Sorry Yuma, I love ya, but...

I have always loved the 4th of July! The parades, the carnivals, lying on my back in the nice cool grass watching an amazing fireworks show. That all ended 11 years ago - when we moved to Yuma. The only thing in Yuma that resembles a 4th of July celebration is a dinky fireworks show put on by one of the local casinos. It lasts for about 5-10 minutes and leaves a lot to be desired AND it is usually watched while sitting by your car in a parking lot in 100* weather.

I get it, it is the heat. Truly, who wants to be outside celebrating anything during our Yuma summers? No one. I understand. I'm not faulting anyone here. I just know how things could be and I want them that way. I want my kids to experience this as well.

Troy had to go to Utah for a training during the first week of July. He was going to take a plane to Utah from the San Diego airport. Our budget didn't allow the whole family to go but we could do a couple of super inexpensive days in San Diego before he left. Wonder of wonders! We were there on the 4th of July!!! It was wonderful! San Diego knows how to do the 4th of July and I am now hooked for life (or until we move somewhere else)

We started out in Old Town San Diego at the Mormon Battalion (the previous post). Then we just walked down to the Old Town center and wham bam! it was a PERFECT 4th of July celebration!!! Period costumes everywhere - parades - crafts - booths - speakers - stage shows - a band - I was sooooo happy!! Here are some of the highlights of the day...

Look at those costumes!! A real 4th of July parade! See the guy to the left playing the piccolo flute?! I thought I would cry!

Corn husk dolls

Quilt blocking. This is the only picture I have of Lizzy sewing two squares together. She wrote her name on one square. With all of the squares sewn together that day, the ladies above will sew an entire quilt and raffle it off next year! I plan on being there to win the quilt!! :)

The old school house

This is the desk in the back for the misbehaving child. Funny how Ben was immediately drawn to that desk. I told him that better be the last time he is there - but I'm not going to hold my breath. :) Love you Ben!!

The old fashioned candy store was PACKED!! Lizzy, Ben and I waited outside while daddy bought freshly pulled taffy and other old fashioned candy. (Ben loves to pose for pictures.)

They have a store completely devoted to....ROOT BEER! Troy couldn't help himself he bought two six packs with 12 different kinds of root beer. Troy's heaven will have a store like this.

Watching the women spin thread

Old Town was so much fun. It is in my plans to be back there next year for sure. Anyone wanna come?

After we left Old Town, we checked into our fabulous hotel in downtown San Diego which Troy found on priceline.com for a screamin' deal! (Yay Troy!). Lizzy loves staying in hotels. She loved this one because it was a suite with a sitting room and a bedroom. Out of all of the fun stuff we did, this may have been her favorite part of the whole trip - staying in a hotel. 

After we checked in, we took the train down to Seaport Village for the fireworks. Taking the train was fun and we didn't have to find a parking space or fight the traffic when it was all over.

Look what I saw sailing in the harbor near Seaport Village. Very cool!

Ben and Lizzy waiting for the fireworks to begin

Still waiting. After we found some dinner, we decided to find a good spot for the fireworks. We wanted the bench which meant we waited for a long time. We'll know better next time, the fireworks can been viewed perfectly from almost anywhere and everyone is standing up anyway so we didn't need the bench.

So, in San Diego there are barges sitting out in the ocean on which perfectly timed fireworks are set off. This picture shows 3 but we could actually see two more to the left that didn't fit in the picture. It was spectacular. Lizzy and Ben were amazed and my heart was happy! :) (and we didn't spend a ton of money!!)