Happy Independence Day!!

 

Last year we were in Hawaii for the 4th of July, so we missed what we have been hearing is the biggest day of the year for Coronado Island.   This year we made sure to make up for lost time though, and discovered that all they hype is accurate.......Coronado does Independence Day right!

 

Peter started the day with a 15k around the island.   The course went right by our street, so Susannah and I headed out to watch for Dada.

He slowed down long enough to say hi and then he was off again.

As soon as Peter got home, we headed to the parade route to meet our friends.  

People get up at 4:30am to reserve their spot on the street.   It was the craziest thing I have seen.....the streets were 100% packed with families dressed in red, white, and blue.

Susannah helped watch Baby Noelle while we waited for the start.

It was hot and sunny, but we had a great time.

Susannah especially loved the horses and the fire-trucks.

The Budweiser Clydesdales were one of the highlights of the parade.

As were the old firetrucks.

Our crowd

This was the coolest float of the day in my opinion.....a reenactment of the flag raising at Iwo Jima

Susannah and Chaz waved at every single passer-by.

 After the parade we headed over to a friend's house for a delicious brunch.   I was too busy eating blueberry pancakes to take photos though.    Then we headed home for naptime.

While Susannah and I rested, Peter took a kayak out to Miss Debra's sailboat to get us some yacht-club wristbands for the night's fireworks.

After nap, we grilled some burgers and let Susannah try out the pool that I randomly won in a raffle at my physical therapy clinic.

After dinner we headed to the yacht club where Debra and Don picked us up on their dinghy.   Susannah was a little unsure, but she was brave as long as she was on her Daddy's lap.  

We just hung out on the boat and watched all the parties that were going on in the bay while we waited for the fireworks to start.

Photos never do it justice, but last night was especially spectacular because from our vantage point in the bay, we could see Coronado's display as well as the three different displays that the city of San Diego put on.   There were literally fireworks filling the sky.   It was so amazing.

Don and Debra brought us back to shore so we could put Susannah in bed......it was over 2 hours past bedtime, but she loved it.   We all did.   It was a great way to say good-bye to Coronado.   Hope all of you had wonderful weekends too!