July 4th Is My Happy Place

When my Dad was failing, as his mind wandered off, he went to his happy place - our Aunt Ruth's farm. I've been thinking a lot about it, about what is MY happy place? I think it might be July 4th.

As a holiday goes, it was one of our big ones in my childhood. It was a special day where all the neighbors came together, huge tables pulled out of seemingly invisble spaces, folding chairs came from WHERE I don't know and suddenly there was food for miles. It was a full day celebration and we spent it all together as a family. There was only happiness and laughter, and the night ended with the big fireworks from the fairgrounds which could be seen from the backyard.

For the first time since we became a family one of us wasn't going to be with us for the holiday - the oldest boy has BOY SCOUT camp. I'm pretty much grumbling like mad over this as aren't Boy Scouts supposed to be ALL ABOUT FAMILY so why are they taking my kid away ON A BIG FAMILY DAY? Regardless, he's there, doing Scout things and probably having an excellent time.

We decided that we would spend our July 4 time together BEFORE he went, and I confess that despite being miffed he isn't here today, we had a pretty good time.

On the First we went to Stone Mountain for their big fireworks event and rode the train and generally had a pretty darn good time. They really do a nice Fireworks event there, we hadn't been to it for the 4th celebration before.

These are the times I like the best, when we're doing silly things together as a family. Even riding this silly train and watching their corny show is a great time.

We had dinner at the train station and I had replaced my memory of the food with that of Six Flags - I had forgotten than their food at Stone Mountain is actually really good. Thus I was able to check off my "tasty food for the 4th" box on my list of must haves.

The laser show at Stone Mountain is sort of - well - lame. But the kids think it's fun so ok. But the fireworks were amazing this year and beautiful to watch.

We had fireworks at home the next night,keeping the family tradition of sparklers and exploding things in the street alive and well.

Everyone got to have sparklers and then we blew things up into the street. It was a pretty good evening. 

I'll leave you with our first picture at Stone Mountain - to our most recent. A lot can happen in 8 years. Or is it 9? Man I can't even remember.

Hmmm something damaged that first pic. :( Oh well. 

July 4th Is My Happy Place

When my Dad was failing, as his mind wandered off, he went to his happy place - our Aunt Ruth's farm. I've been thinking a lot about it, about what is MY happy place? I think it might be July 4th.

As a holiday goes, it was one of our big ones in my childhood. It was a special day where all the neighbors came together, huge tables pulled out of seemingly invisble spaces, folding chairs came from WHERE I don't know and suddenly there was food for miles. It was a full day celebration and we spent it all together as a family. There was only happiness and laughter, and the night ended with the big fireworks from the fairgrounds which could be seen from the backyard.

For the first time since we became a family one of us wasn't going to be with us for the holiday - the oldest boy has BOY SCOUT camp. I'm pretty much grumbling like mad over this as aren't Boy Scouts supposed to be ALL ABOUT FAMILY so why are they taking my kid away ON A BIG FAMILY DAY? Regardless, he's there, doing Scout things and probably having an excellent time.

We decided that we would spend our July 4 time together BEFORE he went, and I confess that despite being miffed he isn't here today, we had a pretty good time.

On the First we went to Stone Mountain for their big fireworks event and rode the train and generally had a pretty darn good time. They really do a nice Fireworks event there, we hadn't been to it for the 4th celebration before.

These are the times I like the best, when we're doing silly things together as a family. Even riding this silly train and watching their corny show is a great time.

We had dinner at the train station and I had replaced my memory of the food with that of Six Flags - I had forgotten than their food at Stone Mountain is actually really good. Thus I was able to check off my "tasty food for the 4th" box on my list of must haves.

The laser show at Stone Mountain is sort of - well - lame. But the kids think it's fun so ok. But the fireworks were amazing this year and beautiful to watch.

We had fireworks at home the next night,keeping the family tradition of sparklers and exploding things in the street alive and well.

Everyone got to have sparklers and then we blew things up into the street. It was a pretty good evening. 

I'll leave you with our first picture at Stone Mountain - to our most recent. A lot can happen in 8 years. Or is it 9? Man I can't even remember.

Hmmm something damaged that first pic. :( Oh well. 

Fireworks, and the Fourth

The park next to us held it's 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd of July (I don't understand this phenomenon btw why do people do stuff on the 3rd? Is it for rain dates?) so we loaded up the crew and headed over. Our plan was that we'd eat festival food and hang out and then watch the fireworks. Upon arrival we realized that the food tents were running out of food. There was no food. Thus - there was no dinner.

Some strangers gave us these.

These were FREAKING good. They also gave us these.

So we're now officially those hippies taking and eating food from strangers at festivals. Nobody tell my dad, he hates "damn dirty hippies".

But the fireworks went BOOM BOOM BOOM and four children and two adults were mesmerized. Afterward we supplemented our dinner of various chip products with some Waffle House which was tasty and greasy in a horrible way.
For our 4th celebration we stayed home with our own little fireworks and some chicken on the grill. It's probably the best chicken I've ever made on the grill, and it was amazing.

