july 4th-happy independence day!

it's been our family tradition to attend downieville's july 4th celebration since we moved to camptucky(long story). we just love it-it's about a 45 min. drive thru the beautiful north yuba canyon. the parade is small-they close the highway 49 so the parade can go thru town and turn around and go thru town again. my camera was out of batteries so i had to borrow some pics that liam took.
after the parade the crowd is encouraged to join in the fun and create "fire-less" fireworks-as we can't have real fireworks up here in the tinderbox. two big rolls of plastic bubble wrap-rolled down the street f0r the masses to stomp on- the sound is deafening but glorious at the same time.
after the the fire-less fireworks there was a firefighter competition between 3 teams-the forest service, downieville vfd and camptonville vfd(YEA!) what fun-wish i had more pics-liam had some great videos but i'm having trouble downloading them. lot's of water play, screwing and unscrewing hoses, bucket races, capturing water in a big metal garbage cans from the water moniter! balancing a basketball on the spray and keeping it balanced while you shoot it high in hte air.

we had 4 members from our camptonville vfd-we won 2 out of 4-yea!!!!! you guys rock!

and of course a dip in the north fork of the yuba is always a must on a hot day!!

i almost forgot the races and tug o war- last year i ran the races and nearly killed myself-this year i stuck to the tug o war only-my favorite event. and yes, i'm proud to say the mountain gurls won once again against the flatlanders!