Firework

If one weekend had to represent the season, July 4th delivers. I think it's appropriate that we bask in sunshine, barbecue with friends, and splash cannonballs in the pool to celebrate a day that commemorates our country's freedom. Live it up. For the entire weekend, we wrung the goodness out of the summer sponge as we filled every possible moment with fun and late nights. Let me stress the late night part as I stayed up until almost 11:00 every night. Starting Friday South River had their annual fireworks which gives us cause to have good friends over for good food and drinks. I played late into the night with Sammy.

Saturday we awoke early as it doesn’t matter what time I go to bed, I can’t miss a thing during the day. Up and at ‘em is how I roll. We did some shopping in the morning, early nap in the afternoon and out the door to the Platkos annual 4th of July party. We have never been as its always conflicted with Red Bank’s fireworks. But I tell you, they sure did put on a great party. There was so much to do, starting with the pony rides, a bouncy house and water slide, followed by swimming, the ice cream truck and lots of kids to play with. To top it all off, a bigger than average private fireworks show that we sat way to close to comfort for. It was an awesome day. Home late, but again early to rise as I couldn’t miss my weekly outing to Sam’s.

I’ll be moving into a “big boy” bed soon so we went to price the market at Costco and Sam’s. My parents keep telling me they are not going to buy any more diapers but seemingly they give in to my demands. As I was extremely tired, we headed home for an early lunch and nap to prepare for our big night out in Redbank. But the rain just wouldn’t keep falling so I kept sleeping. We finally headed over to the Platko’s for our annual outing. Once there, the rain really started to fall so we had a picnic inside with sandwiches, chips and drinks. After fitting in some Jake and the Neverland Pirates into our schedules, Josh and I were ready to go as the rain had finally stopped and the sun had broken through. We arrived in Red Bank at Riverside Park and step up shop at 8:40. With only a half hour left to wait until the big ones started popping we played and enjoyed the space as the park was very empty. Once the fireworks started we settled back and peered up into the sky as it turned various shades of every color of the rainbow and shapes including hearts and letters spelling out U.S.A. Every time a firework would burst I would shout out the type and quickly developed a love for frykids and fireflies. Frykids are the ones that are big circles that drape across the sky and hang for a long time, like a McDonald’s frykid. Fireflies are a new firework of sorts as they burst and then next thing you know there are tons of little fires racing around the sky similar to lots of glowing fireflies in my backyard.

Monday brought a cranky me with very little sleep but hey you know my parents motto - why slow down when there is something fantastic around the corner. There’s always time later to sleep. So we headed over to Staten Island with the Hare’s for my first Parade. I thought I was going to get to ride on a fire truck but instead I was able to view them, get sprayed by them, and drive one after the parade. I wasn’t in the best of moods and often turned Jekyll and Hyde when I wanted something, I think the day was pretty grand. It wasn’t a comfortable experience by any means, my exhausted parents dragging us in a wagon, water filled balloons bouncing, and crying babies. But it seems we have made some sort of a tradition. I’m sure looking back at the pictures of us smiling it will look deceivingly like oh, what joy, what a fabulous time we had. In reality, it was a good time. Needless to say, I turned in early after a quick dinner, bath and a book.

We spent this weekend like it should be spent: friends, fun, and late nights filled with fireworks.