Here's the finished project. It was so fun to make and really inexpensive. Mara even needed in on the action. They work really well, and shoot really far. The kids have been playing with them ever since. Here's the instructions:
The little kids were playing a game during the fireworks display where they were pretending that the fireworks were bombs going off and they had to duck and cover when they went off and it really made me think just how grateful I am that I can look at fireworks and see them as a celebration of freedom. Many people in the world today know war. They view the sound of cannons, gunshot and "fireworks" as something to be really afraid of. It is not a happy sound to them, it is a sound that inflicts terror in their hearts. How humbled I felt to watch them "pretend" to duck and cover. How grateful I am that my children live in peace. That I have never know the terrors of war. That I can look at fireworks and be reminded of the freedom that I enjoy.
Hope your Fourth of July celebration reminded you of all that we hold sacred and dear.
Sam and Grey getting ready to go down the hill.
They all lined up and took turns going around the outside of the skate park.
Little poser
Love that cheeser and her cute crinkled nose.
Noah wheelin' We all had a great time there, even Noah.
Mara in the background cheering Caleb on. 
Max was just a flash as he speed by me. 
After staying at the skate park for as long as I dared.(I think the skateboarders were getting bugged that there were five bikers on their turf) We walked down the trail to the park.
Swung on tire swings!
Climbed to the top of the towers!
walked across the top of balance beams!
Tried really hard to keep Emma from falling off! and watched as she climbed up the huge slide from the bottom. She and Noah and Caleb definately come from the same gene pool, they can climb anything, and I mean anything
We made a squish sandwich on the slide...Yes Noah is crying! 
The next weekend was the father's and son's campout and Ryan's parents came up. Ryan took the boys (5) and his father and off they went leaving LaVone and me with just the girls. We went to dinner and watched "confessions of a shop-a-holic" It was really fun. The boys had a great time as well. They got home saturday and that night we headed to the Lewis and Clark Festival.
The interperative center was free on saturday, so we went in and the kids had a great time playing with the furs and costumes.
Max was posing and Sam was trying to eat him with a animal skeleton.
Mara trying on the outerwear of the era!
Noah sporting a wolf skin-yuck!
Emma petting the wolf with Caleb's help
Just as we were leaving, Emma climbed up on the bear skin and layed her cheek on the softness. She was so stinking cute. she just stayed there for quite a while. They had a great time and I think that Scott and his brother Paul and Ryan's parents had a great time as well. Later that night Paul brought out his knives that he makes out of antlers and obsidian, and the boys were facinated for about two hours while he talked to them about how he makes arrow heads out of the rock and carves the antlers and makes the leather. It was great fun! Thanks all for the great time.
Three grouped together,
Two on top of each other,
One laying on the edge...How stinkin' cute is that
...with Isaac was all Caleb wanted to do! Luckily we were able to.
Caleb and Max got to go down to "The Ranches" and play at the Beckman's. They were in heaven and since returning home I have heard more than once..."why did we have to move?"
I was lucky enough to have my dearest friends accompany me! 
I love these ladies! They are great inspirations for me, and I love being with them! 
They totally make me giggle inside and laugh outloud! I really miss them and hope they soon get the memo that they need to move to Montana!
I could never ask for better friends! I hope that they know just how much I treasure their friendship and can't wait for the day when I can just twinkle myself to be with them.
We ate at my favorite Mexican Resturant Baja Cantina! Love "The Hoist" burrito, ate the whole thing. The waiter was hilarious in that he obviously was new and had no idea how to get a good tip. He kept saying..."we charge for that" about everything...lettuce, sourcream, the complimentary chips and salsa that they always set out... We kept waiting for him to charge for the water as well...What a nut!
Caleb, Porter, Mara, Max
Walking into the tent. Cami and Chloe, Porter, Grey and My mom and dad came as well.
I took a pic of my mom holding Emma and taking a pic of us. :)
Love those little kids in front of the fountain.
I got home at 2:00am and checked her and her cute five puppies were doing well. Then in the morning before I had to go back I checked on her again and five turned to six. Who knew?
They look like little rats, cute but ratty. Mara stayed up with Ryan the whole time and kept saying "Daddy...another one" in her high pitched squeal. Sam made it for most of them, but finally gave in and went to bed. So summer has arrived and I now have six kids and six puppies to keep track of. 
