Fourth of July

This year we decided to have a simple 4th of July on the base.  We had heard that you could see the fireworks in Kailua from Fort Hase Beach on the base.  This seemed like the best option so we didn't have to find parking and fight to get a spot on the beach to watch them.  We went over to our friends Chad and Vera's house and had a barbeque to start off the day.  They have a playground right by the house so the kids ran in and out to play in between watermelon eating breaks.  After we were done eating we decided to walk over to the beach and relax before the fireworks.  It was such a perfect day to sit on the beach!

Looking from the beach over to Kailua and Lanikai

Sitting in my beach chair looking out into the ocean

While we sat there waiting on the fireworks, the kids played in the sand.  Alec played in the water a little bit but the reef is so close to the beach that the water gets really choppy on this side of the base. 

Hails with her American flag

All of us adults just sat around talking and joking around.  We all had a great time.  It was good food, good weather, and great friends.  It was truly a fantastic fourth of July. 

Kyle and Kyle

Vera and Chad

Once the sun went down the beach started to really fill up.  Families came out from all over with their lawn chairs and coolers.  It was truly a family affair.  At exactly 8 the fireworks started over the beach in Kailua.  It was perfect because we could see the fireworks but they weren't nearly as loud as they would have been if we had been closer.  The fireworks didn't last very long but it was a pretty impressive show.  They had some fireworks I had never seen before. 

If you listen closely you can hear the ocean behind the voices.  It was a really great fourth of July celebration.  It made me realize that we don't go to the beach nearly as much as we should.  We will definitely have to go more often now. 

So that was our fourth of July celebration.  I hope all of y'all had a great day too!