It was foggy and overcast, but not too cold and we saw all kinds of critters. I've decided that when it's overcast, it's better to see all the beautiful anemones because they seem to close up when the sun comes out. These were very big, about 6 inches across.
Here is Laith, poking at some little ones. He got a kick out of poking them and making them close.
This is Zaid. He still wasn't walking, so Erin just plopped him down next to a little tidepool and let him play. He looked like he was having a great time. Such a cutie pie!
Sam tried to do some family pics while we were there, but it's hard to get two toddlers to cooperate at the same time. I like this one, anyway.
After a couple of hours, we decided to head home, by way of the bakery in Davenport. We had croissants for breakfast, then headed home. Sam, Meg and Ryan went to a movie, then managed to disappear for several hours. Susan and I made the food for the party at The Compound, and then headed over to prepare for the real festivities.
We had the Compound families there, plus two more families, so it was a pretty big crowd. We had enough food to feed the whole town of Marina, though. We had tri tip, hot dogs, smoked pork, hamburgers, chicken schwerma, about 10 salads, and Erin made the hugest, most beautiful flag cake with strawberries, blueberries and raspberry and pudding filling. It was awesome. We cranked up our sound system, had a family dance, an original song performed by the girls (Meg, Isabel, Phoebe, Tenny, Anya and Normie), and just sat around a visited. Six yr old Normandy learned to ride her first 2-wheeler, courtesy of Shaunna's twins, who brought their bikes with them. Fourteen month old Zaid took his first steps late in the afternoon to much cheering.
At dusk, we turned the sound system to patriotic music and started our fireworks. This year, instead of each family bringing a few (usually small) things, we pooled our money and bought much better stuff. I think it was our best fireworks show since lame Monterey cancelled the city show. It didn't hurt that there were all kinds of illegal sky rockets going up in the neighborhoods around us. My nephew Tanner was very excited, because he'd never seen any fireworks, except on television. First we went through about 200 sparklers: here's Heather, handing them out.
Here's Susan, dancing with her sparklers with Zoe.
Then, we had Meg and Isabel draw a "Line of Death" in chalk to keep the kids back, and the guys set off the other fireworks.
It was a pretty awesome show for home fireworks. I enjoyed it, the kids seemed to love it. I miss the big show over the Bay that the city used to do, but this was fun, too. Sam got a few really cool pics...I really like this one.
Happy Birthday, USA! I love my country, even as I wonder what our future is now, with the current political polarization. I"m grateful for the freedoms we have and for the sacrifices our predecessors made to secure those freedoms. I have ancestors that came over on the Mayflower to escape religious persecution, and ancestors who walked across the American plains for the same reason. I have family members who have served in the military. I have many, many friends who serve in the military now all over the world. I am grateful to them for the personal sacrifices they make to live the military lifestyle, who send their spouses where they are needed while they hold down the fort at home. I've seen some of the struggles and worries and I know that it's not easy. They are always in my prayers.
God bless America!
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