4th of July!

It's official, we have a set Fourth of July tradition now. Each year the family converges on the great state of VA and celebrates the holiday. One thing I do love about our family is that we've always opened our hearts to friends and treated them like family. It is very special to come from a family who looks out for each other and regardless of our distance would crawl through fire to help one another. I think of my cousins more as siblings than cousins. I love them each dearly and each one is certainly his/her own person, we are all very different but we all love each other because of it. The festivities started on Friday, but our portion of the family had just driven back from the outer banks and we were a bit tired and not ready to party. Though Saturday we had a great time. Some of the ladies ventured out to Bluemont Vineyard to do a wine tasting. Aunt Joan and I have decided that this should become part of the tradition. And next year I think we're going to investigate a limo and multiple winery stops...thoughts ladies? And LISA YOU HAVE TO COME NEXT YEAR! I will drive you to Anthropology another time! Oh and the boys went golfing.

After that it was pool time and family enjoyment. The girls really came out of the "pool shell" this weekend. It started with Fiona venturing out in the pool in her inner tube and "floodle." She was a wild woman kicking around the pool. Then Luli decided she might leave the stairs if I held her inner tube tightly, within five minutes she was kicking around the pool yelling "LOOK AT ME, LOOK HOW GOOD I'M DOING." She was ridiculously proud of herself, and I was ridiculously proud also, she may actually learn to swim before she's 30!

Sunday we ventured back to Tom and Joan's in the afternoon for more pool, family, and fun. Then back to our house in the evening to take in the fireworks. Gosh I love my house, it is seriously the best seat in town for the fireworks. A few neighbors came by to join us and we laid out lots of blankets and pillows to get comfy. Patrick has pics of the fireworks, hopefully I'll get some from him soon (hint hint).

All the while we were missing a very important member of our family. Cousin Ryan, he's currently flying helicopters in Afghanistan and due to be back home in November. We miss him a lot but he surprised us all with a phone call on July 4th! We think of him every day and pray for his safety and that of all the armed forces abroad.

I know I have other pictures but I guess I haven't uploaded them yet.

Fireworks - A mixed review

Thursday night our neighborhood held their fireworks spectacular. It is really amazing to see such a show from a neighborhood, it's quite professional and lasting at least 20 minutes. There were smiley faces, hearts, and star shaped fireworks as well as the traditional ones that shower from the sky.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner on the deck, got the girls in their pj's and then headed down the street with our blanket to a nice spot on a hill of the golf course adjacent to our house. We had a great spot, not near any crowds and the girls were able to run around and play on the golf course. Luli had her first experience rolling down a hill, taught and displayed by her father. Fiona really wanted to do it too but couldn't really figure out how to work her body for that purpose yet.

When the show started it was no surprise that she screamed in fright and ran straight for me. Fiona's always been easily spooked by loud sounds. Luli on the other hand made her way to Oscar's lap and enjoyed the show, commenting on how pretty they were and how she wanted more smiley face ones! Uncle Eyes seemed impressed by our lil' neighborhood show. Which this made it all the easier to decline the trip into the city to watch those the following evening and fight that crowd - no thanks!

Family Fun Filled Fourth

We enjoyed a wonderful Fourth of July holiday this year. Uncle Eyes, known to the rest of the world as Patrick, my brother, came to visit Thursday evening. He flew in from Portland and his 1.5 hr flight was only half the time it took me to drive to BWI on Thursday afternoon. Wow that was some crazy traffic, for three hours I didn't get out of 2nd gear! Anywhoo, the rest of the weekend was a lot of fun and a lot of reminiscing. Several of my maternal side cousins came down (I only clarify because I have the world's largest amount of cousins if you add in both maternal and paternal) and stayed with my Aunt and Uncle. We had a great time lounging by the pool Friday and Saturday, and laughing into the late night hours.

It was a lovely weekend to have my brother here, it's the first time he's visited us in this house, and at least 4 years since the last time he came down to visit. My cousin Bob is also leaving on a world tour next week so it was great to see him, and his lovely girlfriend, prior to his departure.

After days of eating and staying up late my body is yearning for the gym and my bed, an interesting combo!