Happy 4th of July!

  I love the 4th of July.  Its all about summer time, BBQ’s, swimming, family and fireworks. I know that probably sounds so selfish and horrible that I’m not saying its about freedom and America…but I’m being real…4th of July is about summertime!  Yes we think about having our freedoms as Americans and how its absolutely awesome to live in this country, but its also such an amazing holiday to be with family and friends! 

This year 4th of July made me sad a little bit. I started thinking about how we used to have such AWESOME block parties in Southridge. All the neighbors would come out, put barricades up in the street and we’d swim in everyone’s pools ALL day, BBQ, eat a little bit at everyone’s house, and then a huge firework show in the middle of the street when it finally got dark.  I’ve say it before, but the feeling of excitement the year you get “promoted” to be able to light the fireworks is such a big deal. As a kid you only get to do the sparklers, but then comes the time when Dad hands you the lighter…oh the rush!! haha  Now-a-days we don’t have that. Most cities don’t allow fireworks (except good ol’ Fontana still does), but all of my parents neighbors have moved and ghetto people now fill those homes. Its just so different.  We didn’t have “the feeling” this year. Poor Yosh was working on the boat ALL weekend with the help of Kris Gerke.  Our little boat repair project turned into a boat renovation.  With the deadline quickly approaching the panic has kind of set in. The boat has to be fixed and back in the water before my sis-in-law and fam come to Cali from NY (they get here the 16th of July). So Yosh and Kris worked all day and night all weekend in the 100 degree weather!

I took these pics from our 2nd story bedroom window…the roof was an added task since they realized it was rotting away!!!

So while the boys worked…Owen, Addi, Taryn and myself hung out “poolside” for a bit.

And of course once all the pools are blown up and filled with water the kids are over being outside and want to eat otter pops INSIDE…grrrrrrrrr

 

While Yosh and Kris finished up for the day…Owen took a nap, while I tried doing some homework (what school starts a class ON the 4th of JULY…what the heck!?!?) before heading to our next location for festivities.

Our friends, The Manley’s, little girl Caroline’s birthday is the 3rd of July…and this year they decided to have a BBQ/Party on the 4th for her 3rd birthday party. It was a small affair, but a lot of fun!!

 

Joel BBQ’d,  the kids played in the spa, Deanna made an awesome ice-cream cake, Caroline opened presents, the kids played in the sandbox that Joel has been slaving over all summer…and then we did sparklers before watching the city’s firework show from over the backyard wall.

These are the smallest kiddo’s of the crew right now.
Tyler Rowe, Wyatt Manley (yes w/ his dinner on his face!), and Baby Brynn Cilderman!

 

Spa Time!

My poor little dude took a spill and skinned his upper lip. He was pushing on the screen door and I opened it…not realizing he was pushing against it…yep and he fell FLAT on his face.  It doesn’t look too bad in this pic….but today ((2 days after)) it looks HORRIBLE. (You’ll see in my post about today’s playdate at a later time!)

 

Cake and presents time!

 

Sandbox time

 

Sparkler Time

Oh man…the sparklers situation started out rough…Deanna was testing them out when Ryland walked to close…and a spark got him on the cheek, under his eye. It was a horrible accident that COULD have been MUCH much worse.  Poor little Ryry had a burn mark on his face but was still brave enough to hold a sparkler after calming down!!!  I was shocked that Owen loved the sparklers…for everyone that knows my child and how sensitive and how much of a wuss he is, I was TOTALLY shocked (and very happy) that Owen WASN’T afraid of them at all!! He wasn’t scared….until….Joel brought out the snakes…

Notice my child clinging onto his Daddy for dear life?!?

All in all it was a great 4th of July…we spend it was very dear friends…really missed the ones who couldn’t make it…but hopefully we can all be together NEXT year.  I spoke with mom later that night…she was also thinking about years past too…we both missed the old days, the old people, the old memories. I know that’s a part of life…and needing to make new memories…but I miss those people and my family of 4 so so much.  From our block parties with the Rebello’s, Korber’s, Hamann’s, Nicholsons, Kostelniks, etc.  and those we spent up on Appain Way w/ the Rankins and Copelan families…remember the watermelon speed spitting contests we’d have…oh the fun!!! The simpler days!  But~I had Mom promise me that they would host a BBQ/Pool Party next year…swimming, booze, food, family and friends and fireworks…oh man what a combo,  I already can’t wait!!!

 

FLASHBACK!!

This is 4th of July 2009…all the crew together at the Harp’s house off Green River…all the kids were so small!!! And to think if we took this picture this year we’d have 4 MORE babies to add, Wowza!!! We’re group is growing…pretty cool stuff!
Left to right: Kyla, Logan, Ava, Lindsey, Payton, Heather, Ryland, me, Owen, Jessica, Addison, Deanna and Caroline.