Real Life :: California Kiddo’s Fresno 4th of July

San Francisco has crazy weather. It’ll be hot and sunny three days in a row and then on the fourth the wind is so cold you’re wearing a wool scarf. In July. I’m not kidding. So when the Fourth of July rolls around we high tail it outta here and head down south to visit some of our very best friends, Dan & Lisa, who live in Fresno. Now you may be thinking, “Wow, Fresno….pretty posh Alix!” but lemme tell ya, WE LOVE IT THERE! Besides getting to spend quality time relaxin’ with special friends, they live in a terrific neighborhood on this awesome cul de sac. It reminds me of that famous Bill Owens’ photo from his amazing 70s SUBURBIA book. Where this woman is leading a parade down her block, waving a big American flag. Our Fresno getaway is on a very retro cool block. Our friend’s have a pool and we swim and BBQ and just totally relax. (Lisa and I always manage to sneak away for some fun girlie time…either a pedicure or some high quality movie viewing involving something classy like, you know, vampires) One of my favorite parts is how the whole neighborhood gets involved on the Fourth of July—there is a kid’s parade, bouncey house, and of course fireworks and sparklers at night. Here are some pictures of our crazy fun weekend:

We forgot about the bike parade and had to do some quickie SUPER DOWN AND DIRTY homemade decorations for Wolfie’s bike.

I feel like I should make a joke about my hubbie’s bangin’ booty. Pop pop pop!

Oh my god it was over 100 degrees and I looked like a HOT MESS (literally)  the entire day. This is a testament to how I luv ya—I’m showing you me in all my beet-faced glory. Hewww….of course Wolfie looks rosey cheeked and cute. Damn kids.

Of course there’s always a cakewalk. Greg and Lisa both won on their first try.

The liddle kiddle parade is my fave though….it’s super cute and the kids really get into it. Our friend Flo is down there on the right pushing her lil man Alastair. She made homemade ice cream sammies with home made peach ice cream and they were DEEEEEE-lishus!!

Aw yeah! The pink Malibu Barbie car was back! Whooo hoo! This little girl is there every year. She almost ran me down, but she’s so fab I forgave her.

Our neighborhood doesn’t really have sidewalks, so we’ve been slow on the bike riding dealie with Wolfie. He finally got a little cruiser with training wheels and he was totally into it! The training wheels have that wibble wobble thing where the bike suddenly leans to one side, making Wolfie shriek (in a manly way) and totally reminded me of being a kid….remember how the training wheels would bobble and you thought for SURE you were gonna wipe out?

So that’s part of our weekend! I’ll spare you photos of us looking awesomely sweaty (but then jumping in the pool a zillion times to cool off). We came back to San Francisco and, as predicted, there was a chill in the air. Oh well, it was nice to get a lil taste of summer—even if it was just for a weekend.

What did you guys do? Did you stay close to home or did you go someplace fun?? Hope you all had a fun time too! (PS UPDATE: Greg is leaving for work and WEARING A SWEATER. I’m seriously contemplating tights with my dress. IT’S JULY SAN FRANCISCO!!! *sigh* Always the rebel….)

19 thoughts on “Real Life :: California Kiddo’s Fresno 4th of July

  1. can i move in? seriously. that looks like so much all-american fun. greg does have a banging body. lol!

    we went to my parent’s house on the prairie and the highlight for me was shopping with my mom with just the baby (no one begging for cheetos or cars) and going to the country kitchen and seeing a vampire. lynxymama.blogspot.com. you can see the vamp on my flickr. hee heee.

  2. what a fun time! we spent our 4th swimming and eating cupcakes with 15 kids watching fireworks on the roof!!! and i heart your rosy cheeks! i put blush on to get that look!!!

    1. Thanks Molo!! I’m sure Miss Gia was decked out in her finest too.

      Flo! Yay! Can I tell you how awesome it is to see your name over here?? I have a great photo of Alastair I have to send to you! (I almost posted it, but then I wanted that photo with in in the pic and I only had one….). We had a great time as always! And your ice cream sandwiches were SO GOOD.

  3. Marla: That barbie car kills me every year!!! it’s insane. I had a great pic of the girl doing a “queen’s wave” while driving.

    Lishy: Fresno has awesome thrifts too but we never made it over there!! Booo. Can’t wait to check out the vamp!

    Heather: Um….you didn’t just have cupcakes, i saw those r/w/b beauties on your Flickr!!! You should post a link here!

    Kodie: aw that sounds awesome. And great reminder—if you have something fun up in yer bloggie let us know for sure!

    Shari: Of course Wolfie and your kiddo wore the same shirt, we have FABULOUS taste! haha. We had the grandparents around too, last week, but they left on the 4th!

    Rocket Jody: That’s my fave too. It seems so old-timey to have an ENTIRE COOLER devoted to 7-Up or Squirt!!!

  4. wow alix, you really know how to take fotos and make fresno sound fabulous (which it is)! i too got clipped in the heels by malibu barbie when i was pushing alastair, so i moved out of the way! anyway, it was great to see your family every year this way…and so happy we have a little tradition now!!

  5. thanks for the ice cream sandwich compliments, but i really have to do a better job next year, so it is not a drippy mess!! i cannot wait to see the pic, and, thanks for the shout out!! xx (p.s. i am sorry i didn’t get to say a proper goodbye, my kiddo was having a meltdown!)

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