Bradshaw Family Vacaynion (Part 1)

The problem with waiting so dang long to blog about our fun adventures is that I forget most of the good stuff by the time I actually sit down to write it out.  So regardless of chronology, scale of funness, exactness, race, creed, or any other considerations, I'll just write what I remember.

The kids had fun decorating their bikes and scooters in July 4th regalia Thursday night after dinner.  We joined the Prescott Kiddie Parade on Friday morning and had a blast walking the 2 blocks from start to finish.  Those 2 blocks were pretty long and hard, but it was totally worth the ice cream sandwich each participant recieved after the parade.

Hmmm, apparently you didn't even have to participate to get ice cream:

Attempt #1 at a cousins picture:

Attempt #2:

Attempt #3 (and the best we got):

Family photo op: I'm still trying to figure out how I aquired that hat.  And why Zach looks shorter than me.

We spent the afternoon at my SIL's grandparents' cabin playing decorating T-shirts and not doing the awesome July 4th craft that I had planned because I forgot.  After dinner, we rented out a local pool and had a fun, freezing evening swim.  (I use the term "we" loosely here, as I didn't actually ever get in the water.)  The most exciting event of the night was Adam walking into water over his head, just past where he had been standing with Zach.  A lifeguard jumped in to grab him and we had to fill out an incident report.  Nice.

On Saturday morning, we attended our first ever parade (besides the kiddie one) as a family.  (Meaning I have never actually taken my kids to a parade.  Ever.  I don't mind parades.  They are perfectly fine.  As long as I can just show up because someone else has gone out early enough to save a spot hours before the parade starts.  Which was what happened at this particular parade.) All 30+ of us wore our decorated T-shirts and got lots of comments from the parade participants.  It was fun--the kids got lots of candy and flags, the adults got lots of pamphlets from politicians running for office, we all got a disturbing rear-view of a roller derby man-woman (couldn't tell) in fishnet stockings and hot pants who came over to give the kids candy.  Ah, the memories.

Kye and Lucy before the big parade:

Adam giddy with anticipation (or just biting his fingernail):

A much more successful cousin picture taking session:

Post Prescott parade, we met at a beautiful, breezy, shady park for lunch and spent the afternoon picnicing and visiting with family. Pretty much heaven on earth.

Zach chillaxin in the awesome shirt I made him:

Lucy climbing trees with McKell, Madi and Travis:

We spent the rest of the day at the cabin riding quads, eating yummy food, not doing the awesome July 4th craft I had because I forgot again, hiking, sleeping, playing cards, and having a movie out under the stars.  Good, good day.

McKell, Lucy, and Madi (with Aunt Allie and Skyler in the background):

Adam crashed out on the couch:

And this ends the Vacaynion Part 1 post.  I have pretty much zero pictures for Part Deux.  Still trying to figure that one out.