4th of July

I really need to get it together, and catch-up on my blog posts.

Friday morning we set off super early for a weekend at Donner Lake (Truckee, CA), for their annual 4th of July celebration - as you may recall we spent the 4th at Donner Lake last year!

Our plan 2 weeks prior, was to get all our good friends together and rent a house, making Donner Lake OUR annual 4th celebration, but plans didn't go so well, BOO! Friends that were able to make it, the McMullen family, due inpart to Brittany's grandparents having a second home near Donner Lake!

After arriving at the McMullen's house, we excitedly began to plan our weekend! After some lunch and a food-run to safeway we set off to the Lake! It was nice knowing and seeing that all the kids got along, leaving the adults to relax, talk and not worry about drama. The kids making sand pies and ice cream. Sierra sun bathing Marissa & Sarah chasing the many geese.

After we returned to the house, we had dinner, the kids, Marissa, Sierra, Caden, Sarah and Ethan, sat all together watching a movie and eating popcorn - so cute! Once the kids went to bed, Brian, David, Brittany and I, played a really fun game called ROOK, originally created in 1906, since then the Rook 100th Anniversary Edition and Rook Deluxe are now available. The game is played by dealing out the entire deck and placing the "Rook" in the center of the table. Each card in the deck is assigned a point value. Players and teams bid to see how many points they think they will accumulate by the end of the hand. Win tricks to pick up cards and rack up the points. Just be sure to bid wisely--not making your bid can give your opponent a big advantage. The game ends when a certain amount of points have been accumulated this game was super fun!!

During the game David entertained us w/his popcorn chocolate creation - preferably melting dark chocolate, adding it to a bag of popcorn shaking it until most of the popcorn is smothered in chocolate - a pretty yummy concoction! We concluded the night laughing and talking until Brian's poor eyes couldn't remain open - HA!

The morning of the 4th, Brian & David hurried to the Lake to reserve a space on the sand. The park opens at 9am, where tons of families scurry to reserve a space, not only to enjoy during the days festivities, but for the fireworks later in the evening! Everyone at the lake is super nice, and considerate of your space, even if you leave for hours at a time, to eat, take the kids for the nap, or whatever. The park is also reserved for ticket holders only, thus, having the park at a limited capacity, weeding out such people who typically don't respect others. Ethan & Sierra playing the "Egg Toss" game. Ethan was so sad that the egg broke. Here's Marissa looking in disbelief that she and Sarah also dropped their egg. Marissa joined in on the "Tug o War". After 5 hours of swimming, sun bathing, & playing games, Marissa & Sierra fell asleep on the beach - I thought I took a picture, but no, which is ashamed because this sweet little boy laid near Marissa facing toward her watching her sleep, I think wishing she'd wake to play, since he was all by himself!!

Later that night, back to the lake all decked out in 4th of July attire, the kids had fun using the glow sticks as air pencils to guess letters in the sky. We had planned to make Smores, but didn't have a bbq, nor could we find one nearby - wonder if Sierra was secretly annoyed that she had to settle on just munching on the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers individually - HA! HA! Marissa, Sarah & Sierra ready for the fireworks! The moon was beautiful over looking the Lake. The fireworks were Amazing, apparently the largest synchronized fireworks display west of the Mississippi!! While music was played simultaneously, and broadcasted on local stations. I was thrilled knowing that I photographed the heart image! Here the girls are on our way back to the house, funny faces the first 15 minutes, but snored the remaining 45 minute drive which is normally a 15 minute drive, due to some crazy accident that blocked both directions on a two-lane road!! One more blurb about the evening, which I failed to photograph - I found the most ugliest biggest spider creeping on my boxer shorts just as I was about put on to go to bed. I had a hard time sleeping wondering what his siblings or parents might look like after seeing the size he was - EEEEEK!!!!!, maybe watching over me angry that I killed a family member! I managed to survive - HA!

We especially want to thank the McMullen family for their hospitality and are so lucky to have been able to spend such a great time with great friends!! Brian and I can't wait for next year, having already scoped out homes to rent! We also hope that many friends who were unable to attend, can coordinate nearby rentals to celebrate together, along with us, as a large group!!! We will keep you all posted w/our details ;)