Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Birthday, America!

We took Plumtaw Road to town to watch the 4th of July parade.

Dan had never taken that route. Never! 

My only time was with Courtney last year.

The views were gorgeous. The Bronco is fun for drives (and cute).

We loved seeing something new together.

We left at 8:20 and arrived on 5th street about 9:30 -- exactly what we had planned.

We found parking right there and think we avoided a lot of traffic by coming in the back way.

We found a comfortable spot of grass by the clock tower and only wish we'd remembered a blanket, or chairs. Although, the grass wasn't wet and we were fine.

Kershaw got to celebrate too!

The flyover was pretty cool -- they came back and forth multiple times.

We saw five of them practicing formation at the airport when we left town a few weeks ago.

It's what got us excited about seeing them today.

Def a small town parade but we loved celebrating with people

and the festive atmosphere. The parade started at 10:00 and finished about 10:45.

We walked to the artists and food booths in the park which were fun to see,

but I don't think I'd go back. (Nothing that excited me to buy.)

We thought we'd eat at the food trucks, but it was only 11:00. 

We walked along the river and hot springs and then had the idea to get a picnic and 

eat it at Treasure Falls, about 20 miles toward Wolf Creek Pass.
Another place we'd never seen before.

Drove with the top down and singing along to our 4th of July mix.

We ate our picnic on a comfy rock in the shade and weren't sure we'd hike to the falls because I only had Birkenstocks on. But everyone was doing it and we realized it was only 1/4 mile.

Very doable in sandals, but I'd choose better shoes in the future because it was a little steep in places.

We looped around and came down the "primitive trail" 

which wasn't that difficult at all.

When we arrived back home in the afternoon, I made myself comfortable on the couch swing so I could finish the 435 page book I started yesterday.

Dan grilled hamburgers and just as we sat down to eat, 

Duncan called to invite us over to fireworks in the evening.

I finished my book just as the sun was going down.

Duncan, Kristin, Kay, Chuck and kids, Mary Ellen and JD, Clark,

Jacob, Amanda and Jake's friend Chris had fun sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows,

cheering the firework displays, lighting sparklers and closing out a great day.