celebrating our independence!

since we've been studying our country's journey to independence this past week, this year's fireworks were extra special to me. yes, i knew the gist of the history from 1776, but i've been living and breathing it with the kids lately... so the determination and sacrifices of our founding fathers and the brave colonial soldiers were especially on my mind as the night sky was illuminated with such vibrant colors last night.

we did the same thing we've done most years on the fourth. we met up with friends and family down by the marina and hung out until the show started. it was a rainy evening right up until it was time to head down to our spot, so it actually ended up being a not-so-sweltering-almost-cool night. besides trying to keep the kids from getting too close to the edge of the water or burning each other with the sparklers, it was a relaxing evening!

here are the kiddos at home waiting for the rain to stop...


as soon as we got to the marina, the kids fired up the sparklers.




the kids (and my husband) always love these shots after they've twirled their sparklers 'round and 'round...


ethan and aunt kristie weren't gonna let the girls be the only ones to match on the 4th!


brian had all the kids in awe of his all-powerful green laser. i cracked up when i saw a line forming to get a 5 second turn with that thing.


tricia and i tried to contain our toddlin' girls since our "compound" was right next to the water. we tried the back of their pick up truck, which only lasted until they got tired of playing with the water bottles...


and then we tried the back of jonathan's crv. that didn't last that long either, though olivia is looking quite happy about it at the moment.


the baby girls ended up on our hips or in daddy's lap for the rest of the evening... and before we knew it, it was time for the show to start! the kids excitedly hopped in their chairs....

ethan and his buddy, joseph


caroline and "the other caroline"


oh, say can you see!



after a few minutes, the kids hopped up in mr. art's truck for a better view.


as you can see, caroline was very into the music that was broadcasted to go with the fireworks. it was loaded with country, much to brian's dismay. :)


the fireworks were still a little too loud for ethan sometimes...


and joseph felt the same way!


this is one of my very favorites from this year. i love that you can see both the kids and the fireworks...


after the big finale, we visited a little more before packing up and heading back to our car. ethan and caroline both sucked down capri suns on the way back, which is a huge treat to those water-drinking kids. :)


it was another enjoyable 4th of july! here's the whole star-spangled family.


i will close with this quote from john adams... he wrote the following words to his wife after the second continental congress approved the resolution of independence on july 2. the declaration of independence was of course not adopted until two days later, and the document bore the date of july 4, 1776. john adams was just off by a couple of days in his prediction of our country's celebration of independence (though july 2 is a day we celebrate at our house because it's ethan's birthday!).

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means... (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).
may our celebration of independence be indeed solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty! praise God we are free!