celebrating the 4th on the 7th

Every year the Perazzo clan celebrates the 4th of July with tons of food (beans, burgers, dogs, 4 types of salad, chips, soda, cookies--almost 30 dozen, and ice cream), games (croquet, volleyball, canasta, pinochle, rummy, and dominion) , visiting (about 46 of us attended), and an evening program at the firebowl. This year was no different...except that the 4th fell on a Wednesday, so we had to change our party to Saturday the 7th in order for all of the California cousins to come. It wouldn't be the same without the Tubbs clan.

We started off with pizza and games and then the firebowl on Friday night. The firebowl program includes singing patriotic songs, skits, and our Eagle scouts retiring any flags that have been given to us for that purpose.

Madison and Michael MCed, Pat (and John) reading why the Lord created dogs and cats

Rod, John, and John with Mom and Dad in a skit about multiple births

the 2 grand-nieces waving the flag while we sang

 

 

Tonya in her role as our music leader

Daniel, Eric, and Michael with flags; Joseph, Dad, and Glen in a reading of "Old Ragged Flag"

watching a flag burn

Saturday brought more games, a barbecue lunch with leftovers and sandwiches for dinner, and even more games. Heidi brought her face painting gear this year and some of us got "decorated."

Madison and Hannah show off Heidi's skills while playing with Joseph and Kenny

Andrew on the couch with his Snidely Whiplash mustache and his girlfriend Babes with face paint

The 4th of July party is one of the highlights of my year. I told Glen I love the food so much that I prefer the 4th over the Thanksgiving menu. The company is the best and we have a great time winning and losing our games as we visited.

just back from vacation

We went up to Brookings, Oregon to visit my parents for the week--we, minus Andrew that is, who is busy with summer term at BYU right now.

It was rainy at first, then just foggy and cloudy. Finally on Tuesday and Wednesday the sun came out and stayed out (until this morning, that is), but I don't think it even reached 70 while we were there.

looking south--my first view of the beach on Saturday

Wednesday's view looking north

Glen spent the first day under the house as a pipe had broken after we got there. Glen saved the day...and the cost of a plumber. He also gained some skills, which might be useful to us in the future.

While Glen, Grandpa, and Ryan were working, Hannah and Eric "jammed" at the Brookings Activity Center (aka Senior Citizen's Center). They sang things like "Tom Dooley," "A Poor Wayfaring Stranger," "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain," "Sound of Silence," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and "Edelweiss." Hannah had brought her ukelele and someone there lent Eric a guitar. We didn't look our best since the we couldn't shower until the pipe was fixed, but we had some fun.

Friday night, some of us went to see the community theatre group put on the play "The Boardinghouse." Very silly.

Saturday, we went and saw the movie "Brave" and really enjoyed it.

We didn't seem to spend as much time on the beach as we usually do (though they did take a little trip with a kayak and a rubber raft on the river), but plenty of time was spent at yard sales and thrift stores. Glen's favorite find--an ice cream/frozen yogurt maker. Hannah is really into vintage these days and bought some old books (that I don't even want to touch) and a suitcase. Alex scored himself a digital camera.

We also played games and watched some fun shows on TV. I think Alex might want to participate in "Storage Wars" when he gets older. We also might want to redecorate our house and cook wonderful things thanks to HGTV and the foodnetwork trying to pick their next stars.

Alex, Ryan, and Eric are playing electronic games, Hannah is reading

note on the above picture...before we left on vacation, Hannah used Kilz to seal her bedroom walls before painting them a new color and she wiped her hands on her legs--now she can't get the Kilz to come off. That stuff really clings.

On Tuesday we spent some time up at the Manley Art Center pulling some weeds and helping to make the flower garden they have nicer.

Ryan, Hannah, and the cow--notice they are in shorts but...

Grandma and Alex--notice they are in jackets...it was chilly

Glen and Eric finishing up

being Oregon, snails were everywhere

We were able to watch the fireworks last night on a bridge that spans the Chetco river--the fireworks reflected in the water makes the view extra breathtaking. Eric had my camera and came up with these shots:

see what I mean about the reflection?