Sparklers and Guns: All-American 4th of July

I guess The Start is a really good place to start when talking about the 4th, so here it is.

Before I met Dave, I never really ran much. I would try, and end up out of breath and dying after a few blocks. As a sprinter in junior high, I was used to RUNNING when I ran.

Turns out that running for most people is really a controlled, even jog. Once I found my sweet spot, it’s become my favorite form of exercise. Especially because I run along a creek and see bunnies and ducks and squirrels.

So Dave proposed we do our first ACTUAL run together. The Oregon Road Runner’s 4 on the 4th was a great one to start with! A nice, flat, four-mile run. So we got up early, drove 30 minutes to Wilsonville, paid money, waited for the start time–all to run four miles which we usually do very near our house for free.

Kind of cracks me up.

Here I am with my sweat man. Oh, I mean, my SWEET man. ;p

(I believe this is also the first picture I’ve ever put up on a blog of me pre-shower …)

There was such adrenaline in the air! As they counted down the last seconds before the start, I had to keep my breathing nice and level or I would have been dying as I ran.

Check out the costumes! Made me wish I’d done something a little patriotic.

My favorite parts were wearing the little paper on my stomach, taking a water cup from a volunteer around Mile 3 and trying to drink while running, and finishing hand-in-hand with Dave.

(We decided to run our usual pace and not try for any great time, but we liked our 38:42 just fine on a hot, holiday morning.)

Then we got to take all five of the kids out to Gaston for the usual 4th of July antics as the Raichart Ranch. Nikki got great shots of the kids that you can see here, with a not-so-great-shot of me.

We always have a swinging good time there. (Andrea and Lili flying high on the tree swing)

Four of the five kids pose as they wait their turns.

But, wait! Where’s Tanner?

Filling a plate of chips, of course.

After many dips in the pool, the kids finally got their clothes back on to play with sparklers.

At one point Josh ran below the deck past us, a lit sparkler in one hand and an Airsoft gun in the other, mouth wide in a gutteral scream.

Warmed my heart, that very moment capturing why young rebel America declared her independence!

(Half of me lighting some sparklers. Had no idea how to use the lighter … lol)

Can Lili handle one in each hand?!?

Tanner and Josh defend their country.

It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.