The Red, White, and Blue

The 4th of July was a very rainy day for us this year, thanks to Tropical Storm Arthur who was travelling up the coast. Cookouts and fireworks all over New England were cancelled and postponed. We managed to still have a somewhat fun day, dodging the rain all day and visiting friends that evening. 

Jack was a captive audience for the weather radio.

Marc and Jack discuss storm systems while the boys hunker down in their bunker.

Thankfully, the rest of the weekend was absolutely gorgeous after the storm passed. We went up to the lake and participated in the Independence Day boat parade, as is our tradition. Not too many others joined us this year, though, we were one of three boats! That evening Marc took the boys to see the fireworks down in Watch Hill, and I'm sad that I missed them because he said that it was very impressive...they could see the firework shows from Long Island, Block Island, Misquamicut, Weekapaug...all over the coast! We laid low the rest of the weekend and just worked around the house. It was great having my mom around to visit with us and help out with the kids, and it was so fun having Marc home with us for a 3-day weekend. 

I also want to give a special shout-out to my Grandpa Ovren, who passed away years ago when I was 21. He wasn't born on the 4th of July, but awfully close on July 6, 1914. His 100th birthday would have been yesterday, and that is so amazing to me. How much the world must have changed in those 100 years. I sure do miss my grandpa, and wish he was here to talk about life a century ago.