THE BLACK FAMILY: Happy 4th of July!

In April, my mom and I decided it was a good time to get in shape, so we took the Precision Rehabilitation's challenge and exercised for 30 min a day, 5 times a week through May and June. Then we got T-shirts and had the opportunity to participate in the 5K fun run on the 4th of July. The last time I did this race, there were a lot of people walking, but things have changed a little because I am pretty sure we are the ONLY ones that walked the whole race! Coming in last was a little embarrassing, but it was a good experience and time well spent with my mom.

Jade, of course, ran the race - "just for fun", he said, as he had not really been training for it. His morning jog earned him second place overall, just behind his best friend, Taylor Francom. This says a lot since there were around 300 people participating in the race, and most of them have been training! Way to go!

After the race
Jens, Amber, Jade, McKady, Mom

As a fundraiser for the drill team, we built two floats, one for Recapture Metals and one for the San Juan Pharmacy. The girls did a great job, and I think the floats turned out pretty cute!

This is the Recapture Metals float, it is (almost) a life size torpedo honoring the Navy Veterens of WW!!. We also included a special honor to Navy Seal Jason Workman, who was killed last year in Afghanistan. His mother is an employee at Recapture Metals.

"We will never forget U.S. Navy Submarine Veterans"

The San Juan Pharmacy float honored the women of WWII. You can see Rosie the Riveter in the back of the truck by a sign that says "We Can Do It!", and on the other side of these two beautiful entertainers are a couple nurses, representing those women who served in the medical field during the war.

"We will never forget the women of WWII"

And we saved the best for last . . .

The San Juan Royals themselves, riding on the flatbed of a semi truck, saluting ALL those who have served and who are serving in our nation's military. Note that we are missing Amanda, who is the Rodeo Queen, and decided to ride her horse instead. Also note those rain clouds in the background . . . the best gift of the 4th of July this year was a little rain we got in the morning before the parade and right after the fireworks.

"We SALUTE the Military heros"

Stetson was super excited to ride the float with the girls and throw candy to all the kids. This lucky 4 yr old has 8 beautiful girlfriends! You have to admit, he is pretty cute - how can they resist?

Stetson and his girls in front of daddy's truck

Our driver, Kenny, posing by his sparkling clean truck -
don't they both look great?

Lucy watched the parade with her cousins and collected so much candy in her pockets that her shorts almost fell off! After the parade we headed down to the park for the traditional Navajo Taco and Sno Cone. It was pretty hot, but the food was great and we got to see lots of friends and relatives we haven't seen for awhile.

Lucy enjoyed getting her feet wet in the water around the pavillion

Stetson had fun with a bunch of other kids on the merry-go-round

That night we gathered at the park again for a picnic and to watch the fireworks. It was so nice to just sit and relax while the kids ran around and got all their energy out.