Happy 4th of July - 2023!

We celebrated the 4th again this year in Michigan with the usual crew of friends. Five stayed at our house with us and then there were another two at our friends' house down the road but we all get together for outings, dinners and the beach. 

Amazing Amateur Fireworks

They all arrived on the 3rd and we met up at Waypost Brewing company to sample some flights of beer and catch up. The kids played bags, soccer and a game called ladders to entertain themselves during our 2.5 hour outing. The beer was good, the shade was better and it was a good way to kick off the holiday. 

We returned to our house for the traditional 4th of July big dinner (held this year on the 3rd for those who needed to get back on the 4th early for work on the 5th). We started with appetizers and drinks and then our friend brought over ribs he had smoked all day and we made the sides to feed a group of 14 with some desserts too. We played more bags, added in Kan-Jam and walking to view the South Haven fireworks at the end of our road before calling it a night after a few rounds of cards. 

The 4th of July came and we headed to the beach. This is the most crowded you'll ever see our beach and it was crowded! But we managed to squeeze our large group into a spot and secure our Lily Pad (floating raft mat) in the water. Speaking of the water, its temperature had increased to a nice 70 degrees. Not Bora Bora temperature but a nice refreshing one to wake you up when you first got in. We adjusted nicely to it though and spent some time seeing who could stand the longest on the Lily Pad (easier for the kids than the adults). The weather was perfect and we didn't want to leave but it was getting late and we needed to eat. 

July 4th dinner consisted of burgers, brats and hot dogs, bbque chips, watermelon and desserts. Everyone was sufficiently stuffed and enjoyed watching the fireworks from afar as we ate on our balcony. More games ensued - bags, Kan-Jam, the Name game and then we all settled in for some singing while our friend played the Ukulele before retiring for the night. 

On Wednesday, some friends left early while others along with us enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before cleaning up and heading home. We had been in Michigan for 5 nights and 6 days by this point and our kids were ready to head home. We arrived in Michigan on Friday, and managed to do a little prep work in preparation for our guests (cleaning, cutting the lawn, laundry, sheets, shopping, preparing food) and hit a few of our favorite restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights, got in a round of mini golf and headed to our friends' beach to enjoy a bonfire on the beach (compliments of Tom's fire-making skills) and to watch their amazing 45 minute firework show which rivaled any that I'd ever seen.  It had been a long week full of friends and fun. Happy Independence Day! 

Friends from our 20s and now we're 50!

Gettin' in some mini golf

Happy 4th of July!