weekend highlights

wow, four days went by so fast.  and we packed in as much as we could.

thursday, after work we went to kernville for a few days.  for the last 2 or 3 years we have gone to kernville over 4th of july weekend.  this year jordan and i wanted to spend the holiday at home.  so the compromise was to spilt up the four days.  works for me.  we got to spend some quiet time up in the mountains, read, rest and play.

the kids loved playing with this "vintage" chutes and ladders game.  but they felt bad when the kids got punished for doing something bad.

bobby and the boys got some practice rowing down the river.  we leave on our vacation in a week and getting the kids on the river was a good way to warm them up to what lies ahead.  they had so much fun.  the girls tried to catch them in action to get pictures but we were a bit late.

our favorite spot to sit and read.  really relaxing few days.

then we headed to the fireworks show on saturday night.  we set up at our usual spot with the dakes and waited for the sun to set and the show to start.

the plan was to head home after the show.  but by the time the fireworks were over it was almost 10pm.  which means we wouldn't get home until 1am.  so we decided to stay one more night and leave the next morning.

sunday, we had plans to go to the park with my family and tom and sue.  there is a valley cultural center in woodland hills that was having a concert and fireworks show.  we met up with my family, thanks for the great seats sandy.  we had dinner in the park and then sat and watched the show.  sandy is friends with a couple in the band and they put on quite a show.

of course sofia had to show off her dancing skills.  especially when they played, "i got a feeling."

lots of family time before the fireworks show.

and then the show started.

it turns out there were more than 50,000 people at this event.  we really had amazing seats, right in front of the stage.  and getting out of the park and into our car was interesting.  but we had such a great time and hope to do it again next year.

yesterday we headed to our friends' house for a pool party and taco bar.  the kids go crazy whenever they get a chance to go swimming.  and even though the weather was unseasonably cool they jumped right in.  or should i say slid right in.

we love long weekends and time with family and friends.  hope everyone had a happy and safe fourth of july.