Independence Day in Grants

Hannah invited us to spend the 4th of July holiday with her extended family in Grants at her parents' farm. I felt like I needed at least one more good night's sleep and Mercy didn't quite seem 100% just yet, so we stayed home Monday night while Matthew took the boys out to Grants. That evening they rode horses, played on the zip line, ate food, and watched The Sandlot on a giant homemade screen. Mercy and I both went to bed early and slept reasonably well.

On Tuesday morning was the Grants Independence Day Parade. Hannah's parents have horse drawn buggies in which they chauffeur the Grand Marshall and every other year their vet clinic sponsors a float. Matthew rode shotgun in the truck pulling the float and the boys got to ride on the float with all the Anderson grandkids, throwing candy to the crowd. I'm glad they had the fun opportunity and believe it turned out best that Mercy didn't spend the morning out in the sun. I think it would have worn her out and she'd would have been grumpy the rest of the day. Instead of waking up crazy early to make it in time for the parade, Mercy and I had a slow morning then arrived in Grants just in time for lunch.

The kids ran free all afternoon, playing in water and mud, riding horses, and doing who knows what else. It was heaven on earth for Abraham. Mercy made friends with one of the cousin's and spent most of the afternoon being doted on by the willing 6 year old. Hyrum was completely enamored with little Elenore and followed her around with complete devotion. Matthew and Jeb went shooting prairie dogs for a neighbor, and I spent several lovely hours observing Hannah and her siblings under the shade of tall pine trees. It reminded me of summer evenings I spent with my friend Jennie's extended family, except several of Hannah's siblings/siblings-in-law are deaf, which made for a whole new level of talking over one another.

After dinner we had a talent show, then we set off some fairly innocent firecrackers in a watered down horse corral. We left soon afterwards and got home around 11:30 pm. I was a little sad to miss seeing a big fireworks show, but getting to be part of a big family reunion totally made up for it.