Fourth of July 2015

Growing up Fourth of July was my favorite holiday.  I love, love the traditions and emphasis on fun with friends and family.  This year Fourth of July started with fireworks. Inside the house . . . of the crazy, pregnant lady variety.  Not so much fun.  I was upset that "people" (my family) were not dressed in patriotic flair and ready to walk to the parade at the assigned 9:30am time for the 10am parade. I might have cried.  Finally, we were out the door with our double stroller, bags to collect candy, backpack beach chairs and other parade essentials.   We made it to the parade by 9:55.  Just in time for the parade that actually started at 10:30am. Oops. Whatever.   We secured prime seats and it gave Gracie 35 minutes to stand in the middle of the street looking angry in her bubble dress.

Nick tried to calm me down by making a run to the gas station for coffee and donuts.  Yuck.  Plastic little Debbie  donuts and stale coffee.  I'll save my calories for free hot dogs and popcorn at the community picnic. I'm difficult to please, Gracie on the other hand has never met a donut she didn't like.

And is always obsessed with her dad, even when he brings the wrong kind of donuts and gets up late.  I should mention Nick picked out this patriotic jersey all by himself.  I was secretly very happy. 

The parade was great fun and I decided next year I am going to organize a float.  My friends should be scared. 

After the parade we joined hundreds of our neighbors at the community picnic.  They had free hot dogs, ice cream, bounce houses, crafts and a band.  Nothing creates a long line quite like free $.50 hot dogs and popcorn.  Here is how my kids felt about that.

Once they received their promised ice cream everyone was happier.  They even shared.

And let me take a rare family photo.

By the time the above photo was taken even I had recovered from my "traumatic" morning.  We finished off the day with the real life Grand Haven fireworks, viewed from the back of a pick-up truck with fun friends.  When we got home we joined our neighbors for a bon fire as we watched a stream of hundreds of boats return from the big fireworks.   We really live in a unique and special place, that I will celebrate with next year's parade float.  I can already tell you that won't be stressful at all and I will be perfectly composed all day.  Just make sure you wear your patriotic flair or no parade for you.