Fireworks!

We had a great but busy Fourth of July this year. This was Zach’s year that he would be going to the big fireworks displays. We kept him way last year because we didn’t think he would enjoy the loud noises that they make. We are members of the Henry Ford in Dearborn and finally decided to use the membership to its fullest this year. We decided to go with Matt’s family to the Fire Work and Detroit Symphony concert that they put on every year the day before we head to the west coast of Michigan for our annual Peplinski Cousin’s Camp at my Uncle Scott’s where we would partake in more fireworks during the weekend. We got Zach some ear muffs to dampen the sound because they also shoot off cannons while the symphony plays the 18th Overture and then the fireworks begin. We got there a little early so we could do a little picnic and get a spot in the shade. The symphony was amazing and the sounds system was incredible because you could close your eyes and you would have thought you were inside a big concert hall listening to them. We were not close to the stage at all. Zach loved the,” big booms,” as he called them. He kept asking for more and more until he fell asleep in my arms in the middle of the fireworks display. One minute he was talking and clapping and the next he was dead to the world. He didn’t wake up until the next morning. I had never seen anything like it before. We all had a great time and will definitely do it again next year.

The next day we woke up, packed and headed off to CCII (Cousin’s Camp 2 2010). It was our second year and though the group was a little smaller we were still out to have a good time. We did themed nights again with lots of decorations and activities. The following are the theme nights and activities that were planned:

Twilight Series – we had a scavenger hunt, knowledge quiz that covered the movies and books, movie screenings, and a trip to see Eclipse which had just come out.
The Wild West – We had a chili cook-off and water pistol skills testing.
Backwards Day – All the day’s chores were written backwards and we ate dessert for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.

Of course we enjoyed the Lake Michigan and the beach almost every day as well as quad rides, the trampoline, blueberry picking and a campfire each night. Zachary definitely had the most fun out of everyone and continually asks when we are heading back to Uncle Cot’s (Scott) house. He didn’t care for the water at the beach and in fact only went out into it once with my dad. Once the first big wave hit him he wanted nothing more to do with the water. However, he loved the trampoline (which we were surprised about considering he would not go into the bounce house that daycare got for the kids one day). He also loved going for quad rides with the adults (much to my fear) and playing on the swings and in the sandbox with Uncle Scott, Woody (their dog) and all of the kid’s old sand equipment and trucks. For the fireworks display in Grand Haven he stayed up the entire time and even took off his earmuffs and still enjoyed the show. He didn’t even fall asleep in his stroller on the two mile walk back to the car. We took so many good pictures this year that I wish I knew how to share them all but here are a few of my favorites.
In my mind this year was another success and I cannot wait for CCIII to see what we come up with next.