Fabulous Fourth

It all began on Friday afternoon...after joining the masses in holiday weekend travel, we finally arrived at the Cottage just before dinner time on Friday.  (Good thing, since we were bringing part of dinner.)  We hung out for a bit and ate dinner and then left the kids with Nana and Papa while we headed out on a date.  After a short drive, we ended up on the beach to watch the sunset.  It was quite windy and cold, (typical of the Pacific Northwest coast), but it was wonderful to snuggle with my hubby and enjoy an uninterrupted conversation with rolling ocean scenery.

Saturday, we took the kids to the community 4th of July celebration.  Our kids bounced themselves crazy in several inflatable bounce houses.  I asked if I could join them, but I wasn't allowed.  (Bummer.)  After they rode the kiddy train, we headed home for lunch and naps.  Once the kids were asleep, we left the kids with Nana and Papa again, (They were lifesavers this weekend!  I SO needed the break!).  My brother-in-law and his girlfriend introduced us to geocaching.  What a BLAST!  I'm totally hooked. 

That evening, we roasted hot dogs in the fire pit and then headed to the beach for fireworks.  It was still cold and windy.  While conditions have been comparable in past years, this year was much windier than ever before.  The kids, (especially Clayton), weren't too impressed with the blowing sand.  The girls spent their evening with pillows and blankets in the back of Papa's car.  I love that we can (legally) let off our own fireworks here.  And, this year didn't disappoint.  By the time we left, every inch of me was covered in a fine, dusty grit.  Thank goodness for hot showers.

Sunday, we enjoyed the local ward.  And, I enjoyed connecting with my college friend.  Seems like 4th of July is our once-a-year time to catch up.  Last year, (we hadn't seen each other for about 10 years), I was pregnant--and Clayton was born about 5 weeks later.  This year, she is pregnant and due in about 6 weeks.  Who knows what next year will bring?

My ever-gracious in-laws offered to stay with our children again that evening so Ryan and I could head back to the beach to watch the 4th of July celebrations.  Although I LOVE fireworks, by the time that evening rolled around, I didn't feel like changing back into 100 layers of clothes and/or freezing my buns off.  So, we decided to stay home--out of the wind and out of the cold.  Instead, we watched fireworks on TV.  Not quite the same, but I still felt patriotic.  And I still thought a lot about the freedoms we enjoy in our country.  After living in a post-communist part of the world for a year and a half, I feel very strongly about the need to preserve our freedoms.  And very grateful for the sacrifices that have been made for us to remain free.

This morning, we got up, packed up, and headed out.  We anticipated a bit of holiday traffic--but ended up not encountering any.  (Although there was an Kallie-induced emergency pit stop at a Rest Stop about 20 minutes from home.)  Throughout the remainder of the day, I finished reading a great book (The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig--slow at first, but loved it!), found out I have been cast as Maude Dunlop in our stake production of The Music Man, and ripped out a few rhododendron bushes in our front yard.  And our holiday weekend is over.  Can't we have another one next week?