Luke & Lulu arrived in time for lunch, and then we had some down-time while the kids had their naps/quiet time. For supper, Luke fired up his Green Egg and grilled our homemade pizzas to perfection! After supper, Jordan suggested that we could go down to Jefferson Park and watch their fireworks display this time. It made sense, since Jefferson is less than a mile away (so we could walk there), while Riverside is a little farther and we would have to drive two vehicles. So, Jordan & Luke rode their bikes down to Jefferson to check it out while I worked on gathering things and getting kids ready for the fireworks. It was a gorgeous evening; low 70's and clear, with a light breeze. The guys got back with reports of lots of activities, a band and tons of people down at Jefferson, so we all agreed to walk down there.
Serena & Bret were just brimming with excitement! Serena had heard Luke teasing Lulu about walking so far, so she kept giving words of encouragement to Lulu, "Not much farther, Lulu!" ;) When we finally arrived at the park, Serena and Bret's excitement had escalated to shouting, "We are HERE!! WE are HERE!!! Isn't it WONDERFUL!" As we made our way through the crowds, I mentioned to Jordan that the demographic at this park was not really of the caliber of the one last year. Lots and LOTS of weirdos here!!! The longer we were there, the more obvious that became. Even the people next to us provided some entertainment in the form of a live soap opera. ;) We found a spot right on the lake that would offer a good vantage point of the display and we settled in with our kettle corn for the wait. As the sun went down, the wind picked up, and the waves coming in were getting bigger. Soon they were splashing the kids and the blanket! We all put on our sweatshirts and huddled and shivered as the temperature dropped. Still, the kids were so happy and excited, and kept themselves pretty well entertained. It always amazes me how they never seem to feel too cold or too hot!
Finally it started to get dark, so I pulled out the glow necklaces and bracelets. That really upped the fun factor for the kids! Serena ended up with a bracelet on each ankle, one on her wrist, and a necklace. After she had finally gotten them all on, she sat there on the blanket admiring herself and finally said in an off-handed sort of way, "It's too bad that everyone can't see this glowing girl." Jordan looked at me and winked, and then said in the same sort of tone, "You're right. Maybe I should go show that glowing girl off." Serena was only too willing, and off they went for a turn around the park, Serena just prancing as she held Jordan's hand! It was apparent that she imagined that every single person they passed was looking at her and admiring all her glowing accessories!
Jordan & Serena got back just in time for the first firework to go off! When there was a pause before the next one, we thought maybe that was like a two-minute warning or something. It was so cold and windy, I was just wishing they'd hurry up and shoot them off so we could go warm up! Then the display at the other park - Riverside, where we went last year - started up, and we could see it very clearly from where we sat. Of course, the sound wasn't as good as being there, though. I was starting to feel really disappointed. Our display had set off one more firework, and now we saw that everyone was packing up their things and leaving! Jordan and Luke guessed that it was too windy.
In my half-frozen, tired state, I just wanted to cry! All the excitement and anticipation, and what a let-down!! The poor kids!! And then, I heard them. Bret was just enamored with watching the fireworks in the distance, and Serena was running a commentary, "Oh LOOK! LOOK!!! As soon as they shoot off one, they shoot off another! Oh! OH! Isn't it wonderful!!!!" And on and on. Silly me! They were not in the least disappointed! I realized I would have to check my complaining so as not to spoil their enjoyment of the fireworks!
As we made our way home through the crowd of creepy people, Serena did not stop bubbling over with all the excitement (I'm sure the rare sugary treat of kettle corn was contributing as well, haha!) of the fireworks and her beautiful glowing necklace and bracelets. As we walked, we talked to a police officer and learned that the fireworks were indeed canceled because of the wind. But, our disappointment was tempered by all the homes we walked by that were setting off their own fireworks, and we listened to hundreds more all over the city. When we finally turned off the main road leading away from the park and broke free from the crowds, Luke joked that one of the good things about the evening was that no one got stabbed (referring to the rough crowd). We all laughed, and then Serena piped up, "What's 'stabbed,' Uncle Luke?" She has no inhibitions about asking meanings of words. It's getting really, really hard to talk in code around her! Between her inquisitive mind and her ability to spell, we're running out of options! ;) Not wanting to scare the short crowd, Luke tried a diversion tactic instead, "Serena, your glowing things are really pretty!" It seemed the perfect strategy; Serena jumped on it immediately! "Oh thank you! Yes, I know! They are so beautiful! They just glow so much and everyone is so happy to see such a pretty glowing girl, right?" After she'd gushed about her glowing self for a couple minutes, we all started to relax thinking the stabbing question had faded away. Finally her flow of words stopped; then, "So, what's 'stabbed'?"
When we got home, I tucked our little sweeties in bed, and we hung their glowing necklaces and bracelets on the knobs of their dresser drawers to light their dreams on this special night. They soon fell asleep, full of wonder and happiness. Because when you're four and three and one, you have no reason to doubt that whatever you did on the Fourth of July was indeed the best ever.
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