This year we got to celebrate July 4th Chicago style. Which really means, we weren't at the beach in Destin this year, but we still had a wonderful time! Chris' parents, Ed and Cheryl, flew up on the evening of July 2 and spend 5 nights with us. Thursday was just a day to hang out and let the girls enjoy time with their grandparents while Chris was at work.
Thankfully, Chris was off this year on July 4th (his boss so graciously covered the hospital so that Chris didn't have to!) and we got to enjoy the day as a family. That morning our neighborhood had a parade. We loaded the girls into their red wagon and walked to the main street in our subdivision to enjoy the parade.
The girls had a blast catching the candy and waving to all of the parade participants.... especially our neighbors, Lucy, Henry and Charlie!
After the parade we decided to head into downtown Naperville for "Ribfest" and had a blast. We listened to live bands, ate yummy pulled pork and ribs, and Avery and Kinsley even got to enjoy some carnival rides for the first time. They got a little panicked on some of the rides- even Kinsley, which surprised me since she is always so fearless! It was HOT HOT HOT and my back may have gotten FRIED, but we still had fun. The highlight for Avery was getting to ride the yellow school bus to and from our car to the event.
We made it home for a late nap for the girls then grilled out for dinner. Chris planned and cooked our entire menu and it was delicious. Steak, baked potatoes, a summer salad with corn, avocado, tomatoes, red onion and a cilantro dressing, and cauliflower sticks. Avery called his bluff on the cauliflower sticks almost immediately.... "Daddy, this is not bread" but we eventually got her to eat one. :) That night we went to an open field and watched the fireworks. It was a long, exhausting, and yet really fun day. I love nothing more than spending the day with my husband and our girls and getting to see the excitement on their faces when they experience something new for the first time.
On Saturday the 5th, Ed and Cheryl babysat while Chris and I went to a friends house for a shrimp boil. We then went to Downers Grove to an Irish pub called Balydoyles for a late dinner. It was so fun getting to spend adult time with our friends for a day. Too bad I didn't take any pictures to document that we actually did this! ha!
Sunday was another great day that started with church and then lunch in downtown Naperville. During the girls' nap, Chris and I went for a long walk through the McDowell forest preserves just up the street from our house. I enjoyed just being able to walk and talk with him without any distractions. Sunday night included Giordianos stuffed pizza (of course!) and later, a rented movie with Chris' parents.
We had such a wonderful holiday weekend and are so thankful that we have family that can so easily come up for a visit. Our time with Ed and Cheryl is always so nice and always too short... as it is with all our family and friends.
I hope your holiday weekend was wonderful, too!
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