Every 4th of July, we go to my cousin’s home, Russ and Gaylene, for the celebration. We enjoy a meal cooked by Russ who loves to cook. When he cooks, he cooks for an army so it is best to go with a hungry tummy! Every 4th of July, Grandpa makes homemade ice cream. Elle helped Grandpa mix all the ingredients for his special ice cream.

This year, the 4th of July was a bit tricky in the planning. Grandpa and Grandma left Russ and Gaylene’s to go to Torrington, WY for a wedding reception. We left to go to another cousin’s house, Rena. Andy arrived in town today and it was his only day to see ALL the cousins in one day. The girls had fun with lighting fireworks with the gang.

There had so much rain, we were not sure we would be lighting fireworks this evening. We had downpour around 3pm, but clear skies after dark to light up the sky.

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Good thing Grandpa loves garage sales. He always keeps his eye out for bikes and such for the girls. Actually, I am sure it is really Grandma that keeps her eyes open AND makes Grandpa buy it. Grandpa hates the clutter in his clean garage. This year, Emmy was able to ride the bigger bike Grandpa bought a couple years ago.

Grandpa took the training wheels off Eleri’s bike. Eleri’s bike was too big for her last year, but just right this year!

The girls have informed me that they have better bikes in Nebraska than in California…I have no time to find good used bikes!!

The girls still ride on the dump truck Grandpa found at a garage sale when Emmy was only two.

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Grandpa’s blow torch has many summer uses. Not only does it easily light all the fireworks, it also toasts the marshmallows for smores! Smores are a real treat for the girls since a box of graham crackers costs $12 in Shanghai. We had a nightly treat of smores. The girls were the toast masters!

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Fireworks are a fun tradition for the girls. Fireworks are illegal in California since summer time is the dry season. It is always fun to come to Nebraska to buy fireworks. It reminds me of the fun Terri and I had around the 4th of July. The girls are easy to please as they like sparklers, snakes and color smoke bombs. Grandpa gets out his blow torch to light the fireworks.

And the fun begins…

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Between Scottsbluff and Gering there is a town called Terrytown. Terrytown has Terry Lake for fishing. Grandpa had a fun summer taking the girls fishing. It brings back memories growing up since we spent many summer days fishing.

This is one of my favorite photos of the three fishing.

Grandpa baited the hooks, but Elle had no problem digging the live worms out of the coffee can. Grandpa taught both girls had to cast their lines. This was their favorite part. Grandpa kept telling the girls they can’t catch a fish if they don’t leave the line in the water.

Granpa was also the moss cleaner of the lines.

Terri and I were laughing at the myth to be quiet so the fish will bite. We were the loudest ones at the lake this evening and the only ones catching anything. Elle caught 3 fish…all too small to keep. She caught 2 at one time!

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Every summer we drive to Fort Robinson to enjoy a play at the Post Playhouse. Fort Robinson is about a 3-hour drive from Mitchell. The Playhouse always has wonderful productions. Most of the actors are college kids from various States.

After enjoying our buffalo burgers at the cafe, we watched the performance of “Nunsense”. The girls missed some of the humor, but it was a good laugh. The head Nun was played by a man. At one point, the “Nun” quizzed the audience on questions. On the first question, many people yelled out the answer, but Emersyn raised her hand. Emmy was given a “prize” for her actions. The prize was a St. Michael card. The main story line of Nunsense is Nuns are having a fund raiser to bury their dead sisters that died from Sister Julie’s cooking. They announced they were selling a cookbook with Sister Julie’s recipes and it could be purchased in the back at the end of the performance. At the end of the performance, Elle asked if we could buy the cookbook. I told her there was no cookbook, it was part of the performance. She said, “no, they said it would be for sale at the end of the performance”.

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The girls have fun playing with the Nebraska cousins all summer. They are my cousins’, Michelle and Rena, children and close in age. We have a weekly pizza and pool date. On this Saturday morning, we went Strawberry picking in Henry.

The gang before picking began since I never get a group photo as they are always off having fun together.

Avery (3), Kayden (9), Zane (8), Elle (6), Emmy (10) and Kaylee (11)

We grabbed our box and went into the strawberry field to find the best strawberries.

Tasting the strawberries for quality was Elle’s task.

And Aunt Terri’s.

After enjoying some homemade strawberry pie with homemade ice cream, the girls had fun playing in the straw castle.

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Time to pack the bags, AGAIN. We have a short time in Nebraska this year with Grandma and Grandpa of just over 3 weeks.

This is one of my favorite photos of Elle trying to reach the big tub of ice cream in the freezer. Being a little problem solver, she thought she could get just a bit high if she used the fridge bottom as a shelf.

We love going to the movies when we are in the States. The movies are such a treat as we don’t go to any in Shanghai. The fun of the big screen, the popcorn and the candy. We went to “Toy Story 2” in 3D in Scottsbluff.

We also saw “Despicable Me” in Scottsbluff. We took this photos in California to advertise the coming movie. We went to see “How to Train Your Dragon” in 3D. We had seen the copy movie in Shanghai, but this was one move worth seeing in 3D.

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We try to squeeze in all our appointments at the beginning of our trip so they are done for the summer. On our dental cleaning, both girls had their FIRST cavity…bummer!!! Emersyn’s cavity was in a permanent tooth. Elle’s cavity was in her one her baby teeth. The first visit to the cavity room!!

Due to squeezing into available time slots, the girls had different dentist to fill their cavities. Emersyn had the “happy gas” only. Eleri had the “happy gas” and the shot in the gum. When she found out that Emmy only had the happy gas, Eleri was not too pleased and has requested Emersyn’s dentist in the future. I am hoping there is no future need for a dentist to fill cavities!!

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We had such a fun time last summer in Napa Valley, we decided we need to go each summer to enjoy the beauty. Terri and Andy are Napa experts as they go almost every weekend.

The best part of wine tasting with Aunt Terri is that she doesn’t like wine! Andy and I enjoy the tasting while Terri enjoys playing with the girls. The wineries always have beautiful grounds for the girls and Terri to explore.

After lunch at Gotts gourmet hamburgers, the original site of the famous hamburger spot, we were ready to hit wineries. Our first winery stop was Artesa Winery. It is a bit hidden, but Terri and Andy knew the way. It was my first time to this winery. It is up on the hillside overlooking the valley.

Next, we went to Peju Province Winery in Rutherford. This is a favorite of mine and Andy’s. Napa has changed in the 20 years we have been visiting the wineries. All places charge a tasting fee and some of our old favorites are just too crowded. This place controls the number of people that taste at one time. In addition, they apply the taste fee to your purchase.

Terri and the girls have fun in the large gardens of Peju Winery.

There is a pond to play around…