In the morning, we took the kids downtown to ride in the kids parade. I decorated their bikes and helmets in red, white, and blue- which seemed like such a good idea until we got there! Sam wanted nothing to do with his helmet and seemed truly disturbed about the decorations trailing from his handlebars, and well, really the whole crowd thing seemed to disturb him too. So, we got through it like we get through many things with Sam these days- we bribed him. I continually reminded him about the whole entire bag of candy he would receive all to himself at the end of the parade route. And I say continually because I had to walk along side him the entire way as well! Although, it was really a good thing to walk along side him as he sometimes gets 'high centered' with his training wheels.
After that fabulous start, we walked back over to the bank and sat across the street under the shade of some trees to watch the parade. It was the best parade experience I have ever had! We were there early enough (remember, "ride your bike, we'll get candy!") to get good spots for our chairs (ooh, a chair- a novel parade idea for me!), we sat in the oh-so-lovely shade, and I drank my coffee and read the paper before it started! My darling children were occupied with their candy and sat on the grass and curb area in front our our feet. With all the people milling about, there was plenty for them to look at and keep them occupied as they tended their blood sugar levels. Once the parade started, Ben and Sam were happy to sit either on the curb or our laps to watch all the assorted fire trucks, military vehicles, horses, marching bands, etc. When it was over, we walked across the street, put our chairs in the truck and off we went. We didn't even get caught in the mass-exodus traffic snarl that usually accompanies downtown events. What a morning!
Our Fourth of July evening was complete with a BBQ. Our new friends, the Priors, and our neighbors, the Hancocks, came over for beer, burgers, corn, watermelon, etc. We had a great time with a semi-impromptu water balloon fight with the kids. We ate dinner, did some fireworks out on the street, and then headed down to our beach area for the neighborhood and city fireworks displays. The Hancocks drove down, and offered to pile all the kids in their van. Us remaining four adults started walking down to the beach and were passed by a white van with loud music and even louder kids! Ben had his head out the window hollering "we're teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen-agers!". In fact, it was hard to hear that with all the other giggling and jostling that was going on in there!
The fireworks were spectacular! We enjoyed many semi-professional looking ones that folks from the neighborhood brought down to the beach to launch off the dock. Then we were able to watch the show across the lake, over at City Beach. It was a fabulous show, made all the more fantastic by not having to endure the traffic home! Actually as I sat admiring the fireworks from our beach, I noticed that no matter which way I looked all up and down the lake, there were fireworks to watch. It was so terrifically peaceful to sit cozily with my family, watch everyone's celebrations and know that when it was all done, all we had to do was walk home and get those crazy "we're teenagers" kids in bed!
And yes, in case you were wondering, we will be taking reservations for fourth of July visitors on a first come, first served basis!
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