We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all Men are entitled to silly hats, cold beer, tasty meat, and things that go BOOM

8 am: Pancake Breakfast

This is the 7th year that we've met the B's for Lion's pancake breakfast. It's Everytown's community gathering. The line is long. The kids are entertained by Guide Dogs for the Blind-In-Training, small flags and pinwheels. There is mediocre live local music, guys on synthesizers playing "Old Suzannah" or small bands blowing "The Wind Beneath my Wings" over tinny speakers. The tables are covered with paper and the sticky remnants of those who came before you (which, we learned this year, isn't as bad at 8 am as it is at 11). And, silly hats are the appropriate fashion choice. Grandmothers with sequined flag hats, teenagers with Dr. Seuss-style flag hats, children with headbands that have glittery stars waving above them on springs. This year we met the B's a few days before the event and Mama came prepared with all manner of hat-making supplies for the children. Mr. J wanted nothing to do with Mama and her hot-glue gun. Boo participated for a few minutes and was done long before Mama hoped she would be done. Fortunately, Miss A. and Mama were on the same page and had tons of fun making her hat. The same was not true when it came time to pose for the hat pictures.

9:30 am: Parade # 1

Boo's daytime neighborhood has a parade and scarecrow contest every year. The daytime family all gathered with their streamers, balloons and wheels. The rest of the neighborhood families also gathered and walked 3/4 of the way around a very long block and then back (the last leg of the block was a busy street).

The J Family:

Boo's Best Friends:

My favorite parade entry was the boy on his bike pulling his chicken coop on a wagon.

The scarecrows were pretty good, too. Here are just a couple

In my day, the people in the parade threw candy to the spectators. In this parade, the spectators gave out candy to the paraders:

11 am: Contraband

Daddy took the family on his annual run across state lines for things that make bigger booms.

12 noon: Naps All Around

5 pm: Journey to Capitol City

6 pm: Parade # 2

Grand Marshalled by Ryan

My favorite entry of this parade:

After getting Red, White & Blue outfit #1 (provided by Nanna) dirty, Boo refused to wear RW&B outfit #2 (provided by the McFamily). Oh well. R2, surprisingly made it all day in RW&B outfit #1 (which was the first thing that I bought when I found out he was on his way), also not allowing me to show off RW&B outfit #2 (provided by Nanna).

7 pm: Potluck

Menu:

• Hamburgers
• Hot Dogs
• Ribs & Brisket that Mama's Nana (with 1 "n") would have fully approved, it being prepared in True Texan Style by a True Texan
• Potato Salad
• Jello Salad with mini marshmallows
• Caprese Salad
• Watermelon
• Berry, White Cake & Cool Whip Trifle
• Margaritas
• Beer from the "Kegerator" that was wheeled up from Carl's house
• Pink Lemonade

Boo quickly figured out how to pour her own lemonade from the spout on the cooler and practiced that skill for hours. A gaggle of eager pre-teen girls gathered around R2 vying for turns to hold and coo at him.

9 pm (or, when the sun was no longer visible on the roof of the nearest house): Fireworks

Daddy, Ryan and Carl lit many, many, many things on fire. Boo freaked out like she had seen the Easter Bunny. Mrs. Ryan made us very comfortable inside in front of the picture window, where Boo enjoyed the fireworks without the scary noises.

BONUS: July 6 at 5:45 pm

When trying to finish a picture-heavy blog that was bogging down under the massive size of the photographs that Daddy's excellent camera produces, Mama finally figures out an easy way to post photos to the blog that will save many minutes, if not hours, on future blogs this size!