We missed the crowds for the 4th of July this year and went to the beach despite the clouds at 4 PM. Abraham and Lucy played on the beach for hours--checking in periodically for costume adjustment, juicebox refills and dinner leaving the grownups and second children to have conversations, food and beer. Aaron found an appropriate occasion to wear his "spirit of '76" bicentenial hat.

Abraham, Lucy and Angelo proving themselves to be native New Englanders swam in the ocean until it became apparent that they were too cold.

Thanks to Mike there was wonderful fried chicken, fancy french beer and photographs!

After several hours of beach fun we took the kids for enormous icecream cones and then went to the Marshfield Fair Grounds for fireworks, except that apparently there haven't been fireworks there since 2005. Luckily we pointed to the sky at some amateur fireworks and convinced the kids that was it. Then we all headed home while, despite the sugar infusion, the kids fell asleep in the car.