Happy day after a holiday to you!
We had the family over on Saturday–excluding Noah, who is in Florida for a month, making memories with his other grandparents and cousins.
Saturday presented us with a heat index of 105, but Nathan, our intrepid griller, braved the heat to produce all sorts of deliciousness.
Here are a few miscellaneous photos taken by Meagan and me, ending with a video of all the Smiths marching and singing. Definitely not to be missed.
I love this first one that Meagan took.
Steve just purchased a humongous umbrella for the deck, which actually made it surprisingly bearable to sit out there. So sit, we did.
We had a little flag for everyone, so we stood in the kitchen and did an ear-numbing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. This is a song mostly suited to highly trained professionals; however, we gave it an enthusiastic and raucous try and made a happy memory.
But the highlight of the gathering? We took our flags and marched around the circle between the den and the living room. It was great fun, and lots of hilarious memories were made. (And yes, I know we are easily entertained.)
In closing, I came across a blog post from 2017 and a picture that said,
That was back when Steve and I didn’t know we would be buying his parents’ house and continuing to make memories within its walls. I love that we don’t always know what will happen down the road.
And speaking of memories, here’s a favorite photo from a Fourth of July about ten years ago; I think it was taken at Sea World. I love the way Nathan and Steve are captured in the middle of the photo; another precious memory to add to the memory book.
Happy 250th birthday to America, land that we love!
What about you?
Do you have a 4th of July memory, whether recently or from when you were younger?
Did you go to see fireworks, or was it too hot for you to get out?
What is something completely miscellaneous going on in your life this coming week? Could be big or small.
I grew up in Colorado and fireworks were usually banned. I don’t ever remember shooting fireworks as a child. Sad.
Our neighborhood went crazy with fireworks and there aren’t any trees to block the view. It was beautiful! Like our own personal up close display!
We are currently in Biloxi, MS for a few days. It’s right on the gulf and looks to be fun to explore!
Happy holiday!
LeeAnne,
I had no clue fireworks were usually banned in CO! I know you appreciate them EXTRA now.
I’ve been to Biloxi a couple of times; really cool place. Enjoy!
My favorite 4th of July memories are going to extended family’s home in Alderson WV for their town’s 4th of July parade & celebration. In fact, my sister just posted Saturday about 50 years ago riding her bike in the Alderson parade for the 200th Birthday of America (a memory I did not remember). Our family lived a couple of blocks from the school where all the races, celebrations & stuff took place after the parade, so after the parade we would walk back to their house for lots of delicious food then back to the school to watch various events or back to the house for badminton, croquet, etc. in the back yard of their beautiful 1908 home. This year my husband and I spend the 4th driving back from Arkansas. (My dear mother-in-love has a compression fracture in her back and has been in considerable pain so we went Wed – Saturday so he could see her. It was my 2nd trip in less than a week, and when we got home I sure felt my age. But thankfully she is beginning to get some pain relief. Even if I wasn’t worn out from traveling, it was way to hot to view fireworks. I plan on doing very little this week – I hope to spend a lot of time inside with well working air conditioning reading and watching TV. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Sue Ellen,
I love your memories of your childhood celebrations; sounds like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
I know it was the best medicine ever for your mother-in-love to see you and your husband. Glad she is starting to get some relief.
A week spent inside doing very little sounds fab; enjoy!
What great pictures of the family and especially because our country is so well represented. We didn’t do much for the 4th but did see only 2 this year. When we first bought our home almost 23 years ago, I counted about 15 we could see across the way. Many of the trees were babies and now have really grown, so have blocked our seeing many of the fireworks even though they can be heard. Late Happy 4th to the Smith family!
Sharyn,
I love the mental image of baby trees turning into grownup trees. 🙂 The only bad thing about that is that they blocked fireworks view. I guess two is better than nothing!
Stay cool up there!
July 4th was different this year. Jeff, Kris, and Evan usually have a picnic around 5. Then when it gets darker we do about a 6 block walk to the park, pulling a wagon with our chairs and whatever. There are usually 10 of us. We’ll, 10 days ago Jeff wiped out on his electric bike due to a foot rest flipping up. He broke a bone in his shoulder. After a trip to urgent care, he waited for a dr appt, and finally gets to see a dr tomorrow. Something about getting the swelling down. Crazy!! So he’s been in a lot of pain. As bad as they wanted to do the picnic, it just wasn’t going to work this year. Now comes the But…. Kris said they managed to help get Jeff to a spot where they were going to watch the fireworks, so off Phil and I went. I walked a block with my cane. We sat in chairs we brought. It started sprinkling a ways into it, then got heavier. So we all left. But we did get to see some of it.
So happy for all the memories you are still making in your house!
I hope Noah is enjoying his time in FL!!!
Great pictures! What a big umbrella!! Wonderful!!
Carol,
I had no idea Jeff broke a bone in his shoulder! Traumatic and painful for sure.
But on the bright side, hooray for you walking a block with your cane! You could have never imagined doing that even 8 weeks ago. I know that made the fireworks all the sweeter, knowing you got there under your own power.
You go! 🙂
Love your enthusiastic parade.
I remember the bicentennial 4th. I was staying with my sister, who we hoped would deliver on the 4th but waited until the 9th. All the churches in her town rented the fairgrounds. There was music, food booths, games, and fireworks at night. It was very memorable.
We are expecting company this week, so I spent the 4th-which was very hot-in the AC deep cleaning my kitchen. Saw a few fireworks from the window.
This week our church is doing “Camp Creativity” instead of VBS. This is the 4th year. I am sewing a little bag with the kids one night.
Patti,
I love hearing stories of churches banding together to do something for the community. That’s exactly how it should be. It sounds like it was a huge success, especially if you remember it these years later.
It is very satisfying to deep clean your kitchen. Once all the guests leave, you still have a nice clean kitchen.
And what a great idea to have Camp Creativity; I know the kids will have a ball!
I went to my parents’ house for their picnic. It was nice to get together with family. I was able to play peek-a-boo with my great niece Bella who is almost 2 years old. She is such a sweetheart. I also got to hold my 2-month-old niece Violette for the first time. I also found information on my maternal grandfather related to his military service.
Rachel,
A 2-year old and a 2-month old. Your Auntie Cup was full! I love those ages.
And how great to find information about your grandfather. I love learning new things about family.