This year was the first year in a long time that we have been alone as a family on the fourth of July. It was so stinkin hot it makes it hard to get too jazzed up about an outdoor bike and trike parade, a bounce house or any other non water activity. So instead we slept in, played games indoors, did a little bit of last minute school shopping and waited for it to cool off a little. ha ha. About five thirty I made a yummy fruit salad, we filled a cooler with water balloons and headed to pick up some pizzas. We went down to the Gilbert soccer park and set up our picnic site.
The kids chowed down their pizza and watched people playing baseball, football, flying kites and model helicopters. 
Emma of course loved the brightly colored kites. Between the birds that kept flying by and landing trying to grab up some food and the kites she kept doing her little "shocked" pose. Birds, really Em? After we ate it was time to cool off with a little water fun. We have this ball that you put a balloon in and set a timer then we get in a circle and pass it to each other. When it is passed to you, you have to hold it over your head all the way above it and then pass it to the next person. It keeps going until someone gets doused. The kids love it and it is pretty fun anticipating whether or not you are about to get soaked. 
Avery laughed so hard when she took the first soak it got the rest of us laughing. Then Hunter took a really big splash right to the head next go around. He was thrilled.
Emma was definitely interested in what those things were that kept getting everyone all excited and sat down on the blanket and kept playing with them. It was great when she squeezed too hard on a couple of them and they exploded on her, soaking and surprising her. 
Then the ball was gone and the kids resigned to good old fashioned throwing at each other methods. 
I love Hunter's face here when we gave Avery a water balloon and told him to hold still so that she could take a turn throwing one at him. Way to step up big brother.
Soaked to their liking it was time for a little family football. I was great to watch Deke and the kids throw back and forth. The weather was actually nice, there was a good breeze going on and with the water and wind the kids stayed comfortable. 
Deke would throw a pass and then the kids would race to see who could get it first. I love that they were actually tackling to get it before the other or from the other one. Ave actually got in front of a couple of passes that Hunter was trying to get.
Then it was time to wind down a little with some games of UNO. The kids skunked us and kept winning. 
Emma who was given some Phase 10 cards and included in the circle because she was insistent that she was playing with us, randomly wanted everyone to give high fives while playing. She kept wanting to do it off and on throughout playing. Then she would start clapping.
Then it was lights out and time for fireworks which we a lot of fun. They actually sent up a smiley face and even one shaped like a heart. It actually was shaped just like a heart which I had never seen and looked really cool. Then we headed home for some firework fun of our own.Deke had bought some fireworks from one of the millions of stands that seemed to be on every corner. All up and down our street families were outside setting them off. Two of our neighboring families came over and we all spent two hours setting off fireworks in the front yard. It was so much fun. The kids loved it. Emma was afraid unless she was on my lap because they were pretty loud.
I am not sure who was having more fun, Deke or the kids. Deke was headed up lighting everyone's fireworks. It made me smile seeing him surrounded by all the kids saying "Brother Burch, Brother Burch" and excitedly holding their sparkler up to light. The kids ran up and down the street with sparklers, one in each hand making big circles. It was so pretty to watch. Finally around eleven thirty we headed inside. 
It was a really nice day. I am so grateful for this time to celebrate my freedom and the freedoms that our children will enjoy. I love my country and am grateful to have been born in this land of opportunity. Happy 4th!!
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