Working Mama: A Different Kind of Fourth of July

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Different Kind of Fourth of July

Fourth of July is one of my husbands favorite holidays. I was never a big fireworks fan, in fact I used to be scared of them. When I was younger I had this jacket, it was a pink jacket and let me say that it probably wasn't the best jacket to be wearing while playing with a sparkler, but either way, I ended up burning my arm slightly from a sparkler and until about 7 years ago I was definitely scared of them.

Ever since I met my husband we go to the lake on the Fourth of July. His birthday is around the 4th and so we always have a great celebration. He has always been a firework nut. He loves them. Since the cabin is in Wisconsin we can shoot off a bunch of different - bigger fireworks

Fireworks from years back at the lake

So every year either before the fourth, the weekend of or on our way through St. Croix Falls we stop and get fireworks. We get cakes, bottle rockets, roman candles, little bees (my personal favorite) and many other things. A few years ago Mike and his dad built a case for the shells. We usually spend the afternoon before the night splicing them together in fun color combinations. It's a real production and we have a ton of fun! I have to admit, it took me awhile to get on board, but we are always safe and have a great time.

Last year it was just my IL's, Mike and I. I was pregnant with Gabby and staying awake past 10 was tough, but we made our way to a small town near the cabin and watched the fireworks. It was so foggy we could barely see them, but it was still fun. We didn't however light off our own. This year was also different. We had an awesome time at the lake.

Fourth of July 2010

We went up Friday night and actually made pretty good time - not too much traffic. The baby went down pretty easily as well which was nice. We did our usual 2 rounds of 500 - a Typical Epp game and one that took me forever (and is still) to learn and get somewhat good at. But its a blast. The weather was fabulous! Saturday we took an early walk and did some shopping to forget the things that we always seem to forget. Since the town is so small we had to shop at walmart - we don't like to, but unfortunately it's driven Pamida out of business there and the County Market just doesn't have everything you need.

All tuckered out from the walk

My niece Alyssa sporting my shades

Mike and I did some kayaking which was great. Leah and Barrett brought up a blow up pool so the girls went swimming on the deck and had a fabulous time. Gabby kept trying to pick up the cups at the bottom of the pool and kept sticking her face in the water. She is really a water baby - Guess swimming lessons will on the horizon for her.

Sunday was another beautiful day. We spent the day swimming, lounging, reading and went for a boat ride. Gabby wasn't quite so sure about the boat ride. The life vest she had on kept riding up on her while we were moving slow. We decided to go a bit faster and head back and then she ended up falling asleep. We ended up going a bit farther and on the way back the boat stalled. Luckily there were some nice passers by that saved us and towed us in, otherwise we would have been paddling for awhile. Mike, Barrett and my FIL got the boat into the boat lift and now will figure out what happened.

Gabby and Alyssa did well sleeping through the fireworks. They both ended up getting up a bit throughout the night, but it wasn't because of the fireworks. The 4th was a good day, didn't do any swimming because we ended up leaving the lake around 3. Luckily didn't hit any traffic which was nice!

But as you can see nothing in what we did really involved fireworks and that's what the difference was this year. Mike and I spent the evening watching the fireworks in our town through our bedroom window for about 15 minutes or so. We couldn't see them all but could see some of them through the trees. Next year when we remodel the house we will be able to watch them from Gabby's room :)

Another exciting thing that happened this weekend was the fact that Gabriella is now walking behind push carts. She started earlier in the week, but we didn't have one at home and it was only a few steps here and there at daycare. Alyssa (my niece) had a few push toys up at the lake and Gabby actually had her first temper tantrum because we wouldn't let her play with it all day and night. In fact we had to hide it on her, because if she even saw it she went straight for it. Tonight when we got home I put her down on the ground in the basement while I fed the pup and she saw the walk behind one that we are borrowing from our good friends Cheri and Daryl and the look on her face was priceless, she was so so so happy! I can't wait until she is walking.

Here are some other highlights from our weekend.