4th of July

If you've never celebrated July 4th at the beach...

put it on your to-do list!

We always go to Pelham every year, 

because it's also my Granny's birthday.

But I have never experienced fireworks

 like we saw on vacation!

There was actually a family that set off small fireworks 

on the beach almost every night we were there.

Tons of  fireworks went off on the night of July 3rd. 

On the fourth, Marc wanted to head down 

to the beach to watch the sunset.

(We were told the fireworks were going to be 

set off at the end of this pier...

this is the view from our balcony!)

We played a little football on the beach...

At dusk, families piled onto the beach with coolers and fireworks.

We headed back up to the room,

for what ended up being a front-row seat to the fireworks!

Before the "real" show began,

we could see fireworks down miles and miles of beach.

Either way we looked, 

we got a spectacular show!

Then about 9:00 the fireworks began.

Mr. Terry watched from his room,

McLean went in and out of the condo,

Ansley was terrified, so Katie stayed in with her

(but Ansley fell asleep just in time 

for Katie to catch the finale!)

But me and Marc and Mrs. Debbie 

sat on the balcony to watch...

If you enlarge this photo, 

you can see just how close we were to the fireworks.

It was unlike anything I've ever experienced!

The girls in the room above us 

began to sing patriotic songs 

between the booms and squeals of the show!

I told Marc I could never describe it in words.

It's just something you have to see for yourself.

It far surpassed any fireworks display 

I've ever seen in Valdosta, Milledgeville, 

Pelham, or even St. Simon's.

The next morning, we packed up and headed home!

It was a long trip in the car...

but so worth it to finally have 

our little family of 3 together again.

(Marc had been gone since 

June 17th for his hospitalization.)

Now...a few days at home,

then we'll be headed to Atlanta!