July is a big time of year for Southport. Last year all NC 4th of July Festival events were canceled. This year, a lot of the events were held but most of them were held on Oak Island instead of in Southport. The parade was canceled and the 4th of July fireworks were held on Oak Island also. We have yet to experience a complete 4th of July festival here. Hopefully next year.

Here of some of the patriotic decorations around the house.

We have a new addition to the house now. A golf cart! And since we got it right before the 4th, we had just enough time to decorate it up a bit.

July 1st every year, Oak Island has their own fireworks to celebrate Oak Island day. The last two years we watched them for here in Southport, but this year we went over to the island and watched them from the beach. They did a great job! We took Mack and he seemed completely unbothered by them.

On Friday, my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and nieces came to visit for the weekend. We started the weekend off with dinner at the Mexican restaurant and then home where we hung out and played some games.

On Saturday, we got up early and headed to the beach to have some fun in the sun. After spending a large part of the day at the beach, we stopped at a local seafood place and picked up some scallops, shrimp, and mahi-mahi that we brought home and cooked on the blackstone. In the evening we hung out by the fire pit, had somores, games, and a late night golf cart ride.

Sunday, we got up and had a red, white, and blue pancake breakfast. After breakfast, we got decked out in our red, white, and blue attire and loaded up the golf cart to participate in a pop up golf cart parade. Danielle did our hair with red and blue ribbons, and we wore patriotic temporary tattoos. It was a lot of fun and there were quite a few participants. Spectators were very excited to see the golf carts. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

After the parade, we rode to Fort Johnston for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, raising of the flag, and firing of the canon.

Later in the afternoon, we headed back to Oak Island for some more beach time. Because it was late in the day and the 4th of July, it was SO very crowded. Since Oak Island was having the fireworks people were staking their claim on a spot early. Nonetheless, we found a spot and enjoyed our time.

Back at the house, we grilled hotdogs and hamburgers and hung out until it was time to head to the waterfront to watch the fireworks on Oak Island. On our way to the waterfront we stopped for ice cream at Spike’s Diary Bar.

We picked out a spot at the waterfront and waited for the fireworks to start on Oak Island. To our surprise, someone had fireworks in a parking lot near the water, which was right near where we were. It was exciting and fun. We got the close up show and we were able to see the Oak Island show.

Monday, I had to work for just a few hours. I missed Mikey and the girls leaving but my mom, dad, and Talon were still there when I got home. Talon and I went for a scooter/bike ride and the mom and I went and picked up seafood plates for lunch.

Mom, dad, and talon left Tuesday sometime after I left for work. We loved having everyone over for the weekend. There were lots of laughs and lots of fun had by all. When I got home from work, I found these sweet notes left by Talon.