the 4th

We love being in California for the fourth of July. One year we stayed here in the desert.  As I sat there under the fireworks display on some gravel sweating in the still-over-100-degrees-darkness I decided the desert wasn’t the most optimal place to spend a holiday like that.  I’m so grateful cool California is such a short drive away. This is was our third year in Coronado for the 4th, and it is like the favorite thing in the history of our family for our kids. I mean, how would it not be with this plethora of great kids to hang out with? Usually we come a few days before the 4th, but this year we arrived that morning and went straight to the parade (the kids already in their swimsuits ready to hit the beach right after). I love small town parades. In a little place like Coronado Island it pulls out everyone and their dog either on the sidelines or marching along.  The parade was complete with even the local Star Wars chapter included as well as the town garbage trucks. The only thing it was missing was the salt water taffy people were supposed to be throwing at us (or was that just what happened when I was a kid at Bear Lake?) I loved that it was so patriotic with the army and national guard giving out high-fives to the kids: And I thought this one was the coolest (depicting one of my fav. memorials in D.C…Iwo Jima): Every so often they got off and walked: …then ran back into “position:”Yes, I was totally nerdy and followed them along for a little while just to see how they did it. Gotta love some Scottish dancers followed by bagpipes. Did I mention Dave loves parades?Did you sense the sarcasm in that one? But all good things have to come to an end at some point much to Dave and Max’s chagrin so we headed to see if we could get the beach to warm up with our warm-sun-desert vibes. My brother and his wife live close-by now and my sister came down from San Francisco so they came to meet us for the day. So fun to hang with these cute kids: …and these cute adults:) Traditional family shots before heading over for the fireworks: …except that I’m missing one family, darn it! But you get the idea.Love these families so much.  Most of them are from here in the desert but one moved to Ohio and there are a few from Utah.  So glad for a chance to catch up with them once a year. And how fun to have this family with us too this year:Seriously, is that the cutest family ever or what?  (Their blog is over here.) And then we add sweet Charity in the mix (who’s blog is here).…and of course Lucy because I think it must be a hobby of hers to latch on to other families for family photos and stick to them like glue when I try to get her to leave… (Did I mention I think they are adorable?  Just wondering.) Love these two girls:(and cute baby boy.) Every year we walk over to a big park for the fireworks. …and hang for a while before they begin. One of our friends brings a big sound system and the kids rock out to that. The girls: The boys: The bigger boys: Each year the Masons bring a whole slew of glowsticks: …and the kids go hog-wild with them. Then we oooo and ahhhhh over the fireworks.I love the 4th.