Fourth Frenzy

I love the Fourth of July. Not sure why. As a kid we used to have big family parties and watch fireworks. I remember what a big deal the bicentennial of 1976 was. I had an Uncle Sam piggy bank. My first bike was red, white, and blue. So I can't wait each year for the girls to try all the things I used to enjoy on the 4th (minus the split-open chin and throwing up macaroni salad on the way home).

You will notice the girls wearing the same patriotic shirts as last year. Now that things come in size 4/5, things last more than one year. They're reversed this year though. Lily in dark blue, Madeleine in the white.

The Town of Cary split their celebration this year because of the 4th falling on a Sunday. So for the first time we participated in the Bond Park parade. The girls took great care to decorate their bikes and rode carefully from the Kiwanis Shelter down to the boathouse. Once there we ran into many friends and neighbors and took our very first pedal boat ride out on the lake.

Then on Sunday since the weather was so nice, we went to the Eno River Festival at the West Point on the Eno park. Another hold over from my single days, it was fun to visit the same place with the girls. However instead of spending all day there, we made it a mere 3 1/2 hours before heading home. The girls enjoyed wading in the river as well as getting their faces painted. I was lucky and scored a 2 hour nap out of them before the evening's activities.

We decided to brave the fireworks at Regency Park this year rather than the Fairgrounds. I was able to get a parking pass and wristbands to go in the building from work, so A/C, nice bathrooms, and electrical outlets was a big bonus. I hadn't been there since I was pregnant with the girls in 2005 and was pleased to see fewer people on the premises since they no longer provide free food for employees ;)

We had a picnic inside, took a walk down to the lake, watched Scooby Doo on the portable DVD, and made beaded necklaces before the fireworks started a little after nine.

We got out of Regency fine and were home a little after ten. They girls promised me they would sleep late this morning, but 7am they were up and awake bright and early.