July 4th Parade

On the 4th of July we attended the Rexburg parade, as we always do.  Landon set out our 4 chairs--roped together--the night before, right under a big tree.  When he showed up at 7:00 a.m. to sit in them and save our spot, they were gone!  Someone had taken or moved them.  He drove all around looking for them, but ended up going to Walmart and spending $60 that we don't have to buy new chairs!  He was sooo mad!  The road was lined on both sides with people's chairs the night before, but our crappy, ripped chairs were the ones that were stolen.  We ended up directly across the street, right in the sun on a concrete pad that absorbed the sun.  Perfect!  Just before the parade started, Emma and Caroline were walking around and found our roped-together chairs about a half block from where Landon had set them up.  We packed up the Walmart chairs to return, sat in our old chairs and bad-mouthed whoever moved them.
So Lauren has been practicing 2 hours a day, 3 days a week since school got out so she could march in the parade this year!  She's a member of the Madison Summer Band flag guard or whatever the flaggers are called.  She LOVED it.  We're definitely going to participate next year. 


Here's Lauren, after marching, holding the flag she gets to keep forever.  She learned some sweet flag skills that I'm sure she'd demonstrate if you're interested.

This is a video of Lauren marching with her flag.  Unfortunately she didn't do her routine near us, but she sure is cute as she marches by.

She had just finished marching and came to sit with us.  She was sweaty and exhausted but so happy.  She loved it!

This is Emma, my sweet little 13 year old.

This is a man who, when he says he's in a rage (like when his chairs were stolen), has the voice of a TV golf announcer.  It's kind of funny.

Kiwi Loco (frozen yogurt place) threw cups of yogurt to the crowds and Lauren caught some Huckleberry frozen yogurt!  Lucky!

This is the summer band that marched together with Lauren's flag group.  She had intended to do the marching band, but when she realized they were a little more advanced than she was, she decided to switch to flag.  She is so happy she made that decision.