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.