July 5, 2010

A Not So Traditional Celebration

For the last few years, we've done the traditional 4th of July stuff.

We'd go to the parade, then to the big fireworks show.

This year, my husband didn't want to do any of it. The crowds, the craziness, the search for a kid who's run off, the frantic search for the nearest bathroom... no. This year, he wanted simple, low key.

Fine with me.

We spent the morning hanging out, then took the kids swimming, which, I have to say, was a blast!

It just was, so there.

We grabbed some pizzas on the way home, stuffed our faces, and took naps.

Later that night we made a Walmart trip as my husband needed a few things for his trip out of town.

Yes indeed, today, this national holiday, I am husband-less. Stink.

Anyhow, we walked out of the store at about 10:20pm-ish and we happen to see in the distance, the big fireworks show!

So we let the kids watch for a few minutes.

What can I say? It doesn't get much more American than this. Watching fireworks from a Walmart parking lot.


Just think how cute this picture would be if you could actually see it! 

Lame-o camera.

And that was it folks, our forth of July celebration... on the third of July.

And when the day was over my husband turns to me and says, "Well, I don't know if that was too low key for you, but I thought it was perfect. I enjoyed it."

Well so did I honey-love. So did I.

~~~

Last night, on the actual fourth of July, we totally lamed out and didn't have any fireworks except for "pop-its". You know, those little mini white things you throw on the ground to make a little spark?

Yea, we're awesome like that.



It was fun to watch the kids wind up their arm and jump in the air to try and get some added momentum as they threw their pop-its to the ground.

I give them an A+ for effort, and a D- for effectiveness.

Lucky for us we have great neighbors who invited to bask in the joy of their fireworks!


And since it was your typical summer evening in Idaho, we had to bundle up in about 200 layers of clothing and blankets.

Have I ever mentioned how the weather and I don't exactly get along or see eye to eye?


It's just wrong, so very, very wrong.

But I'm not talking just temperature. As it was, the wind was blowing about 200 mph! Okay, not really, maybe 30 or 40 mph... or 80.

And any rate, Spencer finally had to whip out the BIG guns!

Good thing he happens to have a blow torch sitting around in his garage! Uh, hmmm.... he has a blow torch just sitting around in his garage... er, should I be worried?


Alayna found the whole experience riveting!

Couldn't take her eyes off it.


And of course, what would fireworks be without a sparkler. The neighbors were nice enough to share.

Even if we are delinquent parents.


So there you have it.

Happy Independence Day!!


*WHACK*

Come on honey, I'm going to put these on my blog! Give me a real smile.


*sigh* Good enough. Guess we can't have people spying your gold tooth and coming after it.

Anyway,

God Bless America!

21 super cool people speak:

Neisha said...

lol!! I see you put the silly picture of your honey on your blog anyway :)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Yup! Serves him right! :D

Heather S said...

our 4th of lowkey too.. kinda nice in some ways.. but much different than our usual celebration! :)

amber_mtmc said...

Don't worry, my husband was working all day on the 4th. Want to know what I did? Nothing. Nada. My neighbors downstairs, who happen to be from Mexico, invited me to their fireworks celebration. I know, I'm a good American like that.

CB said...

Had to laugh - Our neighbor also brought out his blowtorch! Is this a new thing? Ha Ha
We also did low-key and it was wonderful - we didn't even see the big fireworks from Wal-mart we saw them on the tv - ha ha!!

Cute pictures of you and your hubby at the end :D

Braden Bell said...

Low key is good!!!!!! And that's what neighbors are for. Especially if they don't have kids of their own. It's symbiosis.

mCat said...

Love it! Glad to know I wasn't the only one that had a VERY low key Fourth.

Lisa said...

We watched fireworks from our front porch~saw one out of ten, because of the neighbors' tree...almost hacked it down, but thought better of it just in time. Low key is niiiiiiice.

ldsjaneite said...

Love that picture of Alayne in a chair. Looks like such a little lady--and growing up too fast!

Happy Independence!

TisforTonya said...

I think everyone (including the guys who shoot off the big shows) has already celebrated...

Here in our house we're waiting for it to get dark enough to do sparklers tonight!

Got home too late Saturday to do it - Sunday was out - and so today we grilled and cooked up a storm (red white and blue jell-o in the shape of the USA... no joke) and will let each kid light 5 sparklers.

lame-o, but SO much better than the whining hot alternative.

Cheeseboy said...

Nothin says Happy Fourth of July like a trip to Walmart and usin a blowtorch.

That is one handsome family you've got there.

Susan Anderson said...

Nothing like a blow torch 4th of July!

=)

Ps. Actually, I thought your 4th sounded just about perfect. Low key is not always a bad thing...

Anonymous said...

OMGosh!! The Walsers are your neighbors?!?!?! I know Bonnie, Spencer and the whole Walser family from RI! They are a GREAT family. Now wonder you have such awesome neighbors!

Unknown said...

Wow. Looks like everyone had a good time. A Blow torch is a good sign. It helps keep everyone warm!
Great pictures...:)

Saimi said...

Kids and fireworks seem to go hand in hand, like a perfect storm. Looks like you guys weathered it very well and had a great time!

What's up with the wind anyway? We had major winds here too!

Amy said...

This is exactly what I'd love to do on the 4th. Just hang out, be spontaneous.
And how I wish i had to bundle up with blankets to go outside!! Right now, we go outside and it's still 105 degrees at nine pm.

Heather said...

At least they had snap-its, that's all kids need to have fun, LOL =) I think our kids could do those all day long!

Brittney said...

oh my heck that little alayna is SOOOO Adorable!

JennaK said...

Don't feel bad. We did a whole lot of nothing because DH had to work on Saturday AND Sunday nights AND Monday day all day. I didn't even try to do anything. Wrong. We had a red, white and blue fruit salad at dinner on Sunday. That was it.

So your 4th was a super celebration compared to what we did! And I remember the one 4th of July we spent in Idaho Falls--chilly and windy. That was before we had kids and did fireworks on our driveway because we weren't smart enough to know where the big shows were. Plus, we'd only moved in like the day before.

Charlotte said...

WE lamed out, too, which is weird because I normally go all out. But with the Sunday and the husband working...

Anyway, we had to wear jackets last fourth and I've still not completely forgiven summer.

Garvin Smith said...

When your children are teenagers, they will probably have Roman Candle wars like my children did, or maybe do something worse!

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