The festivities started early with our small town parade. I stuffed the jalopy with children and drove the back roads to my mom & dad’s to pick up Anna, her kids and a few of my siblings. Highly illegal, we bounced down the gravel road to town. Thankfully we only had to drive a couple of blocks on paved roads and I instructed the kids to smile, wave & throw candy out the windows if we happened to meet law enforcement. Surely we would pass as hick town parade participants. We made it to my brother Floyd’s house without incident, parked & and walked(I waddled) to the center of town.
My firstborn & my baby.
After the parade we walked back to Floyd & Gloria’s to hold brand new Mearah Lynn. Shame on me for not snapping photos of the darling baby. After a good dose of sweet smelling newborn, we headed back home to prepare for the potluck BBQ.
Cambree, Ariel & Sabra.
Craig & Tsasa’s sweet Avoni Janine.
Awww…it was just yesterday & I was this age.
After stuffing ourselves with hamburgers, hot-dogs, salmon, crab & mom’s delicious potato salad we headed out to the field for a bonfire & fireworks.
By the time we were done, we were all covered in dust, s’mores and wood smoke, but it was a beautiful, balmy evening. Three families loaded up their kids & belongings and headed home and the other three families retired to their respective floors. (We have 3 families: 6 parents & 17 kids living at Windy Ridge at the moment)
What sweet pictures. You can’t beat spending holidays with family and friends. All those children will cherish those celebrations for years to come.
You are so Blessed.
I’ve said it before but your family gathering stories and pics of Windy Ridge always leave me smiling. I LOVE that pic of the older woman in Victorian wear, so beautiful!
Fun! Looks like you have more going on in your ‘small town’ parade than we did in what is classified as a ‘city’. Course, it doesn’t take much to be a city out here:p.
Well Jen,you know how to tell a story:) Had me grinning like always:)
Sounds like a wonderful 4th. I miss my hometown. Small towns have the best celebrations! (Love that pic of the monster lawnmower!) I always dreamed of having a large family, guess I’ll settle for reading about yours…
Can we be honorary cousins and come stay with you?
I just love looking at pics of your sweet family! Windy Ridge has become sort of a commune. I would love that! All the little ones running around…what a dream.
Awww…and we missed out!!! We had my mom and dad, Mary, Amos, Marlon and their kids over for a BBQ and campfire… it was relaxing and fun…
i love small town parades! i see some beautiful lds missionaries!! love it!
Jen, that looks like a picture perfect day!
What fun! Looks like a great family, and wonderful moments not much different then our Independance Day fun…
thanks for all the great pics of the parade, I miss the NW and our small hometown, the folks, the children, our small school and the natural beauty. thanks for the walk down memory lane, I miss the NW soooooooo much, you can’t even imagine!
Wendy (sad in FL.)
[…] She was born a month after I turned 23. My first daughter & third baby, she was born when my oldest was 2 years old. She emerged, squalling, after 30 something hours of labor. I was so shocked […]