Cousins, Swings, Baseball, A Motorcycle Ride, and A Perfect Day

Cousins.

Swings.

Baseball.

A Motorcycle Ride.

A Perfect Day.

On the Road Again...

With the upcoming celebration of Pioneer Day in one week, I have found myself thinking about pioneers a lot.  It could have something to do with the fact that we recently traveled 1,173 miles across the U.S. (a difference of only 89 miles from the pioneers.) 

Their trip took 7 months; 

ours took 17 hours.

 

Their trip was either entirely on foot (frequently barefoot through the snow) or in bumpy covered wagons.  

Ours was in an air conditioned minivan with padded, reclineable seats and 1.5 cup holders per person.

 

The entertainment on their trip included running away from snakes, trying not to get scalped by Indians, and unsuccessfully attempting to not freeze to death.  

Our trip included portable DVD players, an I-Pod, a laptop, and a smartphone.

They starved to death and sometimes ate their own dead.

We ate at every fast food restaurant along the 80.  And had ice cream twice.

I'm just going to say it: 

our trip was better. 

America's Happy Happy Birthday

We live in the greatest country in the world.  And I'm not saying that in the same way that every high school in the country says that they're "Number One!!!!".  

I mean it.  

America is totally and completely - without question - hands down - the GREATEST country in the world. 

And the world's greatest country deserves the world's greatest birthday party.  

And so it was...

It began 2 days before the 4th with us writing letters to send to US soldiers.  

I asked the girls if they knew what a soldier was and they responded, "Oh, yea.  A soldier is a daddy that dresses up in camouflage and shoots all the little animals."  

Um... close. (Except not.)

(I attribute this to those hunting games they have at Chuck-E-Cheese.  Now everyone with a gun is just out to kill sad little animals.)

Next, we partied it up at the annual Pence Family 4th of July Party.  

Same as last year; except even more fun (if that is possible).  

 

Once again, Brooklyn and Luke almost ended up in the pond after flying down the Metal Waterslide of Death.  

Once again, the Pence wagon train was on the move.

Once again, Brooklyn spent the better part of a day searching for frogs.  Except this time, she did it from the bed of a canoe.  (A canoe that she almost jumped out of mid-pond because there was a spider in it.  

Snapping turtle and algae-infested pond.... or spider.  

It really is a tough call.)

 New to the Pence Family 4th this year, was a teeny little ball of fur that Aubrey practically smothered to death with pure love.   

(A few seconds after I took this picture, she had that little thing cuddled in her lap and whispered in it's ear: "It's OK, little kitty.  I'll never let anything happen to you.")

This child needs a pet.

 

Once again, we were surrounded by the coolest friends, the best food, and a completely perfect day. 

Next, we headed to the World-famous Waukee City Independence Day Parade. 

 It included:

1 horse...

 

2 tractors...

Far too many Tootsie Rolls 

(Dear parade candy-passer-outers: NO ONE LIKES TOOTSIE ROLLS!)

 1 Uncle Sam...

and 4 very satisfied children.

The partying continued at the Bauer's house with an All-American dinner...

an All-American water balloon fight...

an All-American tripod camera timmer picture,

 some over-sized sunglasses,

and far too many pictures.

And finally, the grand birthday celebration ended with sparkler-written messages,

perfectly timed hearts,

and fireworks in our very own perfectly comfortable and very uncrowded backyard.

And that is how the Grandest Country in the World received the Grandest Birthday Party Ever.