I like to celebrate stuff, but the older I get (read: since I had children), I appreciate celebrations more in small numbers. So for the fourth, we like to do our own driveway fireworks show. This time we had a fun little crowd of neighbors join us for the flashes, pops, and clouds of smoke. The kids thought it was great. Evidence:
See all that joy and excitement? Okay, admittedly Natalie is a little nervous, but the boys were having a ball. Now let’s take a little journey back in time, shall we? Two years ago. I am not a good photographer (I would be, but I have the crappiest digital camera ever), but this is my favorite photo essay ever. Ever. I give you Fourth of July, 2007:
Okay, who’s ready for fireworks? We are, we are!!
Grant joined Clark in the van, who is now lying down on the floor hiding.
Matt, the lone man standing, overlooking his fireworks kingdom.
Oh man, that cracks me up every time. How was your fourth?
Diapers and Divinity 
Oh that makes me giggle! Those facial expressions are priceless!
I think it’s innately built into boys to love fireworks.
Hilarious! We had one year were Snow White would not let go of her ears for anything–even once inside going to bed. She hated every minute.
This year, my oldest, who is also my fearful child, spent the entire time under a sleeping bag on the lawn. She was fine last year, so I don’t know what was up this time! But she is old enough to realize it was her choice if she didn’t have any fun and she already tells me she regretted it.
And yes, when she was younger we definitely had a few of the moments that Clark so beautifully illustrated.
Glad it was better this year! 🙂
Bwa-haa-haa-ha! 😆
That is dang hilarious!
Our 4th was great…and one day I’ll actually post about it. 🙂
Small town parade, lots of candy, sparklers and pops, creamies, Scouts’ pancake breakfast. . .perfect.
Before you know it, your boys will be the ones actually lighting the fireworks (hopefully sold and bought legally!) and you will be the one cowering in the back of your car crying (or maybe that was me when my boys rode around on their uncle’s miniature motorcycle).
Hehe… that made me giggle. We had a few sparklers and a loud one lit in our honour on Monday. LQ cried through most of it despite our “wheeeeeeeeeeeee!’s”.
Ah, sparklers! Fireworks of all shapes and sizes are prohibited where we live, so I haven’t lit a sparkler in years.
That was hilarious!
Our fourth was GOOD. Low-key out at my parents, where we did our very own fireworks too. Suprisingly, no one cried.
Our neighborhood has quite the fireworks show–we don’t even have to do any. It’s a bit of a culture shock because you couldn’t even buy a sparkler in New York, my home state.
Wow. Natalie is way more of a man than your boys. Ha, kidding. Very cute. I remember when you first posted those pictures on your family blog. I still got a chuckle from it this time around.
Hahaha. GREAT photo essay!!!
Our 4th was similar to yours, but with LOTS of family. We’re in Utah right now, as is my (Washingtonian) sister, so it was us and two of our brothers (plus 12 combined kids and my siblings’ spouses) out on the street at like 10:30. Crazy Utah hours… 🙂
Funny!
We have a big, very loud “Cul-de-sac of Fire” and so far not one of my kids has gotten too scared to watch–I’m just lucky, I guess (and all the sugar and soda pop helps prime them, maybe.) My son told me that the Cul-de-sac of Fire is one of the things he most looks forward to all year.