Soggy {but fun} 4th of July

Our family looks forward to the 4th of July all summer long. Daddy gets extra days off of work, we head to the beach, we spend time with family, Daddy puts on a fireworks show with Uncle Steve, we eat tasty food and snacks, and it is overall....a fabulous holiday! We were all looking forward to the long holiday weekend. To gear up and get excited, I had the boys help make matching tie-dyed t-shirts.

Well, Mother Nature tried to ruin our fun, but we didn't let her. We got down to the coast late Tuesday night to be sure we had as many days as possible at the beach.....but it rained. It rained and rained and rained. It rained when we got there. It rained on Wednesday. It rained on Thursday. It rained on Friday. And it rained on Saturday. There were breaks in the rain each day....and we were sure to get the boys out to play during those breaks, but we also played in the rain a lot too. 

this is what happens these days when I try to get pictures of these two nuts.

Needless to say, there was a lot of time spent indoors each day. We found a lot of ways to stay busy and have fun inside too. We don't have a TV at the beach, so it is just a lot of old fashioned fun and together time.

By the time the actual 4th got here, we were holding out that the windy and rainy weather would break before it was time for fireworks. The island had already decided to postpone both their fireworks and the parade. Once again, we had to make the most of the weather and make our own fun!

I think Jude did this puzzle at least 15 times throughout the week.

Sometimes the boys just had to get down to the beach despite the rain and wind. Crazy boys!

And wouldn't you know it, we got what we wished for....a break in the weather. Around dinner time, the rain stopped and the winds slowed down. Daddy was getting excited about fireworks and shot off a few bottle rockets....

 

Jude was NOT a fan. 

Now we just had to hope that the rain would stay away and that it would clear up enough for fireworks later that night. In the meantime, we had a yummy cookout with a festive red, white, and blueberry dessert and sangria. Mmmm!

Yay for clear skies at sundown. And yay for Daddy and Uncle Steve's Stupendous Fireworks Show! 

Jude requested an early bedtime and no fireworks, but the rest of us were dazzled by the awesome fireworks. Great job, boys! It was the best one yet! Happy 4th!

The icky skies were back on Friday morning, but there were several breaks in the weather for some 5th of July fun. The island parade came by and soaked the boys and showered them with beads and candy. Our boys tried to fire back with a hose, but it didn't quite reach. We also got in a little bit of beach time before the winds shifted (just enough to blow away and crash our canopy) and brought in another round of storms.

Jonah had been congested much of the week, but on Friday, he began to run a fever as well.

Jude is modeling the outfit we won from Sammy and Max.

Saturday was rainy for the bulk of the day. Jonah was down for the count and spent much of the day being cuddled. We busted out some old school games that Eli loved to be big enough to play. Lots and lots of reading and even some IPad play time.

Aha! Finally another break in the clouds in the late afternoon which meant a break for the beach. The boys loved digging...I think they were trying to dig to China! We had two turtle nests to be careful of as we played.

I think this was the longest stretch of time we were able to play on the beach. Daddy cuddled sick little Jonah while Eli and Jude played and played. Digging, throwing seaweed (watch out, it will give you a rash!), running, splashing, finding shells, fishing (for seaweed and the occasional catfish), making faces, and more. They were in their element and so happy to be outside. I think the whole island was out at the same time....the sun came out and the beach was flooded with people.....and birds too! After as much rain as we had had, everyone and everything was celebrating the sun by playing outside.

That night, the island put on their fireworks show, and it was really great! Much of the island got in on the action. We watched fireworks up and down the beach for much of the night. Jude watched a couple, but quickly requested to be put to bed again. Maybe next year he will be a little more into it. Happy 6th of July!

Sunday, our Getaway Day....which means cleaning the house and packing up....was the first sunny day of our trip. We decided to stay for the whole day and enjoyed a visit from the Pope family before we finally packed it all up and hit the road.

Beach living is grand. It rained at home the whole time we were gone too....so I think we got the better end of the deal. Rainy days at the beach are better than rainy days at home. Even though it was a soggy week, it was a great one.