Saturday, July 2nd: While we really wanted to go play in the Current River, we decided the water levels were too high for us to take the kids on a float trip and still feel safe. Instead, we took the girlies to The Magic House. Eric hadn't been since he was a kid and it was seriously 110 degrees out, so an indoor adventure was our choice. Ava had been there in the spring with her kindergarten class and fell in love with the baby nursery. We did what there was to do on our way to the nursery, then off Eric and Audrey went to explore the entire place, while I sat in a rocking chair in the nursery. Ava put on a doctor's coat, grabbed a stethoscope, and bathed, swaddled, and doctored the heck out of a half dozen babies. She was so happy to just play there most of the day. I told her that I thought she would make a good baby doctor one day and she said, "No, Mommm...I'm going to grow up and cut hair!".
We also ate an entirely overpriced lunch at Pi. JJ Twigs from now on.
Later, my folks watched the girls so that I could go to a store and try on dresses for Eric's cousin's upcoming wedding. I knew exactly what I wanted (as the wedding is in the middle of July in St. Louis)-long, flowy, colorful. I tried on 10 dresses in the store. Yep, the 10th one was it. It was one of the three dresses I like on the store's website. It also happened to be the very last dress of its kind in the store and after a quick look on line, it was the last in my size available. Wow, God blesses me. It isn't really what I normally would wear. It has a major bohemian feel with aqua and orange in it. Regardless, it is exactly what I hoped for and with the addition of some jewelry and a pair of shoes, I should be good to go.
After dress shopping, Eric bought a pair of sandals from REI, then we rushed back to my folks to get the girls and my parents for an evening swim. Perfect.
Sunday: We were planning on leaving our house around 3:30 to go to a party with Eric's parents. That is the exact time a huge storm descended upon our town. We waited and when we thought it was over, we left. Then it started right back up.
We crossed the JB Bridge and headed to Fosterburg, Illinois. We brought espresso chocolate chip cookies (aka Marine Cookies), oriental slaw, and two huge firework "cakes" to be set off after dark. The party was at Laura and Rodney's house. They have a gorgeous private lake which served as the perfect backdrop for the massive fireworks display.
The kids were immediate friends with all of the kids there. They all (even little Ava!) set off fireworks all day long. I don't know what is more exciting for a child than to walk around all day with a lit punk grabbing stuff to blow up.
The storm followed us and it rained, but stopped right when it was time for the big display. The kids were soaking wet, muddy, and the happiest of all there. It was an amazing evening. We can't wait to back next year.
Monday, The Fourth of July: Well the day didn't start out terrific. We thought our plans of an impromptu party were all set. Turns out they weren't.
*Reminder-Cory and Mom don't like fireworks, nieces aren't allowed to light anything other than smoke bombs, Baby is scared of them, "The Big Ticket" and "The Sreaming Mee Mee" are cakes worth their money!, cakes with 9-12 shots are the most powerful, quarter sticks of dynamite are even MORE powerful, and we all love rapid fire.* Hopefully this will help us plan better in 2012.
Even though we were all disappointed that things didn't work out the way we planned, something even better was in the works. What was supposed to be just a very late afternoon swim at my in-laws, turned into our party. The kids swam. We dined on left over pizza and strawberries and twinkies (all very good!). In the daylight we set off parachutes, smoke bombs, bottlerockets and more. I made one last run to our neighbor's fireworks stand. Then evening came.
Lyn turned on the outside t.v. to the live showing of the downtown fireworks complete with patriotic music. Denny and the girls got in the pool, and Eric set off an amazing array of huge, loud, colorful fireworks. It was a small, intimate celebration (Aunt Becky was there, too) and we all said we're going to do it exactly the same way next year. Viewing fireworks overhead while in the pool was the best, said my father-in-law. It was our favorite Fourth of July. I wish my family could have been there as well, but they all had their own plans. Maybe next year we'll all be together.
We didn't plan it, but the girls ended up spending the night with their grandparents. Finding ourselves home without them, we did something that is starting to become a special thing for us. We hopped on our bicycles around midnight and rode throughout our entire neighborhood. I really like our secret night time rides, and I really, really like having fun with my family.
No comments:
Post a Comment