4th of July!

The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Why? I don't know. Seriously! I hated fireworks growing up (actually until about the time Andrew was born...). I would fight the dogs for the prime spot under the bed in the house while the rest of my family, all 8 of them, were outside trying to light the countryside on fire. And that's not even why I hated fireworks, because let me tell you, between our neighbors and ourselves we did light the country side on fire a few times. Each was very memorable...ANYWAY, back on topic. Oh, fireworks, yeah, they were just too loud for me. :)

One part of the 4th from my childhood, that I can't wait to do with my kids was the 4th of July parade. It was just us kids and our bikes but we'd decorate them, and ride in a row in front of my parent's house. This probably only happened once or twice, and it may not of even been the 4th, but that's how I'm going to do it with my kids. (If any of my siblings are reading, what do you remember of this???)

A quick trip through July 4th's of my past:
2003: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, WA -- This is the night that Chris and I officially started dating. :) He met me at the lake after he got off work at 10 pm. I was there with my family. (I lost my shoes in the confusion of leaving and had to drive home bare foot, LOL.) Afterwards, Chris came to my house and brought me some T-Bell, beginning my obsession and love of the place.

2004: No clue...siblings? Any ideas where I was 6 years ago? LOL

2005: Seaside, OR -- BIG MISTAKE There were too many people, too close together...AND they were lighting off fireworks everywhere! They were falling over in the sand and shooting at other people. We went back to our car and watched the fireworks from there.

2006: Ft. Vancouver -- We went to check it out because our friends, from Fusion Bubble Tea, had a booth set up. We didn't stay for the fireworks. A large dry, dusty field FILLED with people and me roughly 6 months pregnant...not fun.

2007: Lake Sacajawea in Longview, WA -- They have a HUGE fireworks show at nightfall, and vendors, live music, and activities going all day (some all week). I loved getting elephant ears, cotton candy, and all those other yummy "carnival" foods.

2008: Esther Short Park, Vancouver, WA -- We got there just in time for the fireworks. Andrew wasn't too interested. We played in the water. I was preggo with missy moo.

2009: Home, Battle Ground, WA -- We started the celebration at my friend Terri's house with a bar-b-que. It was a blast! Then we went home and I tried convincing ANYBODY to come outside and watch the fireworks that my idiot neighbors blow all their money on (not the same neighbors mentioned below :), they had just moved next door, and we didn't know them yet). But Chris and the kids watched Toy Story or something. I amused myself with the 'fireworks' setting on my camera.

2010: Home, Battle Ground, WA -- We invited our lovely neighbors, The "G" family over for a bar-b-que (the only neighbors we like and talk to, LOL). It was too cold to swim or play with the water balloons like I had planned, but that didn't stop my kids from swimming before the neighbors arrived. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit salad, chips and homemade apple pie (my first time!) w/whipping cream that I actually whipped from cream! I made a tutu for Miss Charlotte to wear. The kids played with glow sticks from the dollar store, pop-its, and those little plastic things, that you pull the string and streamers of confetti pop out (?).

Wow! This post turned out to be REALLY long. Sorry! ;)