Diving For Dollars

Our city has it's "Town Days" in conjunction with the 4th of July--which is being celebrated early this year because of when it falls during the week.  It's quite a party with tons of fun activities for families.  Besides the parade, our favorite is Diving for Dollars over at the pool. 

They divide the kids into four age groups--3-5, 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14.  For each group they throw a lot of coinage into the pool and for about five minutes they let the kids retrieve as much moolah as they can.  We encourage our children to show no mercy.  No, that's not true.  We just tell them to do their best no matter what it costs the other kids.  No, that's not true either.  We just cheer like crazy and marvel at the way our city uses it's tax dollars.  We always try to estimate just how much money they throw in the pool.

It was a good year for Faith this year!! It helps that she was at the older end for her group and she could put her face in the water.  Grand total of $2.80!!
Bethany collected $1.70.  A very respectable amount, but it did put her in last place this year.  There was some sadness, but she graciously recovered.

Cannon did get some "monies", but in the excitement of getting more money off the pool floor he dropped what he'd already collected.  At one point another little boy was going for the same coin.  Cannon came off the victor and I heard him say to the other boy in a sing-song voice, "I got two monies--you're the loser!"

Heaven help us.

Clark got a whopping $3.50!  He was a beast!  He was probably the very oldest in his age group.  That helps. 

And the winner is....with $4.20.... ELINOR!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's all about the quarters.  If you can get the quarters.

The night before last, I took the four oldest kids to the movie in the park to see How to Train Your Dragon.  Last night was Abe's turn to take the same four kids (the reasonable kids who will not cry or try to run away from us) to go see the city's fireworks show.

The girls bought cotton candy with their diving money.

Abe treated them to a funnel cake and then had someone take this picture that is now my favorite picture of all time.  Abe said it was a magical time on a warm summer night, and the smells, and the lights from the carnival, and the fireworks.

I stayed home with the sleeping boys and folded laundry.  That was good, too.  Maybe not quite as exiting, but sleeping boys and a quiet house has a magic all it's own.