I'm pretty behind on blogging (at least my camera roll indicates so) - but
we are leaving for a super fun trip to Oregon tomorrow so I'm going to
try to get some thoughts down about the 4th of July.
If you've been reading this blog for any length of time,
you know that the 4th of July is probably one of my top three favorite
holidays...so even though it was raining - we certainly made the
most of it. The Hauck family caravan rolled into Dayton
on Sunday and wasted zero time getting the party
started with some festive donuts (and festive outfits
if your name is Carrie or Max). Stars and stripes forever.
While the 4th is one my favorite holidays - Max's favorite
things rank like this 1.) ipad 2.)negotiating and 3.) Auntie Stacy
When my mom took the below picture I about died from
the cuteness of the way they are looking at each other.
Real fireworks I tell you :)
Mims managed to pick up her estate sale treasures
while simultaneously bossing me around via Grandpa.
So, I packed up some sandwiches (on pretzel buns yo!)
and we left for a picnic lunch at Sugarcreek Metro Park.
I was sad to not be able to bring my Mexi blanket
but see the weather report as to why that was not a good idea.
(re: pouring rain).
We put on our best picnic faces (a scowl apparently
if your Max) and then embarked on an epic
scavenger hunt prepared last minute via Pinterest.
Although Rob is smiling in this pic, he was
none to pleased to be walking in the rain.
Making the best of it though :) God bless the USA.
Back to the Scavenger Hunt - it had random
things like green leaves, rocks, bird etc. on it...
and I knew Max would love crossing all the items off.
He surprisingly had nothing really to say about the rain.
Rather, he wanted me to draw all the extra items we
came across (like the cutest snail of all time) on the
Scavenger Hunt board. Sugarcreek has a nice little paved trail in
their prairie that we were able to walk on and actually
spotted almost everything on the list. Hooray!
We were pretty wet by the end...but that didn't deter us!
Even Penny was happy to walk in the rain.
A kind hiker asked us if we wanted him to take this
group photo and Mims couldn't respond "yes" fast enough! He
actually took ten pictures (claiming..you never know
which one is going to be a keeper) and I have to say
he did a great job! And maybe Mims wanted to adopt him?
Once we were completely soaked - we just decided
to go for it and visit one more park before heading home.
This park, Grant Park, is where I spent a lot of
college summers working for the Centerville Washington
Park District being a camp counselor and then their
summer naturalist. Anyway - funny story - I still couldn't
manage to tell my sister what street to turn on to get there - so ....
I guess mom brain is a real thing?
To be honest, I didn't remember as much of it
as I thought I would, but once we crossed this
bridge and hiked up a small trail - it opened up to
the chimney's area and fire ring...and it all came
flooding back. The campers, the fire rings,
creeking... lots of good times.
We didn't really make it that far - but were able to play
around in the creek. Max loved throwing rocks with Grandpa
and seeing whose went further (hint: always Max even if
it was truly Grandpa). Max ventured a little into the water, though
he insisted on being carried across the actual larger rocks.
We looked for fossils (and found some)!
And then Daddy spotted a deer! It was the cutest deer
and didn't seem to phased by us as it continued
munching.
We arrived home just in time for our Saturday
evening barbeque with Poppy. And after dinner -
we did sparklers in the driveway! This started out
great and Max was really enjoying waving his
sparkler around. However, when we weren't
paying attention to his every move, he must have
touched a hot part of the sparkler (even though it
wasn't technically still lit) but, he wailed. And wailed.
As I carried him back inside to wash it under
cold water he wailed, " can I go back and do it again?"
After we bandaged him up and used the boo boo
roller, he was good to go - but, decided to stick with
the pop rocks (those crazy little things you throw at the
ground and they pop and frankly, it's terrifying).
Sunday dawned and lo and behold it was STILL raining.
Mims was furiously checking her weather app
every two seconds but that didn't stop Mother Nature
from continuing to pour.
Everyone put on their party pants umbrellas and we
headed up to our parade seats (which thankfully
Mims had secured nearly a week prior by tying
all the chairs together and putting them out on the
street). That's how we roll in Centerville.
By the time we got to our designated spot it had
sort of let up a bit...and Max had decided to
wear the Uncle Sam hat :) Unplanned but also
cute...the hats Auntie Stacy and I were wearing.
Totally spontaneous and adorable.
Thanks to Grandpa for those.
Even though you can really only see Rob's tattered
Brown's hat in this pic - rest assured he knew to be
sporting some red, white, and blue under that raincoat
or face the wrath of his mother in law. :) haha!
The rain did not seem to dampen anyone's patriotic
spirit! We saw floats, marching bands, armed forces
representatives, political figures, and cars/trucks of
all shapes and sizes. Max was content to sit on
everyone's lap....and when he wasn't on a lap, he
was begging for whatever candy was being passed out!
No one could resist this little face :)
His bag was full of suckers, tootsie rolls,
and foam soccer balls. He did a good job
of not being too disappointed if someone
passed him by too.
We came home from the parade wet and soggy...but feeling very
proud! A quick lunch and Mama and Papa were back on the road
to Columbus. Max stayed behind for one more night.
As we were driving home, Mims continued to
update us on all the fun they were having!
The Americana festival (another Centerville
Fourth of July favorite) had a special kids area that
Mims and Grandpa took Max too.
He suckered them into some Kona Ice (not
surprised)....before tackling all the bounce
houses and slides.
According to Mims, he held his own and had a blast!
Even though the weather wasn't ideal this 4th of July...
I'm proud of us for making the best it.
We made a whole new set of memories...
food, family, fun, fireworks (well, sparklers)...that's
what it's all about!
xoxo
