4TH OF JULY 2011

Whew, Priscilla and I flew home from Boston and met John at the Phoenix airport.  We picked him up and continued on to Portland! I didn't even go home between Boston and Oregon!

Oh how I love the 4th of July!  This year it was spectacular because fireworks are legal in Washington and we spent it with the Porters who live there!!!  I have never in my life seen so many HUGE fireworks (I mean the REAL thing) going off in the neighborhoods surrounding the Porters.  I think I can actually say I OD'd on fireworks, if that is possible.

Lisa, Kurt, Jocie and Kate as well as Kurt's dad (Papa) came over and it was a good old fashioned 4th with lots of food, fun, friends and fireworks!!!  One of our best 4th's ever!

Let the festivities begin!!!

Setting up the badminton!

Badminton in the front yard, good old fashioned fun!

John....hmmmm the wise man, comtemplating....his beard!

Yes, he is the true "thinker"

Yes, I see the resemblance! 

Lisa and JB

The Porters gorgeous backyard!

The GIRLS!

The BOYS!

It was so much fun watching the excitement of  Kurt and Lisa's darling twin daughters!  Kurt was the "pyrotechnic guy" extraordinaire, setting off all the fireworks in the street as his audience (us!) watched!

Yea, more, more!!!!

Kurt, Lisa, Jocelyn and Kathryn

Lisa's spirited toes!!!  

The only way to fly!

Gorgeous flowers!

More of their beautiful backyard!

Decorated and festive!

Wheeeeeee, higher John!

Yum, don't burn anything!

The cooks, sittin on the job!

Ah yes, the boys hard at work again!

Never let it be said that there is a dull moment at the Porters.  Priscilla and I were out for a walk and we kept smelling smoke.  Soon, firetrucks started roaring by and we found that their neighbor's house was on fire!  It was quite exciting (well, not for the neighbors)!

I guess the fire somehow started in their hot tub area.  The neighbors who owned the house were not home at the time, thank goodness.