Echo is still trying to get her mouth around Independence Day… so often it is America Day. And ours was on the relaxing side. We actually had a bit of a celebration the day before with the Schwartz family. Full on fun – a pool, bouncy house AND we made poutine.
Ken and I brought some Molson Canadian to further meld the two holidays together. And Renee had the kids make ice cream.
Of course we started with photos on the 4th.
Note ZANDER is in WHITE
Gavin and Zander
Then… making of the snacks we were taking to our homeschool buds’ for dinner. (don’t forget making the kids clean while they waited for our leave time)
Our fun was on the relaxing side. Aimee had water balloons.
And then there was the mini firework type fun.
Throw in computers and toys and we rarely saw the kids.
Shucking corn
We were done and dusted and in bed only a little after normal bedtime. PERFECT!
So a belated HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to all who celebrated. Our day was a calm one, just how we like it!
149 years young our home country was on the 1st of July of this year. Next year is a big one, who knows we may even find our way back up north to celebrate? But no promises. But displaced Canadians or not, we celebrated as best we could a weekday that meant nothing so spectacular as being the birthday of a nation. It was hard to make a Friday more than a Friday here in Minnesota. Poor Echo wished strangers a Happy Canada on our walk back from a park date and got no response. But she had a blast sharing her celebration with the world so it was a win!
Anyway. We skipped Cluby that morning as I demanded a day where we DIDN’T walk 2 miles two ways and instead filled our mosquito tent with festive red balloons and colouring pages and GLITTER GLUE! Win win right?
We decorated the front yard a little… I am always hoping to add to our Canada stash but it is rough going when you live in the middle of the States. Thankfully Karyn is always keeping an eye peeled for some Dollarama wares.
Of course we did our usual pictures… which are always a lot of fun. Karyn brought us all brand new shirts on her visit this summer. Talk about a well dressed group! Though I have to say, Gavin’s eh? shirt was my favourite.
Even our hammock was the appropriate colour.
We did our favourite fireworks activity.
And had a red and white lunch with Canadian snacks straight from CANADA!
I even had my own Canada in a cup thanks to Karyn and Lauralee at the suggestion of fellow Canadian abroad Caroline.
We snuck in a playdate at the park with our American homeschool buddies who got a kick out of our duds and helped us put a huge smile on our day of Canada-centric joy. Sadly no pictures but Echo did wish random strangers a HAPPY CANADA on our walk and was a little put out that they did not respond in kind. This was corrected on Sunday when Wes our favourite lifeguard called Echo over to wish her a BELATED happy Canada Day after he and I sat and chatted and he realized the event had passed. She had a huge smile and gave him a Happy Canada Day right back! Man do I love the people at the YMCA. Enjoy a favourite rant/commercial.
We also played the national anthem and sang along and of course enjoyed a rendition of the Log Driver’s Waltz… I still know all the words and found a subtitled version for the kids to sing along! Check it out. Well worth the listen.. the tune is so catchy.
I made sure to have a family picture taken – well the natural born CANADIAN family picture. Ken said no to being included as he felt that he was better suited to TAKE this photo than to be in it. Silly man. Of course the kids told him he is just as Canadian as they are since he married me and is such a nice man (ok so maybe they are a wee bit delusional but they really love their dad).
So since it was a week day it wasn’t a fancy celebration. We had fun, ate out, celebrated loudly and plan to make it even more exuberant next year when our special day falls on a weekend. Now, sit back and enjoy the red, white and no blue images that we took to top off our day of all things Canadian…. eh.
Of course with two major holidays (ok in two different countries but major to US) within such proximity to each other there HAS TO BE overflow images… so sit back and enjoy!!!
Can you spot the dragonfly at Walker Sculpture Garden on Canada Day?
Just us Canadian Girls showing our pride
Lucky clover? Couldn’t find any with 4 leaves
O’ Canada!
Where Canada and the United State meet..
The cousins with all of their cousins (both sides)