Oh Man, What a 4th!

Fireworks in our back yard

Our family had the best day together, despite my lack of sleep and a few mishaps. But boy did we have fun celebrating our country. We began by taking an impromptu trip to the local Veteran's Museum in our town. We were treated like celebrities, as we were the youngest people there and the only ones with small children. Many of the older folk were snapping pictures at my kids like they were a rarity. It was cute. We had done our best to don them in the patriotic red, white and blue.

Kaelah pulled her shirt down, Bekah wiggled and Haleah tried to pull her skirt up. Ugh!

Everything in this museum was, of course, old, breakable and precious. And my kids are young, precious and like to break things. I could have spent hours looking at the artifacts and hearing the stories that these veterans had to tell, if I had the ability to focus on something other than my kids. But I did take a couple of shots of some interesting miniature reenactments of a Korean War scene. David spoke with a veteran of that battle, and he remembers it as being one of the coldest winters he has ever known. The army camo also didn't blend well in the snow, so the soldiers were an easy target for the enemy. They had to try and use the mountain hillsides as cover. It amazes me every time when I meet a man, in the flesh, who physically fought in frozen terrain, took bullets to his body and lived to tell about it---all for the freedom of ordinary people like me. How can I ever imagine to repay that?

Miniature Korean War reenactment.

Two housewives of the 50's scene at the museum. I thought it was funny.

Next, we discovered an old train platform outside the museum. I took some pictures, because of it's aura. I could imagine a really magical wedding reception taking place there or something. It could totally be transformed (as it was in my mind). It was so nostalgic.


By mid-morning, we were headed out to hit the Dollar Tree for some last minute goodies for my last-minute family gathering at my house. Then we went to the Fireworks Barn near our house and bought a bunch of fun Black Cat poppers, sparklers, snaps, rockets, smoke bombs and mini fireworks. They had a Buy One/Get One FREE special, and we took advantage. They even gave us some free American flags for the kids. I asked if I could buy them, because I was looking all over town for them, but couldn't seem to get my hands on any. But the manager of the Fireworks Barn just gave them to me. I was happy.

When the BBQ began at my house, we had a grand time with family and my niece's friend, Angel. We set up outdoor fun with the trampoline and kiddie pool and played volleyball and had races. David challenged his nieces to a race and his pride wouldn't let them lose, no matter how much it physically hurt him. It was quite humorous. Then we set the kids up with long sparklers and showed the little ones how to hold them away from their bodies. They did pretty well, and so I began to take pics of my niece Cora, and Angel doing acrobats.

Running races in our yard. Who will win?

Silly teenagers!

It was then that Kaelah accidentally touched the hot tip of the sparkler once it went out. I raced over and yanked her to the pool. She had a pretty bad burn on her hand and we had to treat it. I was soooooo angry at myself for assuming that she would be okay if I turned my back. I should know better with a 2 year old, especially her, and that was my fault. Kaelah also scraped the tops of her toes after falling on the pavement, so she was kind of a mess. But she really "took" to Angel, and told me that Angel was her friend and said, "I want to go see Angel. Angel likes me too." It was sweet.

Loud fireworks! Kaelah with her new friend, Angel.

Next, after ice cream sundaes, we settled in the backyard again to watch David set the fireworks. Haleah was scared out of her mind and went screaming into the house. She doesn't like loud noises and became totally irrational. But I let her "do her thing." I thought watching David run from the lighted fireworks was one of the funniest parts of the night. It was just so humorous to watch. He kept telling me that his Will was up to date and that I would be taken care of. The rest of the children were thoroughly entertained as well. It was a hoot, even though half of our fireworks were duds. No wonder they were Buy 1/Get 1 FREE!

Run for your life, David!

We had some duds!

Finally, as dusk came over, our neighbors, Bo and Mary (who had invited us to the Veteran's Museum this morning), came to sit with us. My mother-in-law played her guitar and sang some old songs for us as we listened to the neighborhood bustle around us. And Haleah made her way back outside and, with Gracyn, my niece, she discovered lightening bugs for the first time. It is the little things that make these days worth it to me. I am so thankful for America and for my family, and my heart is full thinking about all the joy they bring me.

Bekah was so happy playing in the yard.

Watching the fireworks from the safety of our trampoline.