It's summertime! It's JULY - yahoo!
The July 4th holiday week has always been a traveling week for me. My destination, Cape Cod. Usually staying in Sandwich, and then venturing out from there to see beaches, visit touristy shops (everyone needs a sweatshirt from Cuffy's right!?), enjoy the outdoors and eat ice cream and seafood. When I was kid, we went camping as a family. When I turned 18, I went camping with my friends (you can only imagine how that went!). I continued to camp as I got older, but the Cape became extra special when my wife and I decided to get married there. The week of July 4th in 2010, we rented a cottage in the Town Neck area of Sandwich, within walking distance to Town Neck beach and, at the time, a restaurant called Hemisphere. We had our immediate family down to the Sandwich Boardwalk beach for a intimate ceremony and ate dinner at the restaurant. The following day, we had about forty people at the cottage for BBQ and cupcakes - and then a special walk down to the beach to watch the fireworks. It was incredible. They are memories that will last forever!
We stayed at the same cottage for a few more years, but then, life changed and we didn't make it back to the same place. We also started making a family - so priorities changed. In 2016 we sat at that same beach July 4th weekend, while I was pregnant with Sydney. (Her first visit to the Cape!). We stayed at an Inn, watched the parade (for the first time) and had dinner on the canal with family. In 2017, we didn't make it the Cape - we were fully involved with moving into our new home in Clinton. In 2018, we made a last minute trip with both kids (Ryan just over a month old!) and stayed in Hyannis. Traveling with two kids makes the experience very different. Some things are more difficult, like packing the car, planning meals and sleeping arrangements. But it also sparks joy in showing your children new places and creating new memories.
This year, we're headed down the Cape! YAY! One night - but we will make the best of our time there - including a seafood dinner, ice cream, some pool time, a walk along the Sandwich canal and visiting the Sandwich Boardwalk. Maybe squeeze in the July 4th parade and eat some cupcakes, too. We need some ocean air, and even if for just a short time, a change in scenery will do us all good.
As for what's happening with Macaroni Kid Leominster-Clinton - check out this great stuff:
10 Events and Holidays For Your Family to Recognize in July
THANK YOU to our Facebook followers! - ENTER TO WIN a $50 gift certificate from Uno Pizzeria & Grill (Leominster)
Your Summer Bucket List is Here! - great inspiration to have fun doing 'the little things' with your family
Celebrate July 4th with parades and fireworks!
Guide to Farmers Markets in Central Massachusetts
I plan to unplug - as much as possible over the next few days - and still find a way to capture all the great moments (might be time to pull out the Nikon camera and the leave the phone behind).
I hope you are able to enjoy some time with the people you love!
XOXO
Emily
