A Grand Old Fourth

 

Here we are in our team colors, the USA Team!

Our 4th of July celebrations are fairly simple. Other people do most of the work. We do love the Red,White, and Blue, everything and everywhere. 

We started our day by attending a parade-side potluck brunch in Jim and Becky's driveway.

This year, with no Gus-the-Bus to drive in the parade, Jill and Irene joined us. 

After eating and visiting, we moved to the curb for the Normandy Park Parade. 

Of course the fire department starts it off. 

I like red cars, old and new, but mostly old. This parade is mostly about vehicles. 

This Sounders Green one got my attention. We tried to identy the make of each one, but I can't remember. Just cool cars.

This one is older that I am!

The "floats" were vehicles too.

There were lots of kids standing by, eagerly awaiting the candy being tossed. They all came equipped with Ziplock bags. 

This is a neighborhood parade, with a small town feel. Even big cities like Seattle have "small town" suburbs. 

After the parade Tom and I came home to some quiet time before driving to SIL Jan's house on Henderson Bay near Gig Harbor. Our whole immediate family was there:

Front row: Linda, Tom, Jan, Back row: Jill, Seala(Isaac's girlfriend) Isaac, Irene, and Jake.

Then young people went canoeing and kyaking and paddleboarding. 

Before, in between, and after, there was food.

Hors d'oeurves 

Salmon dinner

Desserts. Irene made the Flag cherry pie, her first pie ever. She did good!

And of course there were fireworks. Jill provided a close up show, and there with pyrotechnics going on all around the bay.

Sparklers, fun for even me.

We enjoyed Jill's show and everyone elses too. 

It was after midnight when we got home. The booming of rockets bursting in air went on in the neighborhood until 2:00 am. I didn't care. We were all celebrating our nation's birthday.

It was another Grand old 4th!