A Damn Fine Weekend (Rather Photo Heavy)

This holiday weekend was so fulfilling and awesome. I stayed off the computer for the most part (plus there was no cell reception and spotty 3G) and just enjoyed time with both my family and Rob's.  I won't bore you with all of the here-to-there details, but how about a few highlights and then some pictures?

The highlights:

*Taking care of my 19-month-old niece (with a whole lot of help from other family members).
*Teaching my niece "This Little Piggie" and having her extend her foot out to me again and again to do it "one more time."
*Laughing and drinking with my dad, sister, and Robbie, while watching 30 Rock.
*The glory of a homemade (very illegal) fireworks display, watched from my dad's pontoon boat in the middle of the lake.
*My cousin trying to carry me off the boat only to drop me in the water and give me a nasty bruise on my tail bone (don't worry, no pictures). 
*My husband letting me fall so he could catch my camera (no sarcasm there, that was awesome).
*Eating roasted marshmallows during a bonfire because I can't eat gluteny s'mores.
*Gazing at the stars from the middle of the lake (once again on the pontoon boat) with my dad, sister and Robbie.
*Boating around the lake with my dad, mom, sisters, niece, and Robbie on a beautiful, sunny, warm day.
*Going swimming in front of the house I grew up in for the first time in a decade or more.

 *Driving with Robbie to visit my in-laws and noticing the temperature drop about 14 degrees as we neared the coast.
*Seeing Bob Marley perform (stand-up comedian, and he was also the Boston cop from "Boondock Saints") with my husband's siblings and getting to meet him afterward because my sister-in-law was friends with him in college.
*Waking up to see my brother-in-law finish a 5K and get beat by a guy with a stroller.
*Seeing my sister-in-law in the parade in Rob's hometown.
*Listening to my sister-in-law sing "America the Beautiful" in front of the entire town as the flag was raised on the Fourth of July.
*Feeling proud of my sister-in-law as she accepted a scholarship for being so awesome.

*Watching yet another parade from the same spot that my family has watched that parade for as long as I can remembered.
*Spending time with my extended family as the fog rolled in and we waited for the inevitable fireworks cancellation.
*Drinking and watching more 30 Rock with my dad, Megan and Rob.
*Finding different versions of the song "Danny Boy" for my dad. His mother, who passed away last year, used to sing it to him and he's really connected to it. This one's my favorite.
*Picking Cypress up on Tuesday from the kennel and seeing her excited little ass wiggle.
*Taking a little work break today to go swimming with Robbie and Cypress.
*Sun, sun, and more sun.
*Lots of cute dresses and summery outfits.

What better way to celebrate America's birthday than with some awesome people you happen to be related to? The Fourth of July has to be one of my absolute favorite holidays.

What did you do this weekend? Whatever it was, I hope it was magical.

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