1. I'm a deeply patriotic person and July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. It celebrates the birth of our nation, at it's core our very independence and all that represents and the freedom so many have sacrificed for so that I may enjoy. And face it, when else is it acceptable to let small children play with Chinese explosives? Let's hope everyone emerges with all fingers and body parts intact again this year. And since aerial fireworks are banned just about everywhere in our area, maybe our teenagers won't be shooting airial shells AT each other?? And have them explode under someone's car?? Long story...
2. This weekend marks the beginning of a week-long vacation for me. I think this is the first time David and I have both taken a whole week off at the same time in over 10 years. Way overdue! And in a total departure from the manically overplanned "vacation" time which is so typical for me, we have absolutely no firm plans for the week other than to enjoy some beach and fishing time together. And Dillon is holding out for Chuck-E-Cheese one day... I will probably wind up giving in on that one?
3. But most of all I'm looking forward to some great family time!
Our beautiful niece Courtny is coming in from Alaska tomorrow and we haven't seen her in way too long. Courtny was raised in Matagorda and then on a very adventurous note decided to go to college in Anchorage, Alaska. We teased her because of course on the Texas coast you wear flip-flops just about all year round and we weren't even sure she owned a pair of socks when she made this decision? After two years in Alaska now, she's become quite acclimated and it's always fun to see her facebook posts about the weather there or some stray moose in her way when trying to get to class. There aren't many moose native to Matagorda ya know?
Courtny of course wasn't the first of our family to head to the far reaches of "north Texas", David's sister Kelly and husband Kevin moved to Idaho close to 20 years ago. Their beautiful daughter Morgan was born in Idaho, but we know underneath that super snowboarding, volleyball aceing, state champ bowler exterior, she's really a Texas beach girl at heart. They are also due in this weekend and we LOVE when they get to come down and visit and soak up that great Texas sunshine with us. We also like to make fun of the way they say "crick" for creek and they make fun of the way I say "warsh" for wash, but that could be a whole blog in itself...
Especially since our family is starting to spread out with many of the cousins off to college, careers, and families of their own, it's always nice when a whole bunch of us can just get together and visit! It's something I'll admit I took for granted in my younger years but really cherish more and more every year now. (I've also discovered I now cry at weddings. Yes, I am offiicially on the crazy old lady track.) It's so much fun to see everyone and the great personalities they've grown into. And of course "family" is a term we use kinda loosely too because it includes just about any good friend or relation of any of our clan along with some very dear and colorful Matagorda locals. With this whole bunch along with any child, dog, lizard, or stray friends they happen to bring along too, there's always a party going on!
4. Also, In case you haven't noticed, I like to eat! Any Petrosky family holiday get-together means some of the best cooking anywhere, bar none. The guys will barbeque at least one day, we always fry fish at least once, and we'll see where it goes from there. Some of my facebook friends remember "fried spiders" from last year? Yep, they were DELICIOUS! If you could get past the pokey-crunchy legs that is. LOL Okay, okay, they weren't really spiders they were specially prepared shrimp but you gotta live life off the beaten track occasionally.
So if I'm offline for a while, no biggie... I probably haven't blown my fingers off (or let's hope not!). Can someone really facebook and blog with their nose or tongue in that case? Hmmm... if there's a will, there's a way?
Here's hoping your Fourth of July is a total BLAST!! And for those lucky folks in the Matagorda area the next few days, stop by for a drink and say howdy. You'll likely be part of "the family" before you leave! =)
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