Armyjeans' Adventures: 4th of July in Hawaii

I am happy to say that our 4th was a LOT less eventful than some were predicting. That is NOT to say that the prayers should stop any time soon, but for now Korea has not tested any long-range missiles. That said, we had an AWESOME 4th of July!

We started off our day with a 5K run. Sorenna finished her very first 5K and in a very good time. Thorin had a good race once she decided to break from Sorenna and I ran to catch her when one of our neighborhood kids said she would run with Sorenna. Cannon was happy to ride in the running stroller for the first time this year. We have not needed any strollers or wagons since we moved to Hawaii and it is strange and liberating at the same time.

After the 5K we regrouped and Sorenna decided she was not going to run the 1-mile fun run with Cannon. She opted to take her spot in the stroller. She was very comfortable and I knew she was safe.

So, Thorin and I paced with Cannon and after watching her run, I think she is going to be a little dynamo! She completed her race in 11 minutes 30 seconds. She is a tiny little thing and has a really good stride. So, by 10:30 am Thorin and I had run 4.1 miles, Sorenna 3.1 and Cannon 1.

We also walked to the race and for hours all day. I think we did nearly 10 miles in 13 hours.

After the race, swim lessons registration (yes, they still did them the 1st Saturday even though it was a holiday!), and some craft time at a deployment support booth, we waited for a drawing for a chance to meet the band "Kansas" and we WON!

So, we had 45 minutes to RUN home (remember..no car all day), get a bath/shower for all 4 of us and get back to the field to meet the group who was taking us there. We did it with a few minutes to spare.

The girls got autographed photos and welcomed the band members to Hawaii. Then we got together for a group photo. The girls loved that!

They were looking forward to the live concert on the huge ceremony field on post.

We eventually ended up in our VIP front lawn area to enjoy some great music by "Kansas" and later, the 43rd Army Band. The girls got to see something that was special to military events. They fired off the Cannons while the band played "1812 Overture".

It was an official reading documenting our American history. "The Flags We Follow", detailed our country from 1776 to present and the flags that the United States has flown. The cannons also fired once for every state flag flown in America as the soldiers carried them across the stage. For those of you who have never witnessed the cannons, I included a clip from the event. Enjoy and be Blessed that you live in a land where someone is willing to die for your rights to freedom.