We used a combo of regular old barbecue sauce with some mustard sauce we got from Maurice's Piggy Park on Spring Break, and it's really the only 'mustard' based sauce I have ever in my life liked. It's amazingly delicious and everyone should try it. While I was cooking, a little mouse named Charlie tried out the pie.

I'm guessing he liked it.

Our own fireworks were less spectacular but I think the kids liked them anyway.

It was as good Fourth of July.

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Fireworks, and the Fourth

The park next to us held it's 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd of July (I don't understand this phenomenon btw why do people do stuff on the 3rd? Is it for rain dates?) so we loaded up the crew and headed over. Our plan was that we'd eat festival food and hang out and then watch the fireworks. Upon arrival we realized that the food tents were running out of food. There was no food. Thus - there was no dinner.

Some strangers gave us these.

These were FREAKING good. They also gave us these.

So we're now officially those hippies taking and eating food from strangers at festivals. Nobody tell my dad, he hates "damn dirty hippies".

But the fireworks went BOOM BOOM BOOM and four children and two adults were mesmerized. Afterward we supplemented our dinner of various chip products with some Waffle House which was tasty and greasy in a horrible way.
For our 4th celebration we stayed home with our own little fireworks and some chicken on the grill. It's probably the best chicken I've ever made on the grill, and it was amazing.

We used a combo of regular old barbecue sauce with some mustard sauce we got from Maurice's Piggy Park on Spring Break, and it's really the only 'mustard' based sauce I have ever in my life liked. It's amazingly delicious and everyone should try it. While I was cooking, a little mouse named Charlie tried out the pie.

I'm guessing he liked it.

Our own fireworks were less spectacular but I think the kids liked them anyway.

It was as good Fourth of July.

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Today I've Done Something Right

My day started with a quest to make these cupcakes for the 4th.

Having some sort of lemon cake is a 4th of July must to me, as when I was a kid, the neighborhood ladies would invariably made a lemon cake or an angel food cake with lemon icing or BOTH.

So I decided these would be awesome as lemon cupcakes.

My oldest boy is now big enough to use the electric mixer all on his own. It makes me a little nostalgic for the days he had to stand on a chair just to use a spoon, which he reminded me of and giggled while we were mixing.
Your proof I'm NOT Martha Stewart - I only had Halloween cupcake papers. Ha.

While they baked, the oldest boy and I played Lego MINOTAURUS and talked about Doctor Who and dinosaurs and Star Wars. You know, boy talk.

After they were done, we realized we only had enough yellow to complete one ear of corn on the cob, so we opted to be creative and call the other one Indian Corn.

While I was cleaning up, he comes back into the kitchen and says, "You know, this has been a really fun day so far."

That's how I know, today, I've done something right.

Today I've Done Something Right

My day started with a quest to make these cupcakes for the 4th.

Having some sort of lemon cake is a 4th of July must to me, as when I was a kid, the neighborhood ladies would invariably made a lemon cake or an angel food cake with lemon icing or BOTH.

So I decided these would be awesome as lemon cupcakes.

My oldest boy is now big enough to use the electric mixer all on his own. It makes me a little nostalgic for the days he had to stand on a chair just to use a spoon, which he reminded me of and giggled while we were mixing.
Your proof I'm NOT Martha Stewart - I only had Halloween cupcake papers. Ha.

While they baked, the oldest boy and I played Lego MINOTAURUS and talked about Doctor Who and dinosaurs and Star Wars. You know, boy talk.

After they were done, we realized we only had enough yellow to complete one ear of corn on the cob, so we opted to be creative and call the other one Indian Corn.

While I was cleaning up, he comes back into the kitchen and says, "You know, this has been a really fun day so far."

That's how I know, today, I've done something right.

Something New for the 4th

We decided to go check out a small town 4th of July this year - but as the sun went down they all packed up their party and went home. WHAT? Yes - this cute little small town event just packed it up and went home. We were forced as the sun was setting to hit the road and ran over to our plan B place which was a local vineyard - Chateau Elan.

Sitting among the vines as the sun set was actually quite lovely.

We just putzed around and let the kids run while the sun went down. It made me want wine.

The air was cool and despite not actuallly having anything to do, the kids all had a good time. I might like to go back there next year prepared to spend more time, with stuff to do and food to eat.

When the fireworks started, the little guys weren't quite certain about it - even though they were practically weened on the huge displays at Disney, they just didn't seem to remember them. Eventually we adjusted ok thought!

It was a lovely 4th with the family - I hope yours was as well!

Something New for the 4th

We decided to go check out a small town 4th of July this year - but as the sun went down they all packed up their party and went home. WHAT? Yes - this cute little small town event just packed it up and went home. We were forced as the sun was setting to hit the road and ran over to our plan B place which was a local vineyard - Chateau Elan.

Sitting among the vines as the sun set was actually quite lovely.

We just putzed around and let the kids run while the sun went down. It made me want wine.

The air was cool and despite not actuallly having anything to do, the kids all had a good time. I might like to go back there next year prepared to spend more time, with stuff to do and food to eat.

When the fireworks started, the little guys weren't quite certain about it - even though they were practically weened on the huge displays at Disney, they just didn't seem to remember them. Eventually we adjusted ok thought!

It was a lovely 4th with the family - I hope yours was as well!