The Smith Chronicles
  • ALBUMS
  • THE BUCKET LIST
  • 1974 - 1996 - DON
  • 1975 - 1996 APRIL
  • 1997 - 1999
    • The Dating Years - 1997 - 1999
    • Our Wedding - 1999
    • Our Honeymoon - 1999
  • 2000
    • Spring 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
    • Visiting Josh in Arizona - 2002
    • Don's Graduation from AU - 2002
  • 2003
  • 2004
    • April's Pregnancy with Hannah - 2004
    • Baby Showers for Hannah - 2004
    • Hannah's Birth - 2004
  • 2005
    • 2005 Easter
  • 2006
    • New Years Day - 2006
    • Painting Jackson'a Nursery - 2006
    • January 2006 Memories
    • Jackson's Birth - 2006
    • Bringing Jackson Home - 2006
    • Winter Memories - 2006
    • Daddy-Daughter Dance - 2006
    • Spring Memories - 2006
    • Jackson's Baptism - 2006
    • Easter - 2006
    • Beach Trip - 2006
    • Summer Memories - 2006
    • Family Reunion - 2006
    • Auburn Football Season - 2006
    • Hannah's 2nd Birthday - 2006
    • Montgomery Zoo Trip - 2006
    • Halloween - 2006
    • Fall Memories - 2006
    • Thanksgiving - 2006
    • Alsobrook Fancy Christmas Party - 2006
    • Granny's Birthday Party - 2006
    • Christmas - 2006
    • Winter Memories - 2006
    • Portraits - 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
    • Connor's Birth
  • 2009
    • DECEMBER 2009 HANNAH PRE-K CHRISTMAS PARTY
    • DECEMBER 2009 TISH & KENT'S WEDDING
  • 2010
  • 2011
    • Trip tp France - 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
    • Connor Kindergarten Graduation 2014
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
    • JUNE 2017 APPALACHIAN TRAIL Hike
    • DECEMBER 2017 CHRISTMAS
  • 2018
    • MAY 2018 LIGHT FEST
    • DECEMBER 2018 CHRISTMAS CRUISE
  • 2019
    • JUNE 2019 PACIFIC NW GIRLS' TRIP >
      • DAY 1
      • DAY 2
      • DAY 3
      • DAY 4
      • DAY 5
      • DAY 6
      • DAY 7
      • Apps Page
    • DECEMBER 2019 MEMORIES
    • DECEMBER 2019 TRACK MEETS
    • DECEMBER 2019 ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTIN
    • DECEMBER 2019 CHRISTMAS
  • 2020
    • NEW YEARS 2020
    • TALLEDEGA NATIONAL PARK 2020
    • SIPSEY WILDERNESS HIKE
    • 2020 EASTER
    • APRIL 2020 MEMORIES
    • 2020 COVID PARADE
    • JUNE 2020 GIRLS' TRIP NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
    • FATHER'S DAY 2020
    • 4th OF JULY IN CARRINGTON LAKES
    • CONNOR'S 12th BIRTHDAY
    • HANNAH'S 16th BIRTHDAY
    • HALLOWEEN 2020
    • THANKSGIVING 2020
    • Christmas 2020
  • 2021
    • SKIING IN GATLINBURG
    • SPRING BREAK IN SAVANNAH
    • 2021 OUTDOOR TRACK SEASON
    • NOAH'S GRADUATION PARTY
    • JUNE 13 MOSS CREEK HIKE
    • FATHER'S DAY 2021
    • RIVER RAFTING THE OCOEE
    • FAMILY REUNION & BEACH TRIP - 2021
    • SUMMER AT THE GRAND
    • DON'S 47th BIRTHDAY
    • CONNOR'S 13th BIRTHDAY
    • HANNAH'S 17th BIRTHDAY
    • CONNOR'S BAND CONCERT 2021
    • THANKSGIVING 2021
    • INDOOR TRACK SEASON 2021
    • LORNA'S SURPRISE PARTIES
    • CHRISTMAS 2021
    • NEW YEARS EVE 2021
  • 2022
    • BRECKENRIDGE

