We love, love celebrating Independence Day on Whidbey Island. Seven years ago, we stumbled across the July 3rd Freedom Festival and the next day ended up at the 4th of July Maxwelton Parade, and a tradition was born. This year, we were going to break tradition by being in New Zealand. Even when that didn’t happen, we already had a renter at the cabin for the weekend, and they were one of the few that didn’t corona-cancel their reservation.
So Plan B. By happenstance, I had already gotten reservations for north Whidbey, as we camped at Deception Pass until July 3rd. And eventually I remembered that the Langley Fairgrounds doubles as a campground during non-fair months, which would have still called for a Plan C, if the fair hadn’t already been canceled this year because of COVID. So on Friday, we packed up at Deception Pass and drove down to South Whidbey, and parked the RV in the bunny-infested field that certainly had location, location, location (and rabbit poop) to recommend itself. We eventually had to give BFF back to her parents, but with an invitation (yahoo!) to celebrate the 4th at their house.
Piper set the tone for the day by using a sponge to call an exterminator about the millipede (or multi-armed tickling Papa) in the bed. I think she just got tickled more.
The first thing the kids did when we got to their house was shoot off confetti cannons. See that cute camper in the background? Jon let us all cram in and took us for a quick ride down the beach road.
Between the ribs, the burgers, the hotdogs, the beans, the corn, the chips…well, Dwayne and I returned to clean eating when the weekend was over.
And that was before another neighbor brought over his “gag gift” cotton candy maker. It was no joke– the machine was pretty much industrial grade, and the kids were thrilled. And possibly hyped up on more then just sugar…
….which was fine, because they played and played and played all afternoon. Little J has a BIG crush on Piper and the 4 kids (minus Kyla, who went off by herself to immerse herself in stories) were a Norman Rockwell’s muse for American kids on USA’s birthday. Piper decided to wear Wes’s change of clothes as a swimsuit, which is just as weird as she is, so it worked.
We didn’t see Kyla much as she is her own best friend, and craves time living in her own storied universe, but I at least tried to get one picture of her Red, White, and Blue.
I didn’t grow up with fireworks, but Jon loves them (his wife is tolerant), and has very generously allowed my kids to do the safe fireworks with his kids. It quickly became another part of the 4th to give him some cash a few weeks before and he’d shop for my kids, too. This year, I bought my first ever fireworks when I realized that Costco sells packs. I bought a few to add to Jon’s collection, and there was a fun assortment of daytime and evening fireworks.
The best fireworks of the night? Jon and Dwayne remembering youtube vidoes of burning steel wool. Of course, Jon had more than enough materials. At first, they just used a rope and one ‘bar’ of steel wool. The full minute video, which I won’t subject you to, was the men using chicken wire to create a small cage to house 8 bars and protect the rope, and lighting it on fire. I think Dwayne is just setting off a few bars.
Happy Birthday, America! I know you’re kind of a mess right now, but we all have our awkward phases and difficult periods. You will be better by this time next year.
Needopedia 