4th of July: Truly a Celebration!

I don't even know what to say...that alone is saying a lot I suppose! We had so much fun. It started with a 6am alarm and departure for the community parade at 6:45! Bill hardly wakes up that early when he works, and I avoid that time as much as possible. Bill had the day off so we took the kids, along with our British/Scottish neighbors (Jan & Elaine, next door) to the parade. We had heard from the coordinators that last year there were 35,000 people in attendance and this year people had called in for permission to sleep over. The parade didn't start until 9, but we wanted to ensure a shady spot. When we arrived..."This is the 4th of July, right?". Not for lack of a crowd, a lack of people, period! Oh well, we got great shady seats, bagels, and great company. By the time the parade started, the crowd was to full capacity. After a few floats, some large balloons, way "too many cars" (said Livi), Darth Vader and his entourage, and a lot of vote solicitations, our crowd rated the experience as: Company-great, Parade- not so great. That's okay. With neighbors like ours not a moment to lose. Soon after getting home I was able to take the needle out of Livi's port and we were free to go swimming. Jan and Elaine had already left for the pool before we got ready and Karen and the boys (upstairs) joined us as well. (Bummer that Greg, upstairs dad, wasn't feeling that great.) I can't remember the last time that our little family had so much fun. For Bill, I can easily say it's the most fun he's had since living here in Vegas. And Olivia, she was overflowing with excitement. She could not stop laughing, for no other reason than just sheer enjoyment. She said, barely audible through her laughs, "Mom, I love you so much. This is so fun!" She even wanted to jump in, and DID! (Last year she was quite the fish, but she hadn't been in the pool since, and the fact that she's been through so much physically...I was amazed.) Aaron. Words cannot begin to describe him. To say that he loves the water and has no fear would be such a gross understatement. He was running around with the big boys, running and jumping in, wrestling on the lilo (British term for raft), pushing people in, and getting launched, much to high for my taste, from dad into the pool. EVERY time he would go under, he would come back up, not breathing, smiling a huge grin, and as soon as he took his first breath, which sometimes didn't come for a while, he would start asking for more, or swim to the side and jump in again. I am not exaggerating on this point one bit. It was Hilarious! It was so fun to have so much fun, and to have such great neighbors/friends to be a part of that joy.

Later in the day, after naps for everyone but mom, of course, our friends the McMillans joined us. Todd and Ben are such fun kids to have around and instantly a whole new level of fun was reached. All the boys and Livi wanted to go swimming so back to the pool we went. Brenden (upstairs) came with us and played with Aaron and Todd while Ben held on to his mommy. He wanted so badly to do what the others were doing...soon Ben, you'll get there! Aaron had just as much fun this time around, even though the water was very cold. (It's actually quite strange, no matter how many days of over 110 degree weather we have the pool stays cool, and then the wind blows...brrr. They must cool the pool instead of heating it. Needless to say Livi and I watched from the lounge chairs this time.) Brenden and Todd were taking turns throwing Aaron into the pool and in return letting Aaron push them in. He couldn't get enough. While we were at the pool the rest of the gang, our neighbors included, set up for a true 4th of July BBQ, complete with red white and blue place settings, provided by the Brits, I might add. Karen made a New Zealand dessert, Pavlova, yum, Jan made English style coleslaw and potato salad, scrumptious, and we all pitched meat on the barbie's. We took over a section of the apartment complex parking lot and ate and ate and ate. It was a great time until "the black" cloud, otherwise known as the home health care nurse, came to reaccess Olivia. I felt like I was taking a lamb to the slaughter. She did great and not a moment too soon. She rushed outside to see distant fireworks. We had our own little sparklers and popitz but cheered loudly for the non-law abiding citizens in the complex that lit HUGE fireworks for our entertainment. To our great surprise, at the appointed time we turned around and had a perfect view of the firework display provided by Red Rock Casino, less than a mile away. Icing on the cake, or better yet, cream on the Pavlova!

Thanks to the McMillans, Harringtons and Dalhaugs

for a perfect CELEBRATION!