing and if they make it in the goal then the other dives under water(like he was dunked). They're so funny. I'm just glad the kids running the dunk tank were willing to let them push the target and dunk them again and again after their many failed attempts to throw the ball hard enough. The Road Rally was especially fun because we did it with Jason, Becky, and Christy. Becky and Christy had never done it before so it's always fun to have new comers. It was a pretty confusing one but we ended up getting all the twisted instructions smoothed out enough after many debates and we took 1st place for the $50 cash prize! Wahoo us! The Pioneer Program was neat. Granny and Grandpa had to dress up for it and help guide the groups through the tour. They had 6 people setting at different gravesides and those people pretended to be those who were buried there. They told stories of themselves and taught everyone what it was like for the settlers of Redmond. I really enjoy history when it comes alive like that-- not so much when I have to read it from a book.