4th of July Weekend

We have had a busy 4th of July weekend! Tommy and I both had the day off on Friday, so we ran errands and had lunch at a great new restaurant in Salem, the Green Land Cafe. Yesterday, Tommy did an ocean swim with some friends at Nahant in the morning and we grilled out afterwards. Later, we went to our friends Megan and Ryan's house for a 3rd of July cookout (their son, Johnny is one of Mary Francis' playgroup buddies and they are now both at the same daycare). July 3rd is a BIG deal around here as that is when Swampscott has all of their Independence Day festivities. (For my Carolina friends, it is like Franklin St. on Halloween - crazy!) Megan and Ryan live one house down from the ocean, so it was a great spot to see all of the people celebrating, hear the band and watch the fireworks. Most of our playgroup friends were there, so Mary Francis got to see all of her friends. We had a great time and caught the fireworks over the harbor on our way home. We watched from the beach, so we had a great view. Francie Pants slept through the fireworks! I guess that's why they say "Slept like a baby."

The crowd gathering to watch the fireworks in the harbor

Unfortunately, when we got home, Mary Francis was running a fever. We were up with her for most of the night. We are very lucky to have a pediatric practice that sees urgent care patients on weekends and holidays though! Poor Mary Francis has another cold and ear infection, but thankfully we already have her antibiotics and some numbing ear drops.

We did make it to our neighborhood's 67th annual 4th of July Horribles Parade this morning before her appointment at the pediatrician.

What is a Horribles Parade, you ask?

"A Horribles Parade is a parade in which people wear grotesque and usually comic costumes. Parades of horribles are a part of Fourth of July celebrations in many New England communities, some of which have featured such a parade since the 1800s.The effect is often designed to be comic, with costumes which may reference ongoing social problems in an attempt to bring levity to serious situations. Spoofs of public figures, for example, can often be found leering at the audience from a parade of horribles, and elaborate parades may feature floats as well as marchers. In all cases, the tradition is designed to give members of a community a creative outlet for expressing concerns with the direction their societies are taking, or simply a chance to have fun while dressing up in silly costumes."

Here are some pictures of the parade, which goes right down our street.

Dressed up for the 4th of July - you can tell she doesn't feel good :(

Some of the "floats" - mostly wagons and bikes

Mary Francis and her neighbor buddy, Ella

Sleepy girl

The fire truck that led the parade

Mary Francis and Ella in their Uppa Babies during the parade

Spectators on Aspen Road

We are going to lay low today since Mary Francis is sick, but Tommy and I are going to continue our Boston 4th of July tradition of lobster, corn on the cob, and watermelon tonight.

Dinner! The big guy is Tommy's

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!!