July 4th Weekend {Fireworks, Farm, & Fishing}

July 4th

We started off the 4th with an early morning wake up call from the kiddies ready to head out to the lake. After an exhausting morning packing, loading, corralling, and prepping we were finally out the door and on the road.

Three hours later we were lakeside, drinks in hand & carefree (well as carefree as parents of three littles can be.) The lake is Nirvana for the kiddos…they are absolute angels when we are here and never ever want to leave.

Checking out boats with his Agent P binoculars.

Unfortunately we were without a boat so we passed the day playing games, watching traffic on the lake, and eating and drinking just a tad too much.

We all got a kick out of this fun loving boat of Patriots decked out as Captain America, The Statue of Liberty & Uncle Sam….the littles are already planning our boat's get up for next year.

That evening we were privileged enough to have prime seats for the lake fireworks as they are shot off from a barge directly in front of our cottage. Bear was fast asleep before the first kaboom, while Peanut & Belle braved the noise and watched the whole 40 minute show outside. As the fireworks blasts faded away so did the end of a wonderful fourth on the lake.

July 5th

Today we took a day trip to go raspberry picking at a family farm. It was a home run…the older two were enthralled in the picking process while Bear was easily entertained in the train barn. Most importantly, the raspberries were out of this world delicious. We have already planned a return trip in the fall to pick apples.

In addition to berry patches and orchards, the farm had two giant play yards, the sweetest little playhouses, horse swings made out of repurposed tires, an old john deere kiddie tractor and an entire barn full of geotrax. Bear is currently obsessed with horses so we passed quite a bit of time playing with the toy barn.

When we returned from the farm, we were happy to find the marina mechanics had repaired the boat and we were clear for tubing. I spent the next hour and a half tubing with Peanut & Belle while Bear napped. We rounded out the day playing "King of the Mountain" with our lake neighbors. Chalk this up as another great day at the lake.

July 6th

One of the greatest treats at the lake is YiaYia & Bopi taking the littles each morning so Hubby & I can sleep in. On this morning they headed down to the pier for some fishing. Though they were small, the fish proved to be a formidable opponent and a good time was had by all. We spent the rest of the day tubing, waterskiing & swimming before packing and heading home.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and had a chance to relax & reflect on the greatness of our nation and the liberties we enjoy.

Baby Uncle Sam

I snapped this photo of Bear in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago…he isn't a hat lover so I had to take what I could get. Nonetheless, he is the cutest Uncle Sam I've ever seen!

As for today, we are looking forward to a day filled with family, food & fireworks.

Happy 4th Everyone!

4th of July Pretties

Yesterday Bear & I added some fourth flare to the outside. The boxwood pots are sporting flags to greet guests and the neighborhood dog walking gang. I feel in love with a bunting and pull down set for the front entry, but at $250.00 I'm hoping to catch it at a major off season discount. Coupled with my desire to let the paint cure this entire summer before hanging anything on the door; the front is a little toned down, but festive none the less.

 The new flag pillow adds a bright punch of patriotism over on the garage side of the house. It is holding up well…here's hoping it doesn't attract any birdie attention if you know what I mean.

Here is  shot of the whole front…what you hardly notice the decor because of the massive Hawthorn covering most of the house!?! Hubby has been insistent the tree come down since we moved in & now I think it is time. That's a whole different post though people…back to the fourth. 

My sweet lil helper…he loves the "vroom" and getting to "seep". Thanks to the grandparents hanging with the older two, I've been getting to spend lots of one-on-one time with my lil Bear. It is a sweet taste of what it would be like if Bear was our first. (Mommy note to Peanut & Belle: I wouldn't trade either of you for the world.)

Yes, yes back to the fourth….lots of rambling today I know. Out back the three herb boxes are adorned with stars & stripes. And before I start on yet another tangent I should just wrap this post up!  Happy 4th & God Bless the USA.

Patriotic Pillow DIY

Yesterday I spent the day hovering over Hubby (hugs to all of you who asked how he was doing). nursing a stiff and sore back of my own, and snuggling with my littlest little who isn't acting very little these days. All that translates into no fireplace reveal post gals..…. I'm still starring at the ladder and paint cans as I type.

But, I do have a quick DIY 4th of July pillow to share. Now that I have a nice little seating area in the front, I wanted to dress it for the 4th with a flag inspired pillow. Not able to leave home, due to the aforementioned reasons, I hoped online. When the search turned up empty handed, I headed into the basement to see what scraps I could dig up.



Low and behold I discovered a spare cream pillow cover, red fabric from the littles' disney shirts, and a blue "burlap-esque" fabric I used at Bear's Birthday Bash. After a few rustic snips of the scissors & generous dousing of spray adhesive, the pillow was nearly complete.



To finish it off, I broke out the potato stamp skills and added white painted stars to the blue fabric. Now Old Glory is ready to make a patriotic presence out front. As a side note, I plan to bring the pillow inside during rain. But as precaution, I added a coat of scotch guard and wrapped the pillow form in plastic before placing it in the cover.



After my Costco run this morning (I haven't stocked the fridge from our lake trip-yikes) I plan on ducking into Hobby Lobby to purchase a new flag bunting for the front door and a multitude of flags for our pots in both the front and back yards. I'll be back tomorrow to share the houses decked out in the Red. White & Blue.

Anyone else in denial that it is nearly July already!!