4th of July on Cement Plant Road

There she is, a smokestack of the ol' cement plant and the good ol' cemetery across the street.

A few launches in the afternoon.

Bear and Dion trying to beat the heat.

We watched them replace the roof on the porch. Seriously! Several of us set up chairs in the shade, facing the porch and were entertained by about seven Mr. Mellens work on the roof. Just like any good show in Branson.

Parachutes, a Mellen tradition. One by one, each person chases a 'sparkling' parachute that has been launched for them. Catch it before it hits the ground and hope you don't have to run into the lagoon! Grand finale, everyone for themselves in chasing what seems like hundreds of tiny parachutes.

Another Mellen tradition, The Tank War.

This year's began with chickens vs. turtles.
(seriously, they had little cardboard fireworks shaped like chickens and turtles)

Growing up where fireworks were against the law, I still find this stuff fascinating, crazy and a bit silly. I love spending time with family and had a great weekend!