Having the 4th of July holiday mid-week makes for a very long holiday weekend. For those of us that share heritage with our good Canadian neighbors to the north, this holiday is double the fun. It was the sesquicentennial celebration (150 years) which is apparently kind of a big deal.
Whether you were celebrating in Canada or in the USA, the celebrations were similar. Every grandma I spoke with about their 4th of July (or Canada Day) plans, we’re making plans that involved family. Either the grandkids were coming or aunts, uncles, children, grandparents — the plans seemed to revolve around family.
For this grandma, the grandkids were not in town this year. They were celebrating a few hundred miles a way. We’ll try to remedy that next year but in the meantime they were making traditions with their own little family.
Bottom line, holidays are about family. They’re usual the first people you make plans with as a holiday draws near. There’s something about spending time with the loved ones over a holiday that makes it complete. Friends can come along for the fun but family – that’s where it’s at.
I started the day out with the Red, White and Boom half marathon run with my son and we were met at the finish line by my husband. I was a Go Grandma on that course for sure!
Then it was off to the annual 4th of July Parade in Afton, Minnesota. Truth be known, the only reason we went to the parade was because our boat was on the other side of the parade route!
The rest of the day was spent leisurely along the St. Croix River, either on the water, in the water, or by the river with some hot dogs grilled on the beach. 
We finished it off with fireworks in our backyard. They’re never that great and it always seem like a fun/dangerous activity — that makes me nervous! 
Whether we were running a race, watching a parade, on the boat, playing at the beach, having a picnic – we were surrounded by families. I loved watching a grandma play with grandchildren at the beach while presumably their parents went out on the boat. I saw grandmas at the parade helping their grandchildren catch candy. I think grandmas especially love the holidays, especially if they get to “grandma” that day.
I agree, the holidays are all about family. My 21 yo daughter is in town visiting so that was extra exciting. Our July 4th started with a parade in Afton Mn with grandkids 4yo and 6 yo followed by grilling and pasta salad. Then nap time, we had to rest up for fireworks. And then a few of us, including grandkids met up for fireworks. It was 4 yo grandson’s first official fireworks. I tend to do do the same activities each year and I like to have a plan surrounding the holidays. But with grandkids you never know what will happen and that’s what keeps it exciting!
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Thanks Andrea. I like your idea of trying to do the same things each year – sort of creating Grandma traditions surrounding that holiday. I hope your grandson loved his first real fireworks!!
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I just found your blog! I’m so excited to see another Granny out there being a good example to the world!
Keep up the good work. And thanks for your comments on my blog.
Granny
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My extended family gets together every year on the weekend closest to the Fourth of July in our native southwestern Minnesota. It’s always a good time, although not quite the same this year minus Mom, whose health didn’t allow her to attend, and minus two of my adult children who live too far away.
It sounds like you had a fabulous Fourth. The area along the St. Croix is such a beautiful region.
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I have adult children that live too far away as well 😦 The St. Croix area is beautiful for sure – I just need to remember that in the winter.
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Grannys Unite!! I’m really enjoying your blog as well!
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What fun to find other MN grammas here. I wonder if we grandparent different from granny’s in the Deep South or Pacific Northwest, etc. Am loving your blog…..a big warm hello from northern MN
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Hello back! So far, gramma – ing seems pretty universal.
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