It was the 3rd of July and so time to get ready to go to the beach for a picnic. We watched the door P7030001 and waited for Suzanne to emerge so that we could go. We listened to the radio P7030002 and checked the gauges P7030003 before Melissa P7030004 and then Melissa and Suzanne P7030005 emerged.

The ride was uneventful and we knew to not jump off the bridge even without the sign P7030006 and soon we were there P7030007 taking the obligatory phone booth and beach tags sign pictures. P7030008 Their house, 3083, P7030009 was quite nice and within a short time we were eating cheese P7030010 and I had some beer P7030011 while Suzanne was finishing her water P7030012 when Lucy and Jane appeared P7030013 and took a picture of the fan P7030014 for Benjamin. The kids went to the arcade and came back wit the Coca Cola polar bear P7030015 the tiger P7030016 and other assorted toys. They also had caps P7030017 to fire to celebrate our flag P7030018 and the neighbor P7030019 who saluted us. All of this made Suzanne P7030020 happy even as Michael P7030021 twisted in his chair and Caroline P7030022 appeared incognito. We decorated the food P7030023 had more beer P7030024 and sent Lucy P7030025 down below to catch the parachute. P7030026 Next it was to fire the snaps P7030027 which Jane and Lucy did P7030028 to Suzanne's amazement. P7030029 The food smelled too good to even consider the Fishin Pier. P7030030

Next we went to the beach P7030031 P7030032 to see the gulls P7030033 and watch them fly P7030034 P7030035 beyond Lucy and Jane P7030036 as Suzanne P7030037 P7030039 watched. We took a few artistic gull shots. P7030038 P7030040 We shot a pier picture P7030041 and then it was time to play life guard P7030042 P7030043 P7030044 and pretend that we didn't see the crazy lady P7030045 with her metal detector. Ben climbed the life guard chair P7030046 and then we went back to see Michael and Caroline cook a wonderful meal. P7030047

The next day, we headed out P7040048 past the ad for the Elvis impersonator P7040049 to Mellon's P7040050 home of the sticky buns P7040051 with the big promise P7040052 that were delivered by these girls P7040053 from Media.

Next we went to the bagel shop next door where they were celebrating the 4th P7040054 P7040055 in grand style. We checked out the menu P7040056 but didn't want to ruin our appetites so we had Benjamin do the flag thing P7040057 took a picture of this bumper sticker P7040058 and then ran into these wonderful children P7040059 P7040060 having a holiday parade.

Back at home, as the time passed, P7040061 Jane and Lucy rested P7040062 and then got ready to move P7040063 even though the day was gloomy. P7040064 But time passed P7040065 so we watched Rikki P7040066 P7040067 P7040068 P7040069 encourage people to get out of their Mom's house. And then we got settled at the beach P7040070 as Suzanne read the Bernstein guide to Paris P7040071 and Lucy and Jane gathered shells. P7040072 All of this digging P7040073 P7040074 P7040075 P7040076 led to these conch shells with live animals in them P7040077 P7040078 P7040079 and this crab P7040080 so that we roamed the beach looking for more P7040081 P7040082 P7040083 until it was time to return for reading. P7040084 and Michael and Caroline P7040085 could discuss publishing English research to the amusement P7040086 of Suzanne. The digging resumed P7040087 P7040088 P7040089 P7040090 and we made a sign P7040091 warning people away from our masterpiece. P7040092 It was time for regrouping P7040093 The digging continued beyond the pier P7040094 P7040095 and back P7040100 P7040103 P7040104 P7040106 P7040107 P7040109 P7040110 P7040111 leading to good treasures P7040096 P7040097 P7040098 P7040101 P7040102 that were enjoyed by all P7040099 as the conch P7040105 dried up and we got ready to put the sea rice P7040108 back home.

The next excursion began a little later P7040112 as we made our way to Hoy's P7040113 where we took our obligatory phone booth picture P7040114 and worried about poor Joe. P7040115 Suzanne modeled for us P7040116 in Hoy's and we left to see this fine ad P7040117 for tutoring.

The only thing better than Benjamin's dinner P7040118 were these crayons P7040119 P7040120 he won at the arcade much to the delight of the neighbors. P7040121 The meal was exquisite with mozzarella, basil and tomatoes, P7040122 roasted vegetables, P7040123 zucchini rice, P7040124 asparagus rice, P7040125 and leftover fish. P7040126

Sadly it was departure time, so Caroline P7040127 took the first picture P7040128 followed by Suzanne. P7040129 This is (more or less) P7040130 what they saw.