July 4th - Independence Day

Tomorrow is the celebration of our country's independence from England.  How do you celebrate?

Growing up, I don't recall too much.  We may have gone for a drive or we were camping.  More than likely we were working in the hay field.  Sometimes we had fireworks.

When I was in Rainbow Girls, we had a fireworks stand as a fundraiser.  I put in some hours when I was Worthy Advisor.


Our tradition now is the Tumwater Parade.  We started marching in it when Nathan was a Tiger Cub Scout in 1995.  Then when David joined the 

Tumwater American Legion Post 166, we were marching with them and the cannon.  This will be the second year in a row that I won't be there due to 

illness.

As Nathan was growing up, we spent the 4th with David's family - bbq meal and fireworks.  As communities ban fireworks and the cost is getting too much, we started going to Tumwater's Fireworks display.

Enjoy time with your family and friends and be safe with fireworks.

Happy Independence Day!

2011 Parade

Tumwater Parade - 2000

2016 Parade

New Year's Eve

What are your traditions?  How did you celebrate in the past?  What are your plans for this year?  So many questions and not many answers.

When I was growing up, New Year's Eve was just another night.  A couple of times I remember celebrating .. . one time with banging of pots & pans with our cousins from Tumwater.  We would grab some and go outside and make noise.  Another time, I was babysitting the neighbor's daughter.  I would watch the ball drop on TV.  Then fell asleep on the living room floor.

As an adult, my husband & I would go out dancing (most of the time at the Eagle's either in Olympia or in Centralia).  Usually my parents would take our son as we would be having a family gathering on New Year's Day to celebrate my aunt's birthday.

Sometimes, we just stayed home and celebrated the new year.

This year my husband wanted us to go out dancing as we hadn't done that in a while.  However, I came down with a really bad cold the other day and am now staying home and sleeping.

2009 at Eagles in Centralia

2009 - Backfire Band performing

2009 - our son ringing in the new year