Family Fourth

We had a wonderful Fourth of July as a family. We slept in, had a fun family breakfast and then headed out to Orange County. This is the direction we tend to go every year and our first stop is always at a fireworks stand (they don't sell fireworks in our town).

It is the one time I see Pete genuinely giddy. They say diamonds are a girls best friend... fireworks are Petes. We literally have enough celebration ammo to last until the next 4th of July.

It was then time for the beach! As we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, we were amazed at the number of people crammed onto each beach. People were literally sitting under their beach umbrellas on the sidewalk. It was in that moment that we were so grateful for our little "secret" beach. We were hoping not many people were on "our" beach and thankfully it was perfect... enough people to feel like a party, and yet we literally had the ocean and sand to ourselves.

The kids loved catching sand crabs,

playing in the waves,

throwing the soccer ball,

hanging out under the beach umbrella,

and digging in the sand.

Spencer took a nice beach nap

and we all really enjoyed ourselves (although Spencer is still weirded out by the sand).

After a fun family day at the beach, we ate dinner and then headed home... we were all exhausted. The kids fell asleep in the car while Peter and I watched all the firework shows in the sky on the drive home. No family fireworks or traditional BBQ today, but a fun and happy 4th of July for us none-the-less! How grateful we are for this beautiful country and the freedoms we have to enjoy it. Happy Independence Day!