Proud to be American!
The prep started on Saturday. Cammi came over and we worked on party favor rockets exploding with candy!
Here they are! The kids did most of the work themselves. This was the first project Rylan and Bree learned to use a hot glue gun on. Mommy was oh, so, proud! :)
Rylan's special project was strawberries dipped in white chocolate and blue dusting sugar. They tasted amazing!
So pretty!
This cherry pie made me feel VERY American! :)
I think the most fun was all the prep before the actual holiday. I just loved spending time with the kids, working on these projects and getting the chance to talk about our American heritage with them. I feel amazingly blessed that my parents spent so much time making sure I understood what it truly means to be an American and knowing our great nation's history, how it was rooted in faith in God. I hope that I can impart that to my children too. How blessed we are to live in a country whose beginnings speak so clearly of the favor of the Lord. I pray that our family continues to live our lives as a testament to that, and never forget to seek His precepts above all!
Rylan, Bree, and Elle all helped to make these yummy jello parfaits.
Each family at my mom and dad's Independence Day Barbecue came prepared with a reading, poem, or song to share. Wyatt presented a dramatic recitation of the Gettysburg Address, our kids sang 'God Bless America,' and there were many other beautiful readings we enjoyed listening to. Here is Rosalee, sharing some tips on flag tradition and etiquette.
Of course we had sparklers! Really smoky ones....
Grant was extremely fascinated by this trailer hitch.
Ivy made it through about half of the fireworks before going to bed, but the noise didn't seem to bother her at all!
I have no idea what you call this ball-on-rope, rung game, but the kids really enjoyed it!
Bree had fun with the bottle rockets!
It was a simply beautiful holiday. We are forever indebted to the men and women who gave their lives, so long ago, and today to secure our freedom. How wonderful it is to live in America where we can worship the Lord without fear!
