Memories of the Classic Extended Family Fourth of July Picnics

The Fourth of July was one of my most favorite holidays as a kid. It was a big family production and everyone had so much fun. It was a WHOLE LONG DAY affair. Looking back, it's amazing how much work went into these wonderful day long picnics.

We started out at picnics in Lord's Park in Elgin, IL. I loved that park. I mostly remember the playground and the lake that had swans and peacocks. It also had this odd museum of stuffed animals. I wonder why that was there! There was a swimming pool, but we never went swimming, we were too busy eating and playing crocket. After 5th grade we would move our big Fourth of July Family Picnic to some state park in McHenry County. It got moved cause I got jumped on that playground and beat up by a not-so-nice girl! I remember my grandfather running over to save me! Crazy!

So of course, I remember the picnics in McHenry County more, as I was older. There are the classic events that happened every year. My mom yelling at my dad at 8 am, yes we would get there at 8 am, about where to move the picnic tables. Dad wearing his golashes cause heaven forbid a little bit of dew get on his gym shoes. Classic! We still make fun of him for that!

The best meal on the Fourth of July was breakfast. There's nothing like eggs and bacon cooked on the grill. My mom would make your eggs to order too. She knew exactly how everyone wanted their eggs. There were alot of eggs to make with my grandparents, and four sets of aunts and uncles, cousins and relatives from Iowa all there. Not to mention friends that we brought with. And did I tell you my mom makes THE BEST bacon ever! But the best part of Fourth of July breakfast was the chocolate chip coffee cake that mom would get from The Village Bakery. Yum! Especially with a little butter on it! :)

There was plenty to do throughout the day. We'd play badminton - my little cousins would chase the poor chipmunks with the rackets, volleyball, jarts, and go hiking. One year Aunt Willa would fall in the coal pit playing badminton! If you knew her, you'd be laughing! Typical large great-aunt playing badminton in white shorts and heels! Needless to say, her white shorts were no longer white after that episode. Good thing the coals had cooled off too! One year my cousin and I got really lost hiking! I thought we were going to die out there! Luckily a nice family found us and returned us to our family. We never did that again! There was also the McHenry Dam you could walk up to. We'd hike up to the Dam with our uncles.

By then we were hungry for lunch! Lunch was a big affair! We had hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, grandma's baked beans, the famous Sterzing potato chips from Iowa - The Iowa Potato Chips, mom's homemade potato salad, watermelon, and lots of different pies for desert. And brownies of course! We had the same spread for dinner too.

We'd spend ALL day out there just having a blast. Then as evening started to roll in, we'd pack up and head out to Arlington Park Race Track for the fireworks. What fun!

I wish my kids got to have a blast like this on the Fourth. My family doesn't do the big picnic at McHenry anymore. Now they are in my sister's back yard, which is huge, but it's not like being in McHenry. All the living relatives still come though. Wish I could be there. Wish the kids could be there. Wish the Village Bakery was still open so I could have some of that Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake!

Happy Independence Day to you all!