Wednesday, July 6, 2011

How We Celebrated the 4th

This was a special fourth as it was Ryder's first time seeing fireworks! Last year he was less than two months old on the fourth-though he should have been about 3 days old.. we weren't really taking him anywhere yet. So this year we wanted to make it special. Here is how we celebrated...

Sleeping in-since it was a holiday...
well sleeping in as much as you can with kids

Trying to escape to 100 degree heat by swimming at a city pool (an incident deserving a post of its own)

Stopping at the store for treats for the fireworks--have you had peanut butter filled pretzels? mmm good!

Joining hundreds of other people in the Home Depot parking lot to watch the fireworks
(for all of us cheap smart enough to not go to the stadium to watch the fireworks

Watching fireworks!(Ryder was asleep still as this point- fireworks hadn't started yet)

Alex covering her ears- and trying to drink pop while still covering her ears
Lucas talking about the physics of why you see the fireworks before you hear them
Ryder clinging to my neck with each boom but always turning to see the next firework

It was a fun fourth and I am glad my parents were in town able to celebrate with us.


What did you do for the fourth?

21 comments:

  1. KmamaJuly 6, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    Those are fabulous photos!! I'm jealous! I forgot my Canon and only had my iPhone. I didn't get any colors.

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  2. MeghanJuly 6, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    We turn into lake bums (http://lifetimemm.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-red-white-blue-weekend.html) although both of my girls also missed the memo about holidays and sleeping in! My oldest got to see the fireworks with her grandparents, but baby girl gave out way too early and didn't even make it out of the house. I commiserated with missing out by having a fresh grilled steak at 9 p.m. ... its vacation, it doesn't count! right?! ha!

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  3. RachelJuly 6, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Very fun! My kids did NOT want to see fireworks . . .too loud. So we resorted to sparklers only. :)

    Lucas cracks me up, I can't wait to see him and have him tells me things!

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  4. rachel's life.July 6, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    I used to be so scared of fireworks. Ryder is a brave little man!!

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  5. LourieJuly 6, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Oh Emmy the tales I already have!!! I miss talking with you. :( I have stories though Lol I am glad ur 4th was good.

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  6. JenJuly 6, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    I am such a bad mom. I didn't even tell my kids that it was the 4th b/c I didn't want to keep them up late to watch the fireworks.

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  7. KSKJuly 6, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    I kind of wish I kept LB up to watch fireworks... :(
    Looks like you all had a lot of fun! :)

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  8. AmyJuly 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    Cute! Lucas is so smart, and Alex makes me laugh. A pop is important! First times for fireworks are always fun. And it is funny how each kid reacts to them differently.

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  9. MaceyJuly 6, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    He did great for his first fireworks!!! So many kids are scared of em. :)

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  10. AmyJuly 6, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    I wish my kids understood that holidays meant sleeping in too.... I would kill for 8:30!!!! LOL

    We had a big "old fashioned" fourth get together with our church. It was great! Lula Mae was in her very first sack race! Somehow she didn't fall flat on her face and she actually didn't come in last ;-) it was cute! They had bbq and homemade ice cream! YUM!!!! We left before the fireworks because the kids was too tired. Luckily when we got home our neighbors were shooting off HUGE fireworks (not so sure it is legal but hey, who knows!) so Lula Mae got to see some. She wasn't too thrilled but it was fun for me :-)

    Looks like you guys had an amazing time too! And I just love that Lucas is so inquisitive!

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  11. MimiJuly 6, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    Now that was a cute video!

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  12. NicoleJuly 6, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Sounds awesome!! Love the idea of everyone getting together in the big parking lot, lots of space and you don't have to worry about bugs crawling on your blankets like in the grass! Your baby is such a cutie pie! Happy 4th week to you and your family!

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  13. EmJuly 6, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    i'm hoping max warms up them next year b/c we all love them and it's just so sad to see her cry over them!

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  14. JillJuly 6, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    We did fireworks at my in-laws... Grace sat there, covering her ears the entire time and screamed to go inside. Basically a repeat of last year!!! :)

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  15. Janette @ The Johanson JourneyJuly 6, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    We bought cheesy fireworks.. including black cats, sparklers and some other lil' randoms-- cops came and took them all and threatened us with $500+ fine. ugh.. no fun.

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  16. Grandpa Bapa-PoppieJuly 6, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Great fun!

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  17. ShellJuly 6, 2011 at 6:31 PM

    So fun!

    We watch the fireworks from a parking lot, too. They are at the park next to that parking lot and are free, but if you park there instead of at the park, there isn't crazy traffic.

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  18. JenJuly 6, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    I love all the different reactions from your kids...so cute :)

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  19. AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    My family and I went on down to a fantastic spot to see the fireworks! Ryder did great - lots of small children started crying soon after they started!

    Love hearing Lucas talk about how fireworks work ... made me smile!

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  20. HeatherOzJuly 6, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    Ha ha ha. Lucas is so funny. I can't believe Ryder wasn't scared to death. My kids did not appreciate fireworks at that age!

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  21. RachelJuly 6, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    How fun! Love that they all enjoyed it in their own way! :)

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