4Th of July - Santa Monica,CA

We normally let the older boys make a 'Fireworks Board'...where they hook a whole bunch of fireworks together (like dominos) & they all go off one right after the next. It's awesome!

Then we go downtown to the park and watch the city's firework show...we take a blanket and a picnic, usually fried chicken & watermelon or cantaloupe and we eat, snuggle & watch!

Family Fun Time!

~But not this year...I am home alone, packing up the house, my kids are with my in-laws & my husband is already in Manhatten, where his new job is! So sad when we are all separated!

I don't go to work.

Freedom!!

:)

We always go to a parade in the morning, and then watch fireworks at night. Houston always has a million places shooting off fireworks...as long as there isn't a burn ban or drought.

We have several friends who lost their husbands and sons while serving in the military so we always visit them for lunch or dinner or have them over our house.

This year, we are having several families over our house after the parade. Everyone is bringing a dessert (which will be kept indoors) and we'll be grilling dogs and burgers. I'm going to attempt to make homemade ice cream in a new ice cream maker I got for Christmas. The kids have challenged all the adults to tug of war, and I'll be putting on the sprinklers, along with a huge cooler of water balloons and water guns. We are making a big flag on a posterboard and everyone will be writing down all the freedoms they enjoy, and then I'll be mailing it to a friend who is serving in Afghanistan along with a group pic of everyone in their red, white and blue best.

God bless America! Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th.

Our town has a big parade, pancake breakfast, fun run, that kind of thing. We go to that, nap/chill in the afternoon, pack some sandwiches then drive out to the country club for cocktails and fireworks on the golf course with my husband's brothers and their families.
Looking forward to everything but the HEAT :-(

We don't do anything too exciting, the usual, the parade, a BBq.

However, we will spend some time planning a bday party for my 5 year olds stuffed best friend. Her lovely has a bday on the 5th.

Interesting, my daughter decided her stuffed friend can have a bday after I taught her last year that the 4th is America's bday. I guess she figured out you didnt have to be alive to have a bday.

We always barbeque... I remember being very young and going to a gathering for the 4th, and a lady had square deviled eggs! Really! lol I was so amazed! She cracked the egg into ice cube trays, pierced the yolk and then microwaved them. Then, she cut them in half, scooped the yolk out and made deviled eggs. All the kids loved them! :) That was oh.... 35 years or so ago and I still remember them!

Usually we have a big bbq and my parents and aunt and one of our out of town friends all come into town, and my BIL's come over and we eat, blow stuff up, and put up a kiddie pool or sprinkler. Usually I have a marathon of something going on in the living room for folks who are wanting to get in out of the heat, like Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars, or something I don't mind my kiddo walking in on. This year we're more low-key since my FIL passed away this morning. We've got our out of town friend coming in tonight (he has to work on the 5th, so we're doing our fireworks today) and tomorrow I'll probably go to the zoo with the kiddo while my husband goes to spend time with his mom.

I also like to decorate the house in Captain America stuff, since it's his birthday. :)

We always fly our flag... that is #1

For MANY years, we watched or participated in the annual 4th of July parade in Plano. LOVED it. Now that daughter is older, we haven't been in a couple of years. It is a great parade and lasts at least an hour.

We watch fireworks and party at our country club in Plano. It is a private club but everyone brings guests and there will be about 5000 people there by the time the fireworks show starts. About 3pm when the driving range closes, we'll go stake our spot for watching the show. Alll the people gather on the driving range. At the other end of the range, the fireworks are prepared. You actually have to lay down to see it all because you are so close to the show.

During the wait for the show, there are things for children to do, pool is open, lots of food and drink. Everyone has an opportunity to purchased a numbered golf ball for about $10 and before the show, a helicopter lands on the green, loads up the balls and then goes up, flies around and drops the balls on the green. The ball closest to the pin, wins the $$$! There is a golf tournament on July 3 and silent auction on July 4 to raise money for Charity.

We do this yearly. The is one of our favorite activities of the year!

Happy 4th to you!

The town where my cousins live had it's fireworks show last night - they have the perfect viewing area in their backyard so they always have tons of people over for BBQ and then to watch the fireworks, and that's where we were last night. Today is going to be more low-key - no specific plans, so will probably just relax, maybe I'll take DD swimming at the local water park.

Nothing, I.m not American, or in the US. But happy Independence day to all my mamapedia friends over there!

My country has independence, but no blood was shed to win it. We came to it through very peaceful means. It's good to be free. So few countries in the world are truly democratic.