4th of July - 2022

The 4th of July holiday fell on a Monday this year and it made for a long weekend of celebrating with fun, sun, neighbors and lots of great food!

We participated in our 2nd Paddle Party with our neighborhood on Saturday -- the event was even bigger than last year and we had a real blast.  We kayaked/canoed/paddled from one house to another (there were 4 stops this year, I believe?) where designated neighbors hosted with beverages and drinks.  The weather was gorgeous and with everyone lubed up with sunscreen, NO ONE got burned!  

The girls tested out our new paddleboat a few days before the event:

A Hawaiian theme at the park before we departed:

Just a couple of ladies hanging out while the kids ran around eating pizza and drinking gatorade:

Best hammock ever!

This boy managed to find some nice shade in the middle of the afternoon and took advantage of that!

********************

As the kids get older, the decorations for the 4th of July parade seem to become a bit more muted (the girls did not decorate a bike or scooter this year), but all of us enjoy wearing our red/white/blue and sporting accessories, flags and bows.  The golf cart always gets decorated now too!

Ready for the parade!

Early that morning, Jack headed out with Steve for the bass fishing competition.  Another beautiful morning for the event and another 1st place medal (and gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods)!  Next year, Jack will move up into the older age group bracket and might find himself with more competition ...

Yup, we love a great holiday accessory!

After the parade, we met down at the park for refreshments, games, prizes, cornhole, volleyball ... and of course, sand-castle-building.  I chuckled out loud because there were SO MANY bikes parked at the park entrance.

The kids hitched a ride in fire truck this year.

Sand-castle competition!

Here's to another great holiday!