Happy Fourth of July!!!

Boom, boom, boom.  Yes, we have been hearing that all day.  Some have been coming from town, but some have been coming from right outside our garage door.  Steve is the firecracker/bottle rocket man.  He made a canon out of an old pipe and has been blasting rounds into the air.  Some have been good, and some have been duds.  He loves shooting them.  He even bought a bunch more than he needs so he can shoot them whenever he wants.  Lucky me!

We had Grandpa's birthday celebration on Sunday.  He turned 81 years old.  There was a crowd of about 20 family members.  Several were not there because they had other plans.  I'd guess that about half of the Doss family was there.  We had a wonderful dinner and then, of course, we went out to play Washers.  Steve played several games.  After washers, we played some "softball".  It was fun.  Then, you will never guess...it started to rain.  I mean pour.  The party was over.  On the way home, we were in a storm until about 3 miles north of Freistatt.  There was not a drop falling or on the ground.  We made it all the way home and then it hit.  All in all, Grandma got 2.2 inches; we got 1.5 inches; and Aunt Doris got none.  You can never tell with these summer storms.  Everything is a little greener this morning.

The activities of yesterday were hard on Steve.  He was very very active.  In fact, he was the pitcher for the softball team.  A couple of times he ran and stretched to catch a pop fly.  That really hurt his side.  He was paying for it this morning.  His legs hurt so bad he could hardly walk.  Luckily, the soreness left by the afternoon.  His side is still a little sore.  He had a wonderful day.  It was sure nice to see him playing and having fun.  I loved it.  He was looking for our washer game earlier today.  I don't think he found it, but he did not say.  My guess is he didn't because he was not playing with it earlier.

Today Koleen and Shawn went back to Columbia.  They left early and stopped for lunch with my parents at the Lake of the Ozarks.  The other girls did 4th of July picnics and BBQs.  We just lazed around.  Steve did put his pictures in his Alaska album. It had 200 slots so it was a very difficult decision for him on which pictures to include.  He is pretty happy with the results.  Now he is writing little captions for each one.  I can't wait to see it when it is done.  Also he is watching Pawn Stars.  Rumor has it that there is a new one on tonight.