"For the love....where is the 4th of July post?" - Love, Becca

So here's my 4th of July post...3 weeks after the fact. I know you probably don't care anymore, but oh well, here it is anyway. And a special thanks goes to Becca for cyber-kicking my butt (see title of the post) and making me finally do this post.

A couple of years ago we discovered one of the best kept secrets of 4th of July celebrations...Sis. Hall's Lewiston, Utah 4th of July EXTRAVAGANZA!!


Let me just give a little overview:

You wake up on the 4th to patriotic music, then outside for a the flag raising at 6:30. Last year Rachelle played "The Star-Spangled Banner" on her saxophone and almost got "dis-invited" for not bringing an instrument this year. But never fear, Bro. Hall was there to make things right. Bro. Hall came in one day with a big smile on his face, holding up a trumpet that he'd swiped from the high school band teacher (with permission of course).

So the 4th started with the flag raising at 6 a.m., accompanied by Rachelle on the trumpet, followed by a fundraiser breakfast put on by the town Fire Department. They cook some mean scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, ham, and pancakes. But don't ya think for $5 they could let you have a 2nd chocolate milk? That little pint just isn't enough.

Then back to the house to get ready for the parade. Everyone dresses in their best red, white and blue outfit, and if you don't you run the risk of being "dis-invited" to next years celebration. BJ got lucky this year, the only reason he wasn't "dis-invited" is because his shorts resembled army gear. Better be careful Beej! The parade happens in "uptown" and it's hilarious! Each family "marks their territory" with cars, chairs, blankets, and even yellow warning tape to make sure they have a good spot for the parade. And be ye warned, if you should attempt to steal or encroach on a family's spot, especially the Halls, there'll be hell to pay! So on the 4th we took our place by the post office, moved over some people that tried to mosey on into our spot, and got ready for the parade.

Seriously the ENTIRE town shows up for the parade and i'm guessing if you don't you might be shunned in social circles because it's just what you do on the 4th of July in Lewiston. It's a pretty long parade with lots and lots of candy hurled at you! Woohoo!

After the parade there's a big carnival type thing at the town park. There's a firehose for the kids to get nice and wet, horse rides, food, shaved ice, bake sale, little tents with stuff to buy (not really sure how to explain that), etc. etc.

But we don't stay too long at that because we've got our own party to worry about. Isn't the 4th of July celebration over you're asking? I mean you've had breakfast, a parade, a carnival? You must be new. The party has only just begun for the Hall's.

Sis. Hall throws the biggest 4th of July party you've ever seen! It's bigger than Christmas (without the presents of course). Everything is red, white, and blue including chairs, tables and table cloths, plates and utensils, cups, and she even plants her flowers to look like the American flag! Gotta love it.

At the parade (Front, L-R: Vanessa, Meghan, Rachelle, Melissa, Becca. Back: BJ, Amanda)

Every year the party gets bigger and better. The first year I was there she had the infamous "Razzle-Dazzle Castle"
Then the next year she added blowup slide:

Well, this year she pulled out all the stops. Take a look at this vision of fun!:

She's also got a big metal tub-thingy that the kids can swim in and a little kiddy pool, not to mention plenty of water guns, water soaking balls, and buckets just in case someone wants to start a water fight (which inevitably happens every year mind you). As BJ said, "This is summer fun gone wild!"

And now, a picture dump of the party:

Tons of food (unfortunately I took this picture before everyone arrived with their "red, white, and blue" dishes but you get the idea):

And of course, All-American hot dogs and burgers brought to you by the master chefery of Bro. Hall and Jake:

Oh geez! I can't believe I didn't mention what is arguably the funnest thing at the Hall residence...The Teeter-Totter!! Look at this thing! And of course it's red, white, and blue:

And the crowd:





As always, BJ was a big hit with the kids:

BJ needed a little assistance with some kids that were torturing him with water.

Sis. Hall also bought a big pack of Mentos and Coke so we could have a little explosive fun:

After the party we went to the park for a family softball tournament that started on Wednesday the 2nd and ended on the 4th. I got to play with Becca, Amanda and Vanessa Hall on the Morrison team (that's right, the rest of the Hall's are apparently too good for us). Here are some pics taken by our faithful cheering squad BJ, Rachelle and Melissa Reid:

Amanda

Vanessa

After the game Vanessa had to work at Caspers so we went to visit her...and to get some ice cream!

(L-R: Rachelle Reid, Melissa Reid, me, Becca Hall, Macey Quigley, Emily and Audrey Quigley, Vanessa Hall (in the drive thru window :)), Amanda Hall, Shannon Hawkes, BJ)

Then when the sun went down, time for fireworks!!


And we're pooped...What a day!!


The last day we were there was also really fun! Becca and Vanessa's sister Melissa had stayed the night with her 3 girls, Macey, Audrey, and Emily. And believe me those girls weren't about to let BJ sleep in. I think they rather liked his morning hair!

We played duck duck goose, freeze tag, and a game where you do tricks on the teeter-totter. Judges determined the winner based on agility, toughness of trick, smoothness, etc. I have here the winner of the contest, Vanessa Hall. She was featured on ESPN with commentary from ESPN's own Barry Mathews.

(eating iced lemonades after a hard morning of playing around)

And as our last hoorah for the weekend we went to Big J's .


Well it was a GREAT weekend and all I have to say is, "Well done Hall family. Well done." Until next year!!