4th of July

Over the long 4th of July weekend we did some of our own fireworks and Sophia especially loved the pop-its.  She would throw them down and if the didn't pop (which they usually didn't) she would step on them.  She is not afraid of the fireworks at all and says loud, or boom boom.

I think it's necessary for every kid to play in the hose naked.  OK, so she's not completely naked, but she doesn't have a diaper on, so it counts.  I just didn't want to cover her entire body in sunscreen.

On the 4th we always go to our friends house for a barbecue and fireworks extravaganza!  This year they rented a bounce house for the kids and they had so much fun!

After lunch Ben had some time to relax and talk with his girls.

Everyone who comes brings some fireworks and they all get set up and fused together.  This little city is complete with army men and small containers of gasoline to keep things going.  It is really loud, but the kids LOVE it!

The aftermath.  The soldiers get collected to use again next year as veterans, and the whole thing gets hosed down and put in the garbage.  Their driveway recovers remarkably well each year.

After this we head over to the soccer fields on the other side of town to watch the fireworks display by Melaleuca.  We are pretty far away from the river where they are set off, but we get home quickly, it is a lot less crowded, and the kids get to run around before the fireworks get started.  Next year Sara said she wants to be closer, so I will probably be with the older kids by the river and Ben will go with Sophia out to the soccer fields.  We made sure Sophia got a nice long nap, so she was fine staying up late.  Sophia of course loved the "big boom booms" and would call out every color she saw in the sky.  We had such a fun weekend and it's reasons like this why I love living in Idaho Falls!