While the 4th of July was on a weekend this year, it was low key (by our standards). We went over to my parents house (Grammy and GrampC) and just did some swimming and BBQing.
Dave of course had to dress for the occasion. Everyone commented about how toned down he was in comparison to previous years. His logic - it was too hot to wear all that gear.
The kids in the pool.
L-R: Kady, Adrina, Drew
The two Dads - GrampC Charlie and Kent, Auntie Rana's Dad.
Uncle Matt and Cousin Avery
In the evening we watched the neighbors setting off fireworks. We were too busy to pick them up this year and so we enjoyed someone else setting them off - on their dime too! Some of us were able to stay up to see the Grand Finale....
I nearly forgot, mostly because it was a run I'd like to forget and block out of my mind. But on the 4th of July my neighbor and I decided spur of the moment to run the local 4th of July 5K. And I mean spur of the moment. The night of the 3rd, in the midst of drinking wine and Birthday celebrations we decided we'd run 3.1 miles in the morning, neither of us being really dedicated in our running regimen lately.
Here we are the morning of the race. It was ridiculously hot, but worse it was muggy! Now my midwest family and friends are saying - hehe humid, you don't know humid. Well this was just like you experience every day of the summer, and it was only 7:15am.
My final time 37:40. An embarrassing time - for me. I had to walk a majority of the route due to the heat. The highlight of the run... the drizzle that hit us at the finish line. Thankfully the rain broke the humidity... a little too late though.
So we did the run and boy was it ugly - well at least for me. I finished
We tried to do something fun on July 4th this year, but our intentions of going to Stinson Beach were foiled by a long line of cars and traffic. We actually got within 2 miles to find a 2 hour line just to find parking for the beach. So we drove home swam and had a BBQ.
The real fun was two days later on Saturday at my brother's house where they have a block party to watch the fireworks set off at the local high school.
Uncle Matt set up a killer water slide in the front yard. And Drew really enjoyed it - Dave did too, just in the shallow water, Daddy didn't go down the slide.
We also tortured my niece Avery with a photo shoot...
These photos were stolen from my sister-in-law's Facebook page since my photog (Dave) didn't capture "the shot" like Rana did.
You can't tell from the smile in that last photo, but Avery was not happy with our forcing her inside that hat. We're such mean Godparents, aren't we?
Drew was anxiously awaiting the fireworks...
Which finally started around 9:30pm.
The block party at Matt's is always a great time and a way to see fireworks. You can't find them around here anymore!
Since the 4th of July fell on a Wednesday this year we had to prolong the fun into Saturday. So we went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a fun day of eating, drinking and fireworks! Matt moved earlier this year and we had front row for his town's firework show. His neighbors blocked off the streets and it was a good old block party!
It was a hot day in the Far East Bay, and so while the older kids were in one neighbors swimming pool (we didn't bring suits because we didn't know) Drew stayed behind and kept cool in other ways. Like a water balloon toss with the adults
Drew laughing at Uncle Matt who "lost" his balloon
Drew slip and sliding in his undies. Yep we were "those" relatives.
Mr. Patriotic Dave trying to keep cool... or maybe bring out his gangsta side.
Auntie Rana getting into the patriotic spirit with a new do.
After dinner we gathered in the street - along with all the neighbors for some illegal safe n sane fireworks - shhhhh. Then we enjoyed the city fireworks.
Daddy and Drew getting ready for the action
The family:
Front L-R: GrampC, Drew, Grammy, Rana
Back L-R: Kent (Rana's Dad), Dave and Matt
And to prove I was there too....
Same shot, with me in Rana's chair. Hmmm Matt wasn't as close to me.... perhaps I didn't smell as good as Rana?
And Drew getting into the Sparklers.
Most of my firework pictures didn't turn out... so that's about all you get. The best part of the trip, Dave and I could drink more than usual since we crashed at their house. We've already invited ourselves for next year - it was that much fun!
This July 4th we spent the afternoon Celebrating America's Birthday at Grammy and GrampC's.
Actually we kind of sorta invited ourselves over to mooch their pool - of course the company is always nice too.
Adrina and Drew - the fish
They were having a great time together. Here's a video of them doing their stunts. (and for those who are reading this only from the email - here's the video link).
And speaking of stunts....
... that's Adrina showing off making the rest of us non-flexible adults jealous of her moves.
L-R: Adrina's friend, Dave, Adrina, Drew
Uncle Matt hugging Uncle Sam.... I mean Dave.
L-R: Adrina's friend, Adrina, Rana and Matt
Dave and I
Then we took a walk to one of Dave's softball friends who lives about 3 blocks away. I Love Love Love this next picture.
