Fourth of July 2015

That face!

We love the Fourth of July around here. I mean, there's not much to not like in less you are allergic to the sun, grilled foods, sugar (mostly in toasted mallow form, but any sugar will do I suppose) and patriotism. We started our day fairly early, but not as early as we had originally planned because we skipped out on the neighborhood breakfast in lieu of a much needed sleep-in  (the girls included). We got ready for our busy day and then left to go get donuts and chocolate milk before the parade. We got to our spot just as the parade was starting. We had the girls in the wagon and a nice older couple who were sitting in the back of their truck bed offered to let us put the wagon in too that way the girls had a good view. Maisie was busy running around, but Ellie sure enjoyed having a birds eye view (we had her strapped in so she was safe). It was fun to watch the difference between Maisie this year as apposed to last year  (her very first parade experience). This year she was confident and made it out like a bandit in the candy and prizes department, where as last year she was timid to make her way through the groups of clamoring bigger kids. She was a full fledged kid this year and was so happy with her spoils. It was hot this year, but I remembered last year being even hotter, but I was only 20 days from giving birth, so that may have added to my uncomfortableness (hah you think?). I'm glad I wasn't pregnant this year, but even more so, I was glad to be celebrating one of my favorite holidays with Austin and my TWO girls. Ellie had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed the plane fly-bys, stomping horses and marching bands. Where as maisie enjoyed a free dilly bar, catching candy, waving to snoopy and getting sprayed by the passing floats. She even told me today that one float was playing Big Hero 6 music. haha I love that girl.

After the parade we came home for lunch and a little rest before we made our way to Egin Lake to cool down. It ended up not being as refreshing as we had hoped for, but it was fun nonetheless. The lake was a ton shallower than when we went last year and therefore the water was lukewarm. We played for a little over an hour and then when we got hungry, we headed home, started the grill and filled our bellies with a typical Fourth of July spread.

We were hoping to keep Ellie up to watch her first fireworks, but as I was nursing her after dinner she couldn't hold on any longer and passed out. So it was just the three of us (don't worry we saved a couple to light off with Ellie). 

It was a great Fourth, we did miss our families and wish we had been together to celebrate with them, but it's always fun having our own thing too.

The week of the 4th

Independence day happens to be my favorite holiday. Yes, even over Christmas. In my opinion there's not much better than a warm summer evening barbecue, a toddler singing "You're a Grand Old Flag" while simultaneously dancing with a miniature flag , firework stands, Ray Charles "America the Beautiful", s'mores, the smell of black powder and remembering the blessings that come from living in a free Country. I think it's important to feel pride where you come from, wherever it may be and I love having a day where we can celebrate America in all her beauty.

After last years epic 4th of July failure we made sure to bring back all the nostalgic memories from fourths past. We got everything we were missing last year and more. Still no apple pie though, but s'mores and popsicles did the trick. Plus my sister, Katie, was here! We were so happy to have her around. I think Katie and I broke into laughing tears 10+ times and I couldn't count how many times we snorted even if I tried (yes if you make us laugh hard enough we will snort. 

Austin STILL makes fun of me for it). 

We celebrated a week long fourth is this year. Austin lit fireworks every day/night leading up to the big night. Which equaled frequent trips to firework stands and Maisie was happy to accompany any person to said stand (especially auntie Katie). Seriously I haven't seen Maisie so happy, not even a candy or toy store could make my child as happy as a firework stand does. She was in heaven I tell you.

Here are some pictures from our week long celebration.

My posts tend to be photo heavy, but this one will be a doozy.

You have been warned.

Our child's backpack filled with fireworks. Haha

Snakes!

tiny graham, big mallow.

 

I don't even know.

This has been the best Independence day in a lonnggg time. I can't wait to see how it goes down in Idaho next year because word on the streets is they have amazing and Oregon-illegal fireworks. Whoop! 

4th of July in Redwood City

Austin and I were both feeling pretty homesick this 4th of July. We were missing backyard BBQs with friends and family and communal neighborhood fireworks. The bay area is not the "it" place on Independence day. 99% of the people we know live in apartment/condos so no backyards and that means no BBQs. Even if you had a house and could BBQ, no one sells fireworks here, so that's lame. Plus, there were only like 3 firework shows in a 60 mile radius. Pathetic. Not even Great America had a show that night, but they did the Saturday before and after, which doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, I know the 4th was on a Wednesday, but come on, you could do a show before and after but not on the actual 4th!? Let's just say we were overall disappointed with the lack of Nation pride in this area.

So since we couldn't eat BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers, I planned on making a homemade apple pie (from scratch) because that was the next most American thing I could think of.  But time ran short, so I ended up making an apple crisp instead, same great flavors, but much much easier.

We originally planned on going to San Fransisco, but since Austin worked that day and also the next morning, we decided to go half way and watch the firework show in Redwood City because we were determined to wave our flags and ooh and awe at the fireworks. We brought the apple crisp, tons of blankets and Maisie's wagon, but the only place we found was a huge courtyard. It was nice and pretty and all, but we were expecting grass, not cement.

We waited an hour for it to get dark enough for the show to start and when it did, we (and at least one hundred other people) realized that the show was not visible from the area we were all conveniently  camped out in. Not only that, but in order to get a good view, we all had to walk over a mile to catch the last 10 minutes or so. The website said anywhere from downtown (which is pretty dang vague) and we were in the most obvious place to be and still couldn't see the show. So hopefully next year, whoever mans the Redwood City website will be a little more descriptive.

So it was an epic failure of a 4th of a July. Only because the bar had been set so high in previous years, but we still laughed and made the best of it. We also watched the firework show at Great America the Saturday before, so all in all it was just fine.

Next year we are determined to be somewhere that really knows how to be patriotic, hopefully with friends, family, delicious grilled food and roman candles (ok I will even settle for some smoke bombs and sparklers after this lackluster 4th).

Remember what we did last 4th?

4th of July weekend 2011 

Tide Pools in Yachats

Giant Spruce Trail

Newport Bay Fireworks

Neskowin Beach

Oh, that was a fun one.

p.s MEMORY ALERT: The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, but I remember Austin telling me (years after the fact of course) that he started falling in love with me on our first 4th of July together way back in 2005. I remember him saying "I saw you with your family and who you truly were and I knew I loved you." I tell you, fireworks bring the best out of a girl. :)