Independence Day

Wednesday morning we woke up bright and early to attend our ward's pancake breakfast at the city park. I wasn't sure that I would be able to get the kids to wake up in time since they've been sleeping in 'till 10:30/11:00, but we managed. We enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon. Us women agreed that it was especially enjoyable because we didn't have to cook it or clean it up. It was nice that the men handled all the dirty work. Even better than the breakfast was the short, touching talk that was given on the meaning of the holiday we had gathered to celebrate. My heart swelled as we sang the Star Spangled Banner and I felt truly blessed to be an American.

Later that evening we went to my friend Nikki's house for a BBQ and our own personal fireworks show. As the sky began to darken the children were all gathered onto the lawn and lined up to light sparklers. My friend's husband John did the lighting....with a blow torch. He sat on a little stool holding the torch while the kids ignited their sparklers in the flame.
Of course, Aaron, biggest kid of all had to get in on the fun. He waited his turn in line, then stuck 5 sparklers into the flame at once. They immediately ignited into a huge ball of fire that singed the hair off his arm (and probably the eyebrows off John face). In an attempt to put the fire out he began waving the burning bundle of sparklers wildly back and forth, sending a shower of flames across the yard and dangerously close to innocent bystanders. Yep, that's my pyromanica husband for ya. I guess he figured if one sparkler looked pretty cool, five sparklers would be truly awesome. After the sparkler fun, John lit off his beautiful display of fireworks. Fireworks displays we have seen from a distance in the past have been fun to watch but it is another thing entirely to have an shower of colorful sparks right over your head. Now THAT was truly awesome!