Recap: 4th of July Weekend

I love 4th of July! It's the epitome of summer: sun, fun, friends, grills... basically all my favorite things.

Oh yeah, and the celebration of America's independence. Which I also love.

(However, I wish more of those Brits had settled here or would come over... who doesn't love a British accent?!)

This year I had an especially fantastic Fourth, because I spent it with my family in Florida. (Wow, there is some serious alliteration happening in that sentence). My brothers Chad and Conor make everything more exciting, and this weekend was no exception.

Tiff and I spent 5 days in Panama City Beach, but our July 4th was spent canoeing the Econfina Creek - which is home to like a bajillion natural springs. Which makes it a very COLD creek. And very clear. And very beautiful.

Launching our canoes

I have beast arms now from rowing all 3 or 4 miles of it. I like to call them "souvenirs".

Parentals

 

The canoe of "kids"

Loading up onto the scariest bus ever after the canoe trip

Zonked out. Completely.

Sadly, Conor couldn't come with us, because we were afraid of how natural springs + cold, cold water + canoes + shenanigans would end for the little guy. After our adventures, though, we rushed home to him - and not MORE importantly, but also importantly, to fire up the grill.

After some delish burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and WATERMELON (I love watermelon), we headed to the beach to watch the fireworks. There are lots of places that had "official" fireworks, but we went the "unofficial, more variety/danger/fun/ease, less crowded" route and watched all the people who spent their kids' college savings on fireworks light up the sky. They were right above our heads! Which was truly patriotic when they exploded too close to the ground. Really conjured up the experience of being a revolutionary. I've never felt more American.

One of my favorite American girls.

Celebrating the 4th on the beach.

Started building sand castles. Then switched to building bomb shelters.

The whole crew. 

P.S. - my dad is an active duty service member. USAF. I'm so proud of him and so thankful for his commitment to our country. Love you, SMSgt McCann!

Anyway, more to come on the full weekend spent in paradise with my lovely family. For my USA friends, I hope you had a great, safe, holiday and took a moment to remember the historical significance and very current responsibilities of FREEDOM!

God bless the USA.

XOXO,
jam