Fun Filled 4th

We had a busy week leading up to the 4th of July around here, which is why I only had time for one post last week.

There was a freak storm last Friday night called a Derecho which knocked out power to the majority of my friends for 4-5 days.

We on the other hand were lucky and our town had power and little damage. So we did what people do in times of trouble and invited our displaced friends to come join us at my parents house.

My friend H and her son took us up on the offer. We acted like vacationers and took the boys to the park and ate lots of seafood and take out. It was a fun two days helping H make the best of a bad situation. We even got to relax and indulge in some wine, cupcakes and an episode of the Bachelorette.

We spent the day on the beach in Sea Isle with my family. Jack ran in and out of the water and played in the gully. He loves the water and has no fear when it comes to the ocean. It makes me nervous but I sorta love that he’s a bit of a beach bum like his Mama.

One of my oldest friends, Christine, and her family were down on vacation in Sea Isle for the week. We had them over for a BBQ which was simple and laid back. The kids got a long great and we were able to watch the fireworks from the deck.

We hadn’t spent the 4th in Sea Isle in a long time. At our old house we would take a cooler to our little beach, listen to the free concert and watch the fireworks over the bay.

I loved that tradition and was sad to see it go. But getting to spend the 4th with friends and family reminded me why I enjoy this summer holiday so much.

I always feel like the 4th is a no pressure event because someone else is supplying the main entertainment for the evening. If the fireworks are a bust it isn’t my fault. All I have to worry about is burgers, hot dogs and cold beer.  I actually forgot to put out the salad I made but no one seemed to care.

The next morning Christine and I took the kids to the beach for a beachcomber walk. I used to do these when I was a kid and loved it. The guides tell you about different things you can find on a beach and then you go off in search of them. It’s like a big treasure hunt.

I knew that Jack was too young for the walk but it only cost a dollar and included a free bucket. He loved walking the beach and picking up bits of shells to place in his bucket.

It was nice to get out of our usual routine and spend time with friends and family. Sometimes it’s hard living in a resort town but, it was nice to have a few days to take advantage of it.

How did you spend your 4th?