4th of July

Not only was it the 4th of July weekend and we enjoyed all of the festivities that come along with it, but more importantly we got to see some of Jonathan's family from Mass!

Grammy, Aunt Dwyn, Erin and Kevin came for a visit. It was the first time Rachel was able to meet Grammy and Aunt Dwyn and she was just smitten (after checking them out from afar for a few hours). As I've said before, we are so blessed to have so many kind, caring members of both sides of our family, and close enough that we can see them at least every-so-often. I think Rachel may grow up to be a reader like many of her relatives.

 It was a full house, with Rachel in my room, Jackson in with his grandparents, and Erin and Kevin on an air mattress on the upstairs sun porch. It was crowded and full of fun! We ate good food, drank delicious sangria, hit the beach again and again, read, listened to Grammy's fabulous stories, ran/rode bikes, played games and some of us (NOT my oldest child) slept in between all the fun! Jonathan joined us for dinner on Friday (he was working nights this weekend) and the Speasmakers joined us on Saturday! Following dinner and before the fireworks, Erin got our her ukulele and played some ditties for us. It was a knee-slappin', sing-along! :) 

 Rachel loved the beach during the day but she was not quite old enough for the fireworks this year. Jackson, however, got to come out to the beach with us to watch the display down on 20th street (and all of the other ones going off right around us as well!). Sadly, the late night caught up with us 2 days later and it's been hard to get him caught up on sleep (and not throwing temper tantrums). I think we may record a fireworks display on TV next year and watch it the next morning instead ;) 

In an attempt to allow Kevin to nap, he tried to convince Jackson to play "dead fish" with him on the beach. That quickly turned into Erin (who can't sit still) digging a huge hole with Jackson and hoisting Kevin into it. Which then turned into Kevin, the sand monster, attacking Jackson and the rest of us laughing as he screamed for help :) Which then turned into J wanting to be buried and having a very sandy little boy to carry home several hours later! 

Happy 4th of July from the Byrne/Dubinski/Sprague families!