4th of July!

AHHHHHhhhhhh!!! One of my favorite times of year!  The weather is warm, there's good food, coordinating outfits, fireworks, family fun, parades, picnics, cookouts... what more could you ask for!  I love the 4th of July.

This year we decided to go to Hot Springs and celebrate at the lake.  My mom warned me that she would need to use the girls for her community dog parade.  The plan was... decorate a wagon to look like a pontoon boat, then attach ropes to the back and have the girls walk, holding the ropes.  Hoosier would "drive" the boat and the girls would be the skiers.  I thought, "okay, that will be cute, I'll do it"  (but honestly, I was expecting much).  I arrive at her house... the wagon is sitting in the driveway.  And it's more than just an average wagon... it's one of those huge pumpkin patch type wagons.  Then I walk in the house to see the "boat" parts.  She's got poster boards decorated, pool noodles spray painted silver, 4th of july jewelry, sunglasses... you name it... she's got it!  It was all really awesome!  I couldn't get over how good it all looked.  We participated in the dog parade and came home with the first place trophy.  The girls thought the trophy was pretty awesome.
When we got home I started looking online to see what the details were for the parade in Maumelle.  I knew a few weeks ago they were asking for more participation in the parade so I thought I'd see if they would accept last minute entries.  Then I read where there were giong to be cash prizes awarded!  WHAT??? a contest??? I'M IN!!  (and with a float like this one... I had to enter it!)

I convinced my mom and Joey to load the wagon into the car and off we went to Maumelle.  It was a chore getting that big thing into the car then we had to change it from "hoosiers hangout" to "family fun" to fit the theme of the maumelle parade.    It was a mad rush to get it all done in time.  It was STEAMING HOT outside.  The girls weren't as cooperative during the 1-2 mile walk for the Maumelle parade, as they were for the mini dog parade that was just a giant circle in a pavilion.  I walked behind the wagon most of the parade while the girls rode in the wagon and joey pulled it.  I kept yelling at him to speed up to keep up with the flow of the parade.  Just before the judges stand I bribed the girls with ice cream to get out to perform.  They put on their floaties, held their ski ropes and walked behind the wagon. 
It was all worth it!  We won 1st place for best float... $200!  WOOO HOOO!  We also won "best design" (I think) and got a trophy for that. 
At one point my mom and I looked back and saw all the girls screaming, hitting, and pulling each others hair.  We cracked up laughing saying, "if only the judges could see us now... THIS is some real family fun!"  LOL!

 We had parade practice up and down my parents street... They had to go show off to the neighbors.

 The Tubers

 The Drivers

 Keira - rockin the groovy glasses!

 The whole gang (minus me)

 Here they come!!

 OH YEAH BABY!  FIRST PLACE :-)

 Presley in the groovy glasses :-)

All the hard work was worth it.  After all, we are $200 richer, we have bragging rights and last but not least... we have some GREAT memories!  And... I plan to participate again next year.  Anyone up for the challenge?