Drew and Grammy left fairly quickly because Drew spotted the park and wanted to play for a bit. I left shortly after and Dave... well I had to call him to come home.
Drew wasn't done with the pool.
He managed to sucker GrampC to throw him a few times.
And when Daddy made it back home Drew really got some air!
After dinner and dessert we had to pack it up and head home. There should be some law against having a holiday like the 4th in the middle of the week without the extra day off....
As you saw earlier this week from Drew's candids from my phone, we spent the 4th of July holiday camping. While this story may not exactly have anything to do with Lions and Tigers, we'll get to the racoons in a bit. This trip we ventured back to Olema on the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. There we called this castle... home.
And we had the essentials - wine and were armed with rocks.
That was our ammo for the racoons who were brave as all get out and were scrounging for food. We've camped here for 20+ years and never had a wild creature, let alone racoons who had absolute no fear. We didn't have the ammo that first Friday night... and by Saturday when this picture was taken of course those darned racoons opted not to return. Some of Grammy and GrampC's friends came up and brought 2 dogs with them. While I'd like to think those coons knew we were going to scare them with the rocks... I'm sure it was the dogs that kept us safe.
In the meantime, Drew was kept busy for a while with the bubble machine.
This child was my reason for drinking early into the trip. We weren't camping more than 2 hours when he started begging to come home. He didn't like that we didn't have cell service and he couldn't play his games on my iPhone. Spoiled much?
While it's a picture of Drew chillin' in the background, I got a shot of our dinner cooking in the dutch oven. Campfire lasagna - a first for us. Turned out pretty darned good!
For two days we tried to find some local tidepools to keep Drew happy and busy during the day - a double strike-out, but we did find a cool beach to visit next time around (we opted not to wait the 20-30 more minutes for parking - that we had yet to pay for).
So instead we checked out a little community activity in the Town of Tomales. A cute quaint little area and Drew got to get some of his wiggles out.
See here, he's trying to do his "Rocky Pull-ups". As you've seen Drew does his Rocky one-armed push-ups, well now he's working other arm muscles with the pull-up version.
My little human wrecking ball...
When Drew climbed into my lap around the campfire we knew it meant he was getting tired. Grammy and GrampC however were ready to party all-night long.
We knew it... within about 10 minutes of climbing into my lap, he was O.U.T. And it wasn't quite 7pm yet!
Despite the pesky racoons, Drew's whining (what only child - and a 3YO at that - on a camping trip wouldn't complain), and a death in the family of one of our fellow-campers... it was a great weekend. I have to say, camping Dutch oven cooking ROCKS!
After the annual parade we made our way home so we could shower off all the sweat, change and get things together for part two of our fun day. We headed to Uncle Matt's house for a BBQ with Rana, Adrina and my parents - Rana's Dad and friends also joined us.
Drew managed to get a few zzz's before we arrived. I can't believe how much he takes after his Daddy in the snoring department!
Once we arrived at Uncle Matt's sure enough Drew woke up and after a few moments was ready to play with Adrina. The two of them went swimming to escape the heat.
They made it into the pool a few times to keep cool. Even after Arco (Matt's former K9 Partner) "christened" the pool. Eh the kids didn't seem to mind. It's not like they were drinking the water or anything.
Another hit to stay cool... eating popsicles!
Yes they had a little dessert before dinner. Which I have to say was out of this world. Marinated flank steak (Rana has an awesome "recipe" she used), corn on the cob, watermelon, and potato salad.
Mr. Picky Eater (aka Drew) won't eat steak, but had a hot dog instead. Funny thing is apparently he had someone willing to feed him instead of doing it himself.
For dessert I made something a little festive.
I must confess, it was as good as it looks!
Once it cooled down and the shade moved into Matt's backyard we moved the party outdoors. Here Drew is looking at his beloved "purple flowers". A favorite of his since last year!
Once it was dark it was time for the real fun - fireworks! OK so I have to admit, fireworks in our county were illegal, however we purchased them in a legal county. But when your brother is a cop and he okays fireworks, then I think we're safe.
Drew and Adrina were happily playing with the snappers (perfectly legal I may add).
Then it was the real fun - fireworks in the street. Luckily there was someone else setting off really cool (and illegal) fireworks in the sky. Matt's city did fireworks the day before - rather than on the 4th. Drew anxiously waited for all the fun.
The pictures I took of our firework spectacle didn't turn out well... so here's a final picture of Drew doing the "sparklers". Did you know they don't call them sparklers anymore? Geesh.
