7.06.2008

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!! We had a great weekend! This is the first year that we have not been around either Johns family or my family on the 4th so we had to get a little creative. In Virginia Beach there aren't any fun parades. There are some great firework shows but they are absolutely INSANE with all of the crazy people around this town! My kids will get their fill of fireworks someday...when they are old enough to handle the crowds! We decided at the last minute to take a drive on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. You may be thinking...um...you drove on a bridge-what's the big deal? This bridge is one of the 7 wonders of the world!! I have lived in Virginia Beach most of my life and have never actually done this (at least not that I can remember!) The toll is $12 each way!! It is 23 miles long from shore to shore and has two tunnels and 4 man made islands along the way! One of the islands has a fishing pier, restaurant, and gift store. We stopped there for lunch and took a stroll along the pier. Hailey learned a ton about fishing in the few minutes that we were out there. Lesson #1- Do not sit down anywhere (or lean on anything)...most likely a poor fishes head has been cut off there. Lesson #2- Clothes are optional while fishing! Lesson #3- The fish sandwiches do have bones in them and the crab cake sandwiches might have shells (and nobody thinks thats strange!) Lesson #4- The cute little crabs that a little girl was playing with were actually NOT pets...they were dinner for the fishies!
Check out this fish sandwich John ordered. Can you even see the bun...it's the small round dot in the middle!!
The girls thought this bridge was pretty cool. It really does take quite some time to get to the other shore! It cost $450,000,000 to build. No wonder why the toll costs so much!!

The girls though we were on a roller coaster! Hands Up!
Hailey loved our binoculars. She couldn't understand why she couldn't see all the boats out on the water...it could have something to do with the fact that they were facing the wrong direction. She wouldn't let us help her turn them around!
On Saturday, John had to get back to work on his dissertation so the girls and I went to a great BBQ/Lake Party! We stayed for hours and the girls had a lot of fun. I have to say that the food was the best part.

Being the emotional and unstable woman that I am when I am pregnant, I had to hold back tears every time Hailey asked me to tell her about what the 4th of July Holiday was all about. I am so thankful to be an American and so thankful for the rights and freedoms that I have been blessed with. I pray so often for our leaders to help protect us, by making the right decisions, and that is a prayer I will continue to make. I think that it is so easy to take for granted the simple pleasures that we have been blessed with. For today...I will not forget and I will thank my Heavenly Father for the wonderful life that I have! For all of our family that is not near...but very far...we love you and missed you on this great holiday. We hope that you all had a great, relaxing day filled with red, white, and blue!!

11 comments:

Heidi said...

Love your hair style! I saw a woman on TV wearing her hair like that so I tried it but my hair is so long that I think it looks funny. Also, it looks bad unless I straighten it first. Totally cute on you though! So jealous of straight hair!

Heidi said...

That is THE BEST family picture, I love it!! I really enjoyed your post and reading all of your thoughts and fabulous humor......how I miss you!!!!!

Jones said...

what a great post Katrina! we DO live in the best country!!

...especially when you can go fishing and choose whether you want to wear clothes or not...America is great! ;)

and that fish sandwich made me hungry by the way!!!!!!!

Tori said...

What a lovely post! :) You have the sweetest way of expressing yourself. Love the family picture!!! ^_^

The Adams Family said...

What a sweet post. First of all, a GREAT family picture, I'd frame that one! I'm so glad you taught us all of your funny lessons. I probably won't ever go there, but I'm glad I got to learn from your mistakes!

Ashcraft Adventures said...

What a great idea to do something different! You look awesome by the way.

About Me said...

We loved that little restaurant when we came to visit you, I can't believe that you had never been across the bridge!!

Stephanie said...

How fun. Isn't it true that we sometimes don't see the wonderful stuff around us. I had a friend when we lived in PA who's family had lived there for 10+ years and had never made the 45 min. trip into Philly to see all the history there! We might have to try out that bridge, but really long bridges make me a little nervous. Nice to know they have little islands along the way.

Emily said...

Always wanted to go across that bridge. We lived so close, but never did it! Anyway, looks like you had lots of fun! The family picture is so cute.

Danica said...

Sounds like an adventure. Wow! What a cute family you guys have. So did you and your husband meet at Ricks? How long have you been married?

Leah said...

so much fun!!! glad you had a good day despite no family near by. talk to you soon. yOU're girls are adorable....any names for that boy of yours yet?