4th of July Brunch - 2011

Here are a few pictures from last year's 4th of July Brunch we hosted! For the life of me here, in Middle America, where Amber waves of Grain are....is there no parade??!! That is just crazy to me - I grew up in a Village in the Chicago burbs and the 4th was a huge celebration...a Boat Regatta, a Firecracker 5K, a (almost 2 hour) parade down Main Street (where people would stake out spots up to two days ahead of time!) and then of course LOTS of after parade parties/brunches. At dusk the town (and neighboring towns too)descended upon the Lake with picnics and blankets to watch the magical fireworks...those are some of my very best childhood memories...truly how every child should grow-up. OK, I digress...my point is that I have tried to re-invent something on a smaller scale for my kids when we are here on the 4th. So I have done a brunch (with most of the same dishes my Mom always made for our brunches) and hosted a small neighborgood bike/wagon/scooter parade! It has been really fun - sometimes we have added a bounce house or big water slide, games, bubbles and chalk are always at the ready too! This year we are headed to the lake with friends...so instead we will get up, wtach Wimbelson with a Mimosa or two and relax before packing and leaving for Diamond Lake! Happy 4th Friends!