Happy 4th of July- Santa Monica Style (i.e. EARLY)

Though the posting is late!  As you know we celebrate the 4th a week early here in Santa Monica.  I suspect it's because the crowds really got too big and too unruly for our small police force to manage.  Anyhow, this year was still fun for me even though it's the least prepared I've ever been.  The hostess high point is that we ate when I said we would- in fact 10 minutes early.  Low point:  walking to the local model store to buy the traditional gliders and spinners that we play with between dinner and the show, only to find that the shop had closed 10 minutes before we got there :-(      (a sidenote... I just found out the the wife of the owner of the shop is LDS.  You all can bond next year!)  Here's a picture of us walking to the shop (pre-disappointment)

This year Toni came and brought Nena Grace, Brett, Michael Grant.  Mom arrived with Amanda with her 3 little boys, Isaiah, Joshua and Jason.  They had just spent some time at a beach house in Hungtington with some friends so spent Friday night with Mom.  Michele drove in from St. George where she, Logan and the girls had been staying with friends and saw some plays (Michele- you need to blog about that).  Jeff and Jeffrey had gone deep sea fishing while they were gone.  Jeff waited for Michele to get home then they all came together.  Jeremy, Kristy and the girls came and would have enjoyed the beach if it hadn't been for the riptide!  Gordon and Cherryl couldn't make it this year :-(