Independence Day at Casa Melin B&B

Our big Independence Day celebration is always Parade Day (July 2nd), but this year my SIL Kelli threw a pretty nice party at the ranch and the Melin boys put on a great fireworks show. The boring day in between (July 3rd) was made awesome this year by my sister Lisa (from Phoenix) coming to visit with her son & grandson...

Aunt Lisa on the trampoline with James, Niles, & Heidi

Jumpin' Monkeys!

Aunt Lisa and Ammon
 (her grandson Zecklin is in the background)

We had a houseful the night of July 3rd with Lisa, Cody, Kamrie, and Zecklin upstairs and our friend Elden Haymore from Tucson and his friend Cort downstairs in the boys' room. Lisa had to head out to Helena after breakfast for Laura's BBQ, Elden and Cort went hiking, and we headed out to the ranch for BBQ and fireworks with Jelli & Mike.

Simon, James, Lexi, and Niles eating

Heidi, Matthew, and Summer

Elden, TJay, Kelli, Jess, and Cort
(Cort had just graduated from the USAF Academy, so he and Jess had a lit to talk about)

When it got dark, Jess, Mike and Rich put on a crazy-awesome fireworks show. We ended up having kind of a "Dueling Fireworks" battle between us, two different campsites across the river, and the Bakers at their house on the bluff across the highway from the ranch.

We put on quite the show between us, it must have looked awesome from a distance!
Happy Birthday, America!
***

On Saturday, we attended the baptism of 2 of James' friends, Trynity and Ashley, who just turned 8. Later we met up with Ant Debbie visiting from Las Vegas at Alberta Bregar's 60th birthday party.

Heidi & Debbie being silly

Heidi & Debbie being sweet

So cute! They are BFFs!

We also said goodbye to Elden and Cort that morning--
they were off to do some backpacking at Flathead Lake.

Addie & Niles on July 5th.

 

**A quick, funny little NILES STORY: **

 I noticed the new blooms of my geraniums had been ripped off and were laying on the porch. I asked him why he broke my flowers and he said, "Your flowers are naughty!" Upon further investigation, he explained, "Sister Blatter said the flowers are naughty," then sang, "In my pretty garden the flowers are naughty..." BWAHAHAHA!

[ if you don't get it, there's a song they sing in nursery at church that says, "In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning/ They're first to see the sun/ They must tell everyone/ In my pretty garden the flowers are NODDING/ How do you do they say, How do you do today?"]