A Fourth of July to Remember

We had been talking to Lincoln for days about going to see the fireworks on July 4th.  The city puts on a little fair and fireworks show at the fairgrounds.  Our day started off nicely as we attended the local town parade.  We enjoyed the homemade floats, the patriotic music and BEAUTIFUL sunny weather.  It's not often that I say Pocatello's weather is beautiful.  After going to lunch, shopping and a nap, we made our way to the fairgrounds.  The first thing we did when we arrived was purchase tickets for Lincoln to ride the few kiddie rides and to play a go fish game.  After one motorcycle ride and one game of fishing it started to rain.  We were literally there for all of 15 minutes.  We hadn't even made it over to the band and dinner booths.  We pulled out our jackets and umbrella took cover next to a candy cotton wagon.  I guessed we thought it would pass as quickly as it came. Well, it didn't....it got worse!  Within about 5 minutes it was hailing marbles size (or bigger) chunks of hail...in July!! I couldn't believe it.  Snow in July!?!?! What kind of place do we live in??  It was suddenly freezing, wet and miserable.  The fairgrounds turned into chaos and pandemonium as people were running to find protection, parents were screaming to find their lost children, and the entire time we were being pelted by hail.  A potentially great day was ruined. After realizing that it was not letting up, we jumped into a game booth (I don't even know what game they were originally playing because all of the booths were overrun with people) but it got us out of the freezing rain for a little while.  After poor Lincoln started to shiver we sent Rick to go get the truck, which was about a 10 minute walk away.  Driving back to pick us up he saw roads that were washed out from flash floods, cars that had rolled on their sides from roads giving way and just an all around mess.  Lincoln did get a little money from the carnie guy running the booth.  I think he realized that Lincoln was such a trooper through it all. When Rick pulled into the closest parking lot Lincoln and I made a break for it.  I covered his stroller in a blanket trying to protect him from the inevitably painful hail hitting him and I ran ...flip flops, pregnant and all. My feet froze for a minute.  My toes wouldn't bend.  I'm sure that's the closest to frostbite that I've ever had.  After standing in the rain for about 30 - 45 minutes by the time we ran to the car it appeared that we had jumped into a swimming pool with our clothes on.  We were soaked. We drove straight home to get warm clothes on. So much for Lincoln getting to ride the rides, enjoying cotton candy or getting to watch fireworks.  Did I mention that this is July!?!?!  We couldn't be moving to Phoenix soon enough.  I will take the sun any day over snow in July. Needless to say, once we got home, dried off and ate dinner we were ready for bed.  It was definitely a 4th of July to remember.  Too bad it couldn't have just been one to remember because of a great non eventful day. 

I still love fourth of July.  Besides Christmas, it's one of my favorite holidays.  I grew up being taught to love our country and to feel blessed for living here.  I'm excited to teach that to my children.  Regardless of your political party, views on war (or other political issues) and with an understanding that things can be better, I feel very strongly that every person should feel proud and blessed to live here. Luckily my patriotism isn't based on a rained out fireworks show. 

Enjoying the small hometown parade.

Don (left) with Grandma and Grandpa Tutu.

Lincoln loved the fire truck!

Lincoln's favorite ride is was the motorcycle (vroom vroom as he calls it) but it was also the only ride he got to go on before the rain/hail hit.

This picture was taken just a few minutes after the rain started.  I didn't take more pictures because my camera was getting soaked.