4th of July

We had a great 4th of July weekend with lots of activities. On Thursday the 2nd, we held our annual barbecue and fireworks party. I think we've been doing this pretty much every year since 2001, though some years it was just us, or maybe one other family.

This year we went nuts and invited more than 50 people...and they ALL CAME! It was our biggest party ever (not counting the wedding, I guess), and I'd have to say it was a big success. Robert barbecued hotdogs, we filled up the coolers with sodas and juice boxes and beer, and everyone brought food and drinks to share. The kids all ran around like wild animals of course. When it got dark I handed out 20 glow in the dark bracelets, and there were a few babies who didn't even get them...so my higher math skills tell me that we had at least 23 children present. Wow.

At 9:30pm, we all camped out on the front yard to watch the fireworks show put on by the country club down the street. Later, one of my friends told me she had the most wonderful feeling at that moment, being surrounded by friends and neighbors outdoors, watching the fireworks together. I knew exactly what she meant.

I didn't take many photos that night, but here are a couple shots of the girls (plus their good buddy Rocco):



Speaking of the country club, after thinking about it for years, we finally decided to join. It's literally one block away and has lots of attractions for us, including a restaurant, kids club (with babysitting at certain hours), playground and pool. We've visited the pool area several times already, and the girls especially love the one-foot-deep wading pool.


Rounding out our Independence Day festivities, last night we attended a party with friends and coworkers above the Rose Bowl, where we ate Mexican food, played in the grass, and watched the excellent fireworks show. All these years in this area, and this was our first time watching the Rose Bowl fireworks, which are supposed to be among the best in the country. They were pretty awesome, I must say.