Happy 4th of July! ~ on the 8th!

Happy 4th! This is a little late I know, but I wasn't inspired yet to get this posted. Plus Mr I Need a Little Love keeps sitting on my lap.

The 4th of July was fun. Chris and I were surprised we didn't see more people from his class, but maybe they have all outgrown the 4th in Biwabik. Who knows. We still had fun. Another banner year for the Andreachi kids. Ryan took 1st place as Uncle Sam and the girls placed 2nd and 3rd with their bikes. Poor Aaron was the only one that didn't place, but thankfully he is still at the age where he doesn't care. The kids receive a 50 cent piece for being in the parade plus awards for their finishes. 1st - $20, 2nd - $15, 3rd - $10 and 4th - $5. So we did pretty well.

Meghan took 2nd place

Katie took 3rd place

Snazzy Uncle Sam!

Aaron didn't win, but he sure is cute!

We had a great meal with the family before the parade, then the parade and races down at the athletic field. None of our kids won any of the races, but we had fun cheering on Cousins Logan and Abby to first place finishes. We did realize that poor Ryan is going to have to work on running backwards. For the second year in a row, he was the last off the field. Kids were running back for their next race, while Ryan was still trying to get across. It was pretty funny though and he had a blast. All the kids ran their races and received a $1 for each race they ran. Even though Ryan CANNOT run backwards he did clean up in the coin drop and netted over $4.55 plus the dollar for participating. He came home with the most $ this year for sure.

Ryan - 2 steps back, 3 steps forward, 2 in place!

Katie running with her tongue out. Gets that from her mom!

Look at Meghan go!

Meghan leap-frogging with cousing Kenzie!


I'm getting money next year!

After the races we crashed for a while before going down for the night parade. I went down at 5:50 with Ryan and Meghan. When I arrived to our usual corner, they hadn't blocked off the street yet, so I told Meghan we would put our chairs out when they did. Well some lady said to me, "That's what we are planning on doing. We are going to have like 25 chairs for this spot." I replied "Well can you spare a spot for the Andreachis?" looking around and seeing no 25 chairs waiting to be put out. She then said "The other side of the street is open." Whatever! So I stood my ground and didn't say anything. Again she tells me the other side of the street is open. I told her the family usually sits here. Again - the other side is open. I ignored her and stayed put. If I had seen 25 chairs waiting to be put out I would have moved, but I didn't see the chairs, so why shouldn't I put mine down? Finally she got bored and left, to where I don't know, but out came my chairs and we enjoyed the parade on our usual corned. HA!

The parade was pretty lame this year, but the kids had fun getting candy. After the parade we walked downtown and got a few stares as we usually do. You know, family with 4 kids causes a stir, and ordered our Vi's pizza! This is a must and tradition in our family. We have to have a Vi's pizza when we are in town. They have a new place now with more ovens and it only took 35 minutes this year to get our pizza. We have waited as long as 2 hours for a pizza on the 4th. There was one 4th where Chris and I ran home in a torrential downpour getting soaked, while our pizza remained dry in a trash bag that we got from the bar. Priorities! Anyway Chris's mom Berna started working at Vi's yesterday. We are so excited that she is part of the tradition.

Family portrait!

Dorks of July!

Honing his picking up skills with candy

Aaron loves parades!

Once we got out pizza it was home for cheesecake and fireworks. Chris and his brother Ben put on a great show that was accented by a few others in town lighting them off. There were a couple of crazies down the street that didn't know what they were doing. They shot one off that exploded over Chris and Ben's heads. And another went into the yard across the street. That one was still burning. Luckily no one got hurt.

Waiting for fireworks

Ryan doesn't like fireworks

Good one dad!

We came home Sat night after going to the zoo in Duluth. It was a long trip and topped off with Meghan throwing up in the van an hour from home. Too much junk over the weekend we suspect. But then no one listens to their mother when she says no to junk food. Oh well. It was good to be in our beds when we woke up Sun morning!

So Anyway Happy 4th, a little late!