Fourth of July 2009

This year, as usual, we spent the 4th of July, a.k.a. Border Days, in my hometown of Grangeville, Idaho. Border Days in Grangeville is a very large 3 day celebration of America's Birthday. We are home to Idaho's Oldest Rodeo as well as the Largest Egg Toss around. Not sure if it is the largest in the Nation but probably pretty close. This year unfortunately, we weren't able to make all 3 days due to work but we still enjoyed our 2 days of fun!! Every morning kicks off at 9am with the Street Sports. These include foot races for people of all ages to the infamous Egg Toss. There is a parade and rodeo all 3 days as well. On the night of the 4th, there is a large fireworks display. This year was fantastic! Well, I hope you all enjoy the pictures and if there is ever a year when you're just not sure what to do over the 4th, why don't you try good ol' Grangeville, Idaho and be a part of the most wonderful celebration ever!!!

Jeylin running in the Street Races

(American Shirt with the sunglasses on)

Kierra running (with Daddy's help of course)

Bradley & my brother Brad running in the races

(the two goofballs in the white shirts)

Jeylin patiently waiting for the Egg Toss to begin

Jordyn & her sparkler

Jeylin & his sparkler

Miss Kierra & her 1st sparkler

My parents, Jordyn, Jeylin & Bradley waiting for the fireworks

And now with Kierra & myself

One beautiful spiral firework from the night's show

Probably the best firework picture I got the whole night

Mundt Family Vacation a.k.a Border Days

Well for those of you who do not know or have not read my past posts, Border Days is the annual Fourth of July event for my hometown of Grangeville, Idaho. This was the 97th year! It is home to Idaho's oldest rodeo as well as the largest egg toss event you will EVER see. We celebrate it for a full three days surrounding the 4th. This year, it was the 3rd through the 5th. Brad and I loaded up the car and headed for Grangeville on the 1st. We spent time visiting family and tried to get settled for the upcoming days. Each day of Border Days starts out at 9am with the Street Sports. Here, children and adults of all ages race on the street for money. Pre-school and under kids receive a 50 cent piece for their participation but all other kids and adults are only awarded for placing in the top 3. If you get first you win $3, second you win $2 and third, $1. After all age groups both male and female race, the streets or rather the benches are cleared and the street is full of teams of two getting ready for the Egg Toss. This year, we made a new record with 1400 participants tossing on the 4th...that's a lot of busy chickens to support the throwing of 700 eggs...and that is just one day...remember, there are three days of this stuff!!! My brother Brad and Bradley have ran in the men's open division of the races each year and have participated in the egg toss each year as well. Between the two of them, they always place in the races and have one the egg toss 5 times together.

Brad & Bradley getting ready to "THROW THE EGG"

One of the trick throws...the between the legs hike pass

Unfortunately, they didn't win this year but hey, there's always next year :) Jeylin has ran in the races as long as I can remember however, Jordyn has never wanted to. This year was different however...she had a little persuasion from her Auntie Jo during the Nielson family reunion and therefore ran all three days....taking 3rd place on the last day!!!

Jordyn in her street race debut, July 3rd

Jeylin races this same kid every year...this year, Jeylin made him trip. Don't worry, it was an accident and the kid was just fine.

Jordyn also participated in the egg toss for the first time too but she soon got bored and Jeylin had to step in and help (only because his egg had already broke).

On the night of the 4th, we all head up to the High School football field for the fireworks show!! This year was the first year that we have had an electronic launching system and so the show was to be the best yet. It was shorter than past years since the fireworks could launch faster but the grand finale was the best I've ever seen and I have been going for the past 29 years. Unfortunately, I had turned my video camera off about two minutes prior and missed the entire thing. The kids loved them including Kierra and they also loved the sparklers they had at Nana & Papa's house.

These especially made Kierra laugh...but this is her giggling at the big fireworks on the 4th...

Here are some fireworks shots...sorry they aren't the best quality. It is very hard to capture something like that at night with slow shutter speed and no tripod but oh well, you get the idea.

Updated Pictures of Jeylin's Egg Toss Experience

Just thought I'd let you all know that I posted new pictures to Jeylin's Egg Toss Post.

Jeylin's First Egg Toss Experience

For years, we have all sat on the sidelines and watched Brad & Bradley compete and usually win the egg toss but this year, Jeylin decided he wanted to start practicing....possibly so he can take their places when they're too old to play :) While the Border Days Committee members were passing out the eggs this morning, Jeylin looked at Nana Rita and asked "Where's my egg?" to which she responded, "Do you want Papa to do the egg toss with you?". His eyes lit up and he immediately said YES!!! So, Papa jumps into the street, grabs an egg and he and Jeylin get in line with everyone else. Jeylin was doing great but could not grasp one important concept...YOU MUST WAIT FOR THE ANNOUNCER TO SAY "1....2....3....THROW THE EGG" BEFORE YOU THROW THE EGG!!! Even though he handled it very well, this made the egg toss a little more like an egg smash for Papa. The egg started with Jeylin and he tossed to to Papa. Papa tossed it back to Jeylin who, to my amazement, caught it with no problem. But then, he proceeded to grab it and throw with all his might back at Papa! Good thing he wasn't looking away because he caught it, gave it back to Jeylin and then they started again. Jeylin threw it one more time and then Papa threw it back but the third time, Jeylin tossed it at Papa's feet and they were done. It was pretty darn cute though. Looks like this tradition isn't going to end anytime soon. I didn't get a video of it but I do have a picture so here you go, here's Jeylin Michael Nielson in his Egg Toss debut...

Border Days Celebration Part II

For all of those who asked for it...a.k.a Amy...here is a feed of the egg toss from the 97th Annual Grangeville Border Days. Unfortunately, Brad & Bradley were unable to win today and they tied for second yesterday so we'll see what tomorrow brings. I have also been corrected since my last post, they have officially won it five times and one year came close to winning it all three days in a row which would be a first. So, without further ado, here is a short video scanning the crowd before the first eggs were thrown...








And there you go, the madness of flying eggs, a yolk-tastic tradition!!!

Border Days Celebration Part I

Just thought I'd let everyone out there know that we are on our annual vacation to good ol' Border Days in wonderful Grangeville, Idaho!!! It is a fun-filled three day holiday to celebrate the 4th of July. It hosts Idaho's Oldest Rodeo as well as one of the largest Egg Tosses you will ever see. Bradley and my brother (also Brad) have won it I believe 4 times...a near impossible feat when you consider how many people are involved....I think one year they won it two days in a row and quite possibly all three days. I'll have to check with him for more true facts though. I'll post some pictures of the event when I return home and you'll all be able to witness true chaos with eggs! Hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day!