4th of July Fun

We started celebrating early this year with a family gathering in Olive on Saturday the 30^th.  We enjoyed games, water play, a new toy tractor for the kids to drive, good food and fun times.  The kids had shopped for fireworks earlier and brought some small ones to do.  They enjoyed their first sparklers with fancy protective plastic cups over their hands per Mom’s request.  Ben enjoyed driving Miles around on the tractor and doing “chores” for Uncle John.  Both kids enjoyed a fun new dice game that Aunt Terry had discovered and especially enjoyed winning prizes.  It was a great time!

We ended the weekend by watching the Rhema fireworks on the 1^st with our small group at church.  We enjoyed a great meal and play time with the kids and then stayed up to watch the fireworks that didn’t start till 10pm!  Ben was hesitant and decided that he was immediately tired at 10 and needed to go home.  He persevered and we let him use earplugs to dampen the noise.  He realized that they were farther away than he expected so the noise wasn’t quite that bad.  Both kids seemed to enjoy it okay.  It was the first year that we’ve been able to watch big fireworks due to noise aversions and the late hour.  We hope it is a tradition that continues!

The kids enjoyed their annual 3^rd of July parade at school again.  They had decorated shirts and marched with their classes.  They were able to enjoy popsicles afterward before we headed home.

On the actual 4^th of July we enjoyed a leisurely day off with a cookout for the four of us and more small fireworks in the backyard.  The kids watched big fireworks on PBS and we called it a day!  Too many late nights earlier in the week to stay up again.