There is literally no better way to start off a fourth of July weekend than getting up, putting on our Hamilton shirts, eating a Hamilton themed breakfast, then watching Hamilton the movie. We had A.Ham and eggs and Hamilcakes, which Zach knocked out of the park. The movie did not disappoint and I've watched it three times since it came out on the third, I'm not sorry. The kids loved it, even little T who I'm pretty sure had no idea what he was in for, is still requesting to watch it daily. He was slightly confused as to why they were singing the wrong words to Dear Theodosia, which I've sung to him as Dear Baby Thatcher for years now.
A.Ham and eggs with a revolver shaped pancake, so on brand.
The boys had been making decorations for our Hamilton party all week.
We all put on our Hamilton shirts for the big event. That's a thing we do in quarantine which is strange. We still get dressed up for things as though anyone is going to see us. No, not dressed up like make up and real pants, but like Hamilton shirts to watch a movie together. You have to find joy some how people and the Hamilton film has brought us a lot of joy this week.
Then it was off to the lake for a classic fourth of July celebration. It is amazing how well this tradition has held up over the past thirty of forty years. This exact scenario, minus some time in Okeene at Grandma's house, while the cousins legit were dying to be at the lake, was how I spent all the 4th of July's growing up. So we've improved on it a little bit, because it's just all lake time, with some forced breaks to try to avoid actual heat strokes. I have decided the myth about not being able to swim for thirty minutes after eating was really just my Grandmother's ploy to keep us inside, force fluids down our throats, and try to get our core body temperature down to acceptable levels. She was a genius, I've never said any different.
So decades later there we were, all the cousins, swimming, jumping off the dock, eating their weight in potato chips, arguing about putting on sunscreen, staying up late. The whole thing, but in such a different world. I have no memories of fighting sunscreen or really putting sunscreen on as a child, but now that I'm firmly in the Mom/Dad/Aunt/Uncle crew it's the bane of my existence. That and trying to get my children to drink water, which I also have no memory of fighting with adults about. I remember constantly being yelled at to wear a life jacket, which we all survived our days at the lake, so that worked, but no memories of all these other battles. Did I every drink water when I was there? As I recall I laid on a floaty, talked to my cousins, road in the paddle boat, or had diving competitions all day long, until it was dinner time.
Doing canon balls with your brother's is the best.
These three little peanuts are just the cutest thing in the world. Sidenote: These life jackets are legitimately lifesavers. Say, for instance your older cousin pushes you off the dock when you're 19 months old, this will save your life. Yes, Thatcher can be terrifyingly aggressive. Why?? Also the toddlers can splash and kick themselves around without me having to be in there holding them the entire time. It's a game changer and a life saver. Lord I hope T can still wear his next year because how in the world will I eve be able to get him swimming lessons in this crazy world right now?
These two are the best of friends.
The water was so clear last weekend, you could see the kids feet when they were standing up. It was pretty low, but nice and warm.
Zane working on his swan dive.
Classic end of the dock cousin picture.
There is nothing Zach likes to do more than catch some bass.
We bought fireworks to be set off on the dock, however the county that we were in was under a burn ban. After talking to people all day about whether or not we thought the sheriff would actually come out to the lake and issue a $550 fine, we decided this was a very teachable moment. You have to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. You have to follow all the rules even if you think you can get away with breaking them because no one is around. The rules are there to keep yourself and other people safe. So we went into Okeene to watch the firework show at the football field, just like we did as a child. Well we sat on the far side away from the mass of people sitting by the football field and it was perfect. We could see where they were being set off from and we could see the small brush fire that was started and the put out by the Okeene fire department, which was on the scene.
This was Thatcher's first year getting to stay up for fireworks. Yes, it was one hundred degrees outside and yes he was in his Spiderman pajamas. He wouldn't have it any other way. He loved them and told me repeatedly that he was not scared of them at all.
Sunday morning we woke up and had fishing time on the dock, which is my favorite time of the day at the lake. This was the part of the lake experience that I missed as a child. Since we lived close enough we had to go home to go to sleep. So we missed the sleepy mornings, sitting on the dock, fishing, and enjoying the weather before it was blazing hot. We also missed the thunder storms at night, which is also one of the best parts of the lake experience.
Me and sweet Alice
My children go way to hard when they are at the lake. This means that by Sunday they are exhausted. This is Rowan at like 10am Sunday, asleep at the kitchen table. No one can manage to do much of anything. They swam for a little bit, but quickly were out of energy. If only they could learn to pace themselves, but we haven't mastered that.
So we had a wonderful time with the whole family at lake per tradition. However, all of this was probably against our better judgment during this particular time in the world. Everyone is trying to be careful, but everyone is having to do at least some things out in society. No one wants to be the person that infects the whole family. No body wants to be the family on the news, "fifteen members of the same family test positive for COVID after fourth of July party." But we did it anyway and had a blast. There is always that constant fear just under the surface now. The constant questioning if what you're doing is worth the risk, but also we have no idea when or how this ends so you can't not see your family forever. It remains a different world and the decisions are not getting easier to make.
No comments:
Post a Comment