Weekending it

It has been an extra long and extra full weekend. A couple of recap post are coming up.

Friday was Dan's birthday! Since he and I were both in the city for work, we met-up in the afternoon for bubble tea, browsed Barnes & Noble, and read our new books outside by the waterfront area in Battery Park City. We had reservations for dinner and it was the FIRST time we've eaten AT a restaurant since 2020. It was nice and odd and felt like a first date. 

After dinner we walked to get ice cream and then caught the ferry and regular commute back home.

In the past, we've used Dan's birthday to run around the city together doing a full day-venture of activities. The last few years have fallen far short of that but it's okay. Life is different now and we still had fun. So grateful for this guy and every year we get to spend together. Happy Birthday Dan!

While we were in the city, Mandy took the kids back to the splash pad.

On Saturday, Dan got to sleep-in, I made breakfast, and the kids helped him open presents.

We went to the pool in the afternoon.

After dinner we enjoyed the Butter Pecan cake that Mandy made. It was the same cake mix she made us for our wedding that I found online! YUM!

On Sunday, we dressed the kids in festive coordinated attire and managed to snap a sweet picture. Ivy is letting us put bow clips in her hair now!!!!

Kip and Ivy played in the driveway water park for the afternoon before we headed to the local 4th of July event. 

The town usually hosts fireworks over the bay but the event has been canceled the last two years. It was back this year but postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to rain (which never actually happened). We had plans to meet up with friends and check out the food trucks and activities before the fireworks. Apparently the event used to be really packed with stuff but this year appears to be a slow rebound as there wasn't much. Fortunately, that meant it wasn't crowded so we let the kids do the bounce house, got some hot dogs for dinner, and let the kids hang out for a bit. 

The poor grass is fried. We are desperate for rain!

We walked home, bathed the kids, changed them into jams and headed back out to get a spot for the fireworks. 

Two of Kip's classmates found us and we all hung out together before the show. I won't share my awful photos of the fireworks but real ones were great. SO close to see but not too close that they were too loud for the kids. They pumped music through the park and we only had a short walk home. It was ideal.

 On the actual 4th of July, we headed to STORYBOOK LAND! That post recap, coming up next.