What a wonderful 4th of July weekend. I don’t even know where to begin. My husband, Corey, had a few days off of work, which doesn’t EVER happen so I think that was the best part of the long weekend. We actually got to enjoy time together…and when he is around more, I start to remember exactly why I married him and love him so much! It’s amazing what a few days together can do for your marriage….go figure! We didn’t have to go away together. We didn’t plan any fancy night out on the town. We did simple things with family and friends and that was more than enough to remind me why he is truly my best friend!
On Friday night, we had family and friends over for a cook out and fireworks. It’s a tradition in our house to go to a local fireworks store and load up on all sorts of fireworks to shoot off at home. We always have people over…feed them…and then at dusk start the real festivities. The kids have so much fun running around the house in the dark playing kick-the-can with their friends, and I love all the great memories I have from the years of this tradition. Our entire driveway is lined with chairs and people chatting waiting for the big display to start. Corey is a pyro at heart so this is one of his favorite holidays. There’s nothing quite like the smell of bug spray in the air and colored smoke bombs staining my driveway to really say, “Summer has officially arrived”!
Saturday, the 4th we actually broke tradition for the first time in 13 years! As you may notice, I am huge on traditions. I believe kids need traditions in their lives to create familiarity and memories that don’t fade with time. Normally, we head down to the local park and enjoy the mini carnival they put on. Then at dusk, we curl up on blankets and enjoy the city’s fireworks show. This year, we were invited to go up North to a friend’s cottage so we decided to take them up on the offer. We spent the day boating, tubing, fishing from the dock, and just soaking up the sun. That evening, we sat around a campfire, eating smores, and watching numerous fireworks shoot off over the lake. It was a beautiful evening. I felt a bit melancholy over breaking tradition, but I realized that as the kids get older, our traditions are going to change from time to time. As long as we are together, making new memories is all that really matters!
Sunday was a very eventful day. We left the house at 7:15am…and let me tell you what a feat that was to pull off. We didn’t’ get home the night before until 11:30pm. So waking 5 children up at 6:15am…getting them bathed, dressed, fed, the car unpacked and repacked, myself showered and ready to go, and have all of us out the door within one hour was quite a task. We did it though, and I was so pleased with myself that I beamed all the way to Chicago. My brother lives in Chicago so we met him there (and my other brother drove there to meet us as well) and they surprised the 4 older kids with a Cubs-Brewers game. We have a strong rival within our family…half are die-hard Brewers fans, and the rest of us love the Cubbies! So this game was the perfect match up to take the kids to. We sent my two brothers off with the 4 kids and wished them luck! My one brother has one daughter and my other brother doesn’t have any children. Needless to say, they were in over their heads…and I was impressed with their gallant attempt to manage my herd for the day.
Corey and I, along with my parents, took Natalie and my Goddaughter (and only niece) to Shedd Aquarium. It was a place I had always wanted to visit in Chicago and for some reason had never taken the time to go. I finally decided that Sunday was the day to go. The girls loved seeing the big “fishies” and I loved seeing the dolphins. They are so precious and when I saw a baby swimming tight to her mommy…well, that made my day.
All in all, it was an incredible weekend….one not soon forgotten. There is nothing I cherish more than quality time with loved ones. Spending time together…creating memories…simply basking in the fleeting moments of summer…that’s what I call a great 4th of July weekend!
