Celebrating Independence Day Weekend with Family

I hope you all had a great Independence Day weekend!

My weekend actually started on Wednesday because I had some contractors at my house and had to be home to let them in. The hailstorm damage we received at the end of April is still being repaired. It's a slow process that won't be complete until next year, but we'll get there eventually.

My husband and I went to Mom's on the 4th and had a nice lunch and visit with Mom, my sister, and my brother-in-law. Then, we went to my stepson's house to shoot fireworks with our granddaughter that evening.

My sweet girl was cute lighting fireworks under close adult supervision and then running back to her chair. Throughout the evening, she insisted on sitting next to me. Let me tell you, this nana didn't complain one bit.

We talked about all kinds of things important to a soon-to-be second grader. First, we discussed printed handbags. She liked my turquoise cow print bag, but she would like a red cheetah print bag, herself. I've searched and don't believe such a thing exists, but I did find a pink one. It's a viable Christmas idea.

The high point of our conversation came when she told me about her boyfriend not being allowed to date until he turns 16. While I nodded sagely, agreeing that is a good age to begin dating, my granddaughter was forming some grand ideas about that will look like.

She told me their first date will be to Longhorn Steakhouse (because, of course, they will still be together in eight years), and she will have the steak with fries. I told her I thought that sounded like a good date. Then she told me that he would be having the same thing. Finally, she floored me with a bombshell.

"I want you to come on our date, too," she said.

I asked her if she was sure she wanted her nana on her first date, and she was quite certain.

She said, "You are very special in my life and pretty nice, so he will buy you a steak and fries, too."

When her mommy asked if she could also attend this date, my precocious seven-year-old grandchild said, "No. Just Nana. You can wait in the parking lot if you want."

Oh, that sweet child! She makes this nana's heart swell.

Her eighth birthday was the next day, and we had her party at a local swimming pool. Due to it being July, it was hot, so I sat beneath a canopy with my husband's ex-wife while most of the other people swam. She thought the declaration was just as funny as I did when I told her about it. We discussed how that idea will fly out the window in a few years, but I plan on reminding her that I'm to go on her first date when the time comes.

Sunday was a day to catch up on chores. First, however, I took my husband out for brunch. We haven't had brunch in a restaurant in a very long time, and it was nice to have someone else cook the food, bring it to us, and clean up after us.

When we got back home, my husband loaded up the lawn mower and headed to the house my stepson is preparing to move into. Because he's been renting with lawn care included his entire adult life, the young man doesn't own a lawnmower. My husband promised to take care of the yard at his new house until he can get moved in and buy his own.

While my husband was mowing, I caught up on the laundry, dishes, cleaning, and baked a birthday cake for a coworker. When all of that was finished, I worked on my novel for a while and wrote this blog post. It's about 5 o'clock now, so I need to think about what to make for supper. I really hate to dirty up the kitchen by cooking, but there's no help for it. We need to eat.

All in all, it was really good holiday weekend.

What did you do this weekend?

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