July 4th

My favorite holiday is July 4^th.   The weather is nice and we are usually by a beach or a pool. Everyone is happy, celebrating and there is no stress of presents.  When I was in my mid-twenties and early thirties, my friends and I had a beach house. I would wake up before everyone else and decorate the whole house for the holiday.   I would leave beads on the table along with hats. There would be balloons, streamers, and anything else to get us into the holiday spirit.  Special cocktails would be made for the holiday and food to match the red, white, and blue theme.  I even had an American flag purse for our night on the town.

Now that I am a mom, the holiday is a bit different. I decorate for the holiday the whole month of July.  We have a few families over who have children the same age as ours either on or close to the holiday. Beads, headbands, and hats are laid out in the morning; the girls are dressed to match the holiday. Parents are encouraged to bring their spirit. My main focus is on the games for the children to play: relay races, ball runs, potato sack races, badminton, and water balloon fights, anything that gets the kids running around and remembering the holiday for years to come.

Last night the girls were in the yard playing and all the sudden I heard Delaney yell, “Let’s come up with a few games for the party and try them out”. There they were planning; executing by trial and error what would work best for the number of kids coming to the party.   I had an overwhelming sense of pride in that moment. I had done well!  Not only is it clear they look forward to this party, but now they are trying to make it a day to remember among their friends.

Go all out this year for the holiday. Make the most of the weather; wear your red, white and blue. Try a new recipe – my kid’s go-to is store bought ice cream sandwiches where I dip the ice cream in holiday sprinkles.  It is a crowd pleaser and too easy to not make!

Happy summer, Happy 4^th!!