July 1st Festivites!!

So before I get into the July 1st festivities, I just have to record that we moved into Richard's grandparents house on June 24th. They went on a holiday and we were house sitting!! We stayed there till July 5th! It was a nice break from the trailer.

July 1st ended up on a Tuesday this year. So on Monday, Richard surprised us and announced that we were going to Waterton after breakfast! We were all surprised and excited to go! So away we went. It was a little chilly out but we had fun anyways! We stopped at Cameron Falls first and did the tiny hike up to the look out!

Richard and his girls by Cameron Falls!

Crazy picture of me, Brianna and Abbi by the Falls!

Love my crazy family!! The falls was a little loud, can ya tell!!

I finally got DJ in a picture. He kept running away from me, so I head locked him!! ha ha!

Then we walked around the townsite and the kids all got a lolly pop stick. Then we walked around the docks and beside the lake for a bit. The water was really high.

Aahh, a cute picture of Richard and I! Love that my kids can take decent pictures!

Our crazy kids with their lolly pop sticks!

By this time the kids were all getting hungry so we decided to go check out the new Hotdog store. We all got some yummy wieners for lunch. We got there just before the lunch rush. It was perfect timing. We were able to eat inside the warm building instead of outside on the picnic tables!

Yummy hotdogs and fries for lunch!

After lunch we drove up to Cameron Lake. We thought it would be fun to do the little hike halfway round the lake. We walked up to where the building were. We noticed there were a lot of people standing around. I looked and there was a bear about 10 feet away from me. Nobody said anything, it kind of startled me. So I quickly took a picture and backed away. Even though there were still people a lot closer to the bear. Crazy! The bear took off down the pathway that we wanted to go! Darn it!

There's the brown bear we saw. Crazy people, getting really close!

So we just went onto the dock and looked around. Then we went the opposite way and played around on the shore for a bit. The kids and Richard were getting brave and putting their feet in the freezing cold water! Brrrr!!

Cool picture of Richard and our kids at Cameron Lake.

Playing by the lake, Abbi being the only crazy one to go in!

Richard and I with Cadence coming in!! Ha ha!

Brianna showing us her big boat!

Cute Cadence!!

We decided that enough time went by so we slowly went down the path. We didn't go very far, just to the little bridge. Then we just looked around and took some pictures. It was a very relaxing and fun family trip to Waterton! On the way to our car we ran into my Uncle Scot and Aunt Angelica from Utah! It was fun to see them. They were with my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Ralph. Then we headed back to Cardston! Fun times!

Richard and DJ sitting on the bench by the bridge.

Me and my beautiful girls!

My handsome boy!!

Look we match!

Anyways, back to July 1st. We left there house at about 9 in the morning. All my kids were super excited for the day, and even more excited that they were wearing red and white!!

We went and watched the Raymond parade at my cousin, Rachel's house. It was perfect. Her house is right near the beginning of the parade. It was super crazy at how much candy was being thrown. My kids were in candy heaven. They had a blast waving and cheering at the floats and then running around like crazy getting candy.

DJ, Brianna and Cadence ready to race for some candy!

Brianna and DJ getting some candy!

There's our group. Abbi is crouched down in front of Uncle David!

At one point there was some older people beside us and they wanted to switch candies with my kids. So my kids went over there and they did a switch. Then every once in a while they would take some candy to them. It was really funny!

Brianna sharing her candy with the people beside us!

My kids showing off their huge loot!!! Crazy!

What a good looking bunch of Canadians! Grandma and Grandpa Paxman with some of their grandkids!

After the parade we went out to my parents house. We had all the Paxman's over at my parents house for a pot luck lunch. It was so fun to see people I haven't seen in a long time. I haven't seen my cousin, Jessica in quite a few years, and she was there with her fiancé. They are getting married on Aug 2th. Her kids are getting so big too! So fun to catch up!

People dishing us, out of my parents deck.

More people eating and visiting.

All my dad's brothers were there and 1 of his 2 sisters. We were just missing Aunt Dixie. So it was fun to see them all together. Of course we had to get a picture of all of them together. They all crack me up!!

Love this picture of my dad`s siblings!! So back row is Randy, dad, Reg, John, Gary. Then front row is Scott, Brenda and Lloyd! Dixie is missing.

After lunch and a lot of visiting most people packed up and left. A few stayed behind. Mike and his wife Lindsey showed up near the end. So they stayed for quite a while. My Uncle Lloyd stayed too. It was so fun to visit with him and tell stories and share laughs! So fun!!

Grandpa Paxman and Abbi relaxing in the garage.

Then we had a light supper and went into Raymond to go swimming at the pool. My cousin Ron rented it for the whole family. It was a blast. We had it from 6-7pm. The kids were in heaven. DJ even got brave and went down the slide a whole bunch of times!

Then we all got out and got dressed and went to the street fair that was right in front of the pool. We didn't stay super long. It was really busy so the kids picked a few games and we went and stood in line. My mom and dad were in charge of a booth and my kids all wanted to go to theirs. So we did that one last. Then we headed back out to the farm.

Richard and I with our kids! This is at the street fair!

Cadence playing a game.

DJ was a little tired and grumpy. He relaxed on his dad`s shoulder as we were waiting in line!

Now who`s looking happy!

Abbi doing Grandpa`s booth!

Cadence`s turn! It was so bright out!

Brianna`s turn to try to get the ball in the fish bowl.

DJ had fun trying too!

We just relaxed and had popcorn and a movie. All the kids really wanted to see the fire works. I wasn't sure if they were going to be able to stay awake. But they were all determined. But at least we had a few quite hours watching a movie. They all stayed awake too!

Happy kids on the way back out to the farm, eating their candy!

Everyone laying down and relaxing, watching a movie!

Then we headed into Raymond to my grandpa's house. He moved into Lethbridge in June, but his house hasn't sold yet. So we went and sat in his back yard. It's perfect for the fire works. We all got cozy with our blankets and waited till the fire works started.

Grandma with all my kids ready to watch the fire works. That big lump in the background is Megan and her boyfriend, Chris!! Ha ha!

They started with a bang!! All my kids loved it!! It was so fun to do with them. I love that they are getting older and we can do fun things like this!! So fun!

Yeah we loved watching the fire works!

After the fire works we took off for Cardston. The kids were all in their jammies already, so that was helpful. We told them that they needed to go to sleep. The first 10 mins of the ride they were so wild. DJ could not settle down, he would burp or do something funny and then start laughing, which would make all his sisters laugh. We told them everyone had to be quite. Then they all zonked!! We didn't get back to Cardston till midnight! It was a super long day, but so fun!

Oh my, such tired kids! I had to laugh at this picture! Brianna with her mouth wide open and Cadence still holding her candy!