July 4th Celebration

at Carrington Lakes

July 4, 2020 Celebration at Carrington Lakes

We've lived in Carrington Lakes for 4 years and July 4, 2020 was the first 4th of July we have celebrated in our subdivision.  Usually we celebrate the 4th with our family in Gulf Shores, but the Covid-19 quarantine kept some of our family from work, so they had to work during the 4th.  
We had seen pictures and heard about the Independence Day Celebration in our neighborhood and knew it would be fun.  From what we've heard, this celebration started in one of our neighbor's backyard on one of the Carrington Lakes.  Over the years, more and more people joined the celebration until it was moved to the Carrington Lakes Clubhouse.  Now, people all throughout the neighborhood donate money for the event and the neighbor that began the whole celebration years ago, facilitates, manages, and DJs, the event.  We are grateful to him for not only organizing our July 4th celebration, but many of the fun celebrations and activities that we enjoy in our neighborhood.  ​
In all honesty, I was skeptical about going to the celebration.  ​Covid-19 cases were actually higher than they ever were and the numbers were only expected to rise.  I was and still am very fearful of the kids getting this virus, so at first, we were not going to attend the celebration.  Several things made me change my mind.  First of all,  we've been in lockdown since April.  The kids had not seen their friends and other than hiking have not been out of the house since this started.  I could tell that it was taking a toll. ​  Then, a week before the celebration, I found out that school would be restarting on August 12.  They gave an option for hybrid learning or at home learning, but as a teacher, I have no choice but to send my children back to school because there would be no one at home to manage their online education.   In a little over a month, the kids would more than likely be exposed anyway.  I researched Covid trends and several things were evident.  First, the numbers of people getting the virus were increasing but the numbers of people dying were decreasing.  Teens who contracted the virus tended to have mild to moderate cases or were asymptomatic.  Very few teens have died and those that did usually had pre-existing conditions.  ​​
Our friend, Chris Pizzuto, was nice enough to let us post a video clip that he recorded of the celebration.
All of this combined, led me to the decision to go.  I wanted the kids to be able to enjoy one day of their summer and if we did get it, at least work would not be a factor when trying to care for them.  We decided that we would simply re-quarantine after the event, mostly for other people's safety and only go out for groceries or emergencies.  In all honesty, even with great numbers of people there, we didn't get too close to anyone.  We know we gambled by deciding to address the kids' socio-emotional needs at the risk of their physical health, but hopefully the percentages and trends we found in our research will be in our favor and we will feel more confident in our decision.  One thing is certain though, the kids had a wonderful time and they have definitely been in better spirits since the 4th!
The pictures below are a gallery of large thumbnails.  Click on the thumbnails to see it in its entirety.  Once you click on a picture, you can view it like a slideshow, by clicking the forward and backward arrows on each picture.

  • ALBUMS
  • THE BUCKET LIST
  • 1974 - 1996 - DON
  • 1975 - 1996 APRIL
  • 1997 - 1999
    • The Dating Years - 1997 - 1999
    • Our Wedding - 1999
    • Our Honeymoon - 1999
  • 2000
    • Spring 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
    • Visiting Josh in Arizona - 2002
    • Don's Graduation from AU - 2002
  • 2003
  • 2004
    • April's Pregnancy with Hannah - 2004
    • Baby Showers for Hannah - 2004
    • Hannah's Birth - 2004
  • 2005
    • 2005 Easter
  • 2006
    • New Years Day - 2006
    • Painting Jackson'a Nursery - 2006
    • January 2006 Memories
    • Jackson's Birth - 2006
    • Bringing Jackson Home - 2006
    • Winter Memories - 2006
    • Daddy-Daughter Dance - 2006
    • Spring Memories - 2006
    • Jackson's Baptism - 2006
    • Easter - 2006
    • Beach Trip - 2006
    • Summer Memories - 2006
    • Family Reunion - 2006
    • Auburn Football Season - 2006
    • Hannah's 2nd Birthday - 2006
    • Montgomery Zoo Trip - 2006
    • Halloween - 2006
    • Fall Memories - 2006
    • Thanksgiving - 2006
    • Alsobrook Fancy Christmas Party - 2006
    • Granny's Birthday Party - 2006
    • Christmas - 2006
    • Winter Memories - 2006
    • Portraits - 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
    • Connor's Birth
  • 2009
    • DECEMBER 2009 HANNAH PRE-K CHRISTMAS PARTY
    • DECEMBER 2009 TISH & KENT'S WEDDING
  • 2010
  • 2011
    • Trip tp France - 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
    • Connor Kindergarten Graduation 2014
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
    • JUNE 2017 APPALACHIAN TRAIL Hike
    • DECEMBER 2017 CHRISTMAS
  • 2018
    • MAY 2018 LIGHT FEST
    • DECEMBER 2018 CHRISTMAS CRUISE
  • 2019
    • JUNE 2019 PACIFIC NW GIRLS' TRIP >
      • DAY 1
      • DAY 2
      • DAY 3
      • DAY 4
      • DAY 5
      • DAY 6
      • DAY 7
      • Apps Page
    • DECEMBER 2019 MEMORIES
    • DECEMBER 2019 TRACK MEETS
    • DECEMBER 2019 ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTIN
    • DECEMBER 2019 CHRISTMAS
  • 2020
    • NEW YEARS 2020
    • TALLEDEGA NATIONAL PARK 2020
    • SIPSEY WILDERNESS HIKE
    • 2020 EASTER
    • APRIL 2020 MEMORIES
    • 2020 COVID PARADE
    • JUNE 2020 GIRLS' TRIP NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
    • FATHER'S DAY 2020
    • 4th OF JULY IN CARRINGTON LAKES
    • CONNOR'S 12th BIRTHDAY
    • HANNAH'S 16th BIRTHDAY
    • HALLOWEEN 2020
    • THANKSGIVING 2020
    • Christmas 2020
  • 2021
    • SKIING IN GATLINBURG
    • SPRING BREAK IN SAVANNAH
    • 2021 OUTDOOR TRACK SEASON
    • NOAH'S GRADUATION PARTY
    • JUNE 13 MOSS CREEK HIKE
    • FATHER'S DAY 2021
    • RIVER RAFTING THE OCOEE
    • FAMILY REUNION & BEACH TRIP - 2021
    • SUMMER AT THE GRAND
    • DON'S 47th BIRTHDAY
    • CONNOR'S 13th BIRTHDAY
    • HANNAH'S 17th BIRTHDAY
    • CONNOR'S BAND CONCERT 2021
    • THANKSGIVING 2021
    • INDOOR TRACK SEASON 2021
    • LORNA'S SURPRISE PARTIES
    • CHRISTMAS 2021
    • NEW YEARS EVE 2021
  • 2022
    • BRECKENRIDGE