We started the 4th of July pretty much like we always do... with a bbq in the back yard! We made organic burgers, and had lots of salads, fruit, and of course -- a cake -- to celebrate Wilma's birthday. She got a new hat, too. I think the color worked perfectly with her wardrobe that day!
And then it was off to the fireworks. We left pretty early this year, mostly because I always forget what time we left last year (it always turns out to be too early), and then we leave too early again. But at least we got the spot we wanted!
We brought lots of games and snacks. Joey, Grace, Matt and I played catch for a long time. We always walk around the cemetery -- we go to the cemetery because it's got a good view of the fireworks that go off down the hill, and it's easy to get in and out. We look at the names and dates and ages of people who died. Joey always gets a little weepy when we get to the children's graves. He hates it when anyone or anything dies. Even bugs. He's got a very soft heart.
Matt likes to walk off by himself. We lose him a lot. It's really a miracle he's still alive.
The sun was going down, and Haley was practicing the song she learned on the guitar. Matt decided it would be a good time to draw. At least he was sitting in one place. Plus, he was drawing a map of how to get home, because he thinks I'm an idiot.
I made everybody their own bag of popcorn. It was supposed to be eaten during the fireworks, but Matt had a hard time deciding if he should wait or not. He kept looking at the bag, unrolling it, rolling it back up, contemplating...
He did a good job using self-control. Then he decided to eat it. He lasted a lot longer than I thought he would, even though it didn't make it until the fireworks started.
The moon was a bright red because of all the fires. Love the red moon, hate the fires.
I knew when the sun went down, it would be hard to keep track of the children. It gets pretty busy around the cemetery, so I brought 3 packs of glow sticks and gave them to the kids to wear. It helped a lot (except when they decided to take them off and twirl them around -- which was stopped the first time they hit someone's car with one).
The kids are usually ready to go home before the fireworks are done, so we just pack up and head out. It's kind of nice that they want to leave early, because we don't have to fight the crowds, and we can still see the fireworks display on the way home!
