We went down to Grays Harbor County, to go to the Annual Fourth of July cookout with The Shadow Lady's Family.  This is my third year heading down there, and its quickly become the normal' thing do to on the 4th of July. 

While folks are getting there, and the food is being set up and BBQ'd, everyone has the opportunity to catch up on events.  Living scattered here and there keeps us apart more than we'd like, and there's lots to talk about.

The famous amount of food was there... everyone brings 1 or 2 plates of things (some by tradition!), and there ends up being more than anyone could possibly eat!

After we ate, most of the kids and the younger folk (and those who still considered themselves the 'younger folk') went down to the river.

 
The water runs cold, but it was a pretty warm day.

Ellie, the dog, wasn't so sure about the whole water thing...

There's just something fun about a river!

Clams, crawdads, fish... there was lots to look at in the water.

There were games as well... the Shadow Lady's sisters knocked around a volley ball...

... while some others started a game of basketball.

There was ice cream to be made... you don't get any unless you take a turn on the handle.

I made sure I got my turn in, that's for sure! 

 
Ping Pong was the game of choice for some... here's a two on one challenge...

Grandma was her old self... she told me that she's "a good sport - so long as I win, anyway!"

The water balloon fight was a big hit again...

 
again... the "not so young" joined in, and quickly became the primary targets!

It was a lot of fun!

 
We went to Clarks on the way home.

OK, so its not technically "ON the way home", but we took the longer way home so that we could stop there... its one of those places where you stop when you can, because its worth it!

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