Small Town Fourth of July

The day before Fourth of July we hiked Beacon Rock, which overlooks the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. It was a hot day, and we were glad for any breeze we felt during the hike!

Vancouver, Wahington is actually the fourth largest city in Washington. At least, that's what the realtor and the newspaper have said. However, we live in the far northwest corner of Vancouver, called Felida, and our area feels very much like living in a small town. The roads are narrow "country roads", traffic is very minimal, and we don't have many nearby options for restaurants or shopping. A few times a year there are community festivals at a nearby park. It's fun to see people we know from school, etc. The sense of community reminds me of the small town where I grew up.

This year for Fourth of July we attended an early morning breakfast at the church. Then we spent time at the Fourth of July festival at the park. It was a really unusual weather day for us . . . HOT! We didn't really like the heat. It was mid 90s and humid. We found ourselves missing the cloud cover and cool temperatures! We had planned to have Aubrey and Joseph ride their bikes in the small children's parade around the park, but we wimped out when it was so hot, and ate popsicles at home instead.

We spent the afternoon and evening at the home of friends in the ward. They have a good piece of property where they host a bbq dinner and party for anyone in the ward/area. It is so much fun. Once again, it reminds me of celebrations when I was growing up. The kids all run around together and the adults talk. When it is dark, everyone lights their fireworks for a really fun show. Apparently, most types of fireworks are legal in Vancouver, which is becoming increasingly unusual across the country.It was a great Fourth of July!