How was your 4th?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
How was your 4th?
4
Wed, 07-05-2006 - 10:16am
Pam
Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-05-2006 - 10:53am

Hi Pam~

Our day was really relaxed. My mom is visiting us, so during the day we mostly just hung around the yard, swam in the pool. My house, of course, quickly became overrun with teens (5 of them!) and that always adds excitement, right? H worked on the rails around our pool deck that he's building. We had a BBQ around 6 and then went to a neighboring town to see the firework display last night - awesome!

Like you, I love the nostalgia that this conjures us each year. We're laying on a blanket under the stars, sticky with bug spray and full from a day of eating all sorts of yummy foods! I love hearing all the folks oohing and ahhhing and the little kids screaming out thier glee! We met up with some friends who have a DD7 who has Asbergers ( a form of Autism) and listening to her describe each and every firework was really fun. She has a way with words and still doesn't seem to realize that everyone is hanging on her every word. Very cool. Very fun day!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Wed, 07-05-2006 - 1:20pm

Thanks for asking, Pam. We live in one of those small towns people drive to for the fireworks, so every year we see that fireworks display. We don't usually go right into the park b/c of the crowds, but we are lucky in that we can park in my mom's driveway and just walk to the elementary school where they can be seen quite well. We didn't barbeque for once, but ordered pizza. My sister and her boyfriend and my nephew joined us this year. The kids went swimming at grandma's earlier in the day and we did have some of our own legal fireworks at home too.

I was going to post this separately, but I was kind of bummed that my 16 1/2 yo ds was hanging out with friends most of the day and saw the fireworks display with them and not his family. It was the first year he has not been with us. I guess it's kind of "normal" for kids to spend more and more time with friends or SO's as they get older. My ds sees this as his "metamorphosis" into a man, and it doesn't bug him in the slightest, so I guess it's just a mom thing. I just want to know: what is your secret to keeping the boys with you as they grow into young men? LOL.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Wed, 07-05-2006 - 5:42pm

We also had a pretty calm 4th. My DH had to go into work for part of the day, so I took the kids to the mall (the coolest place in a heat wave!). DD needed a few things for her summer program, and there were a few extras thrown in as a partial birthday present (yikes! she's 15 on Friday!!). Then DS7 and I went to the playground and got soaking wet in freezing cold water in the sprinklers.

The real fun was we went to a part of Queens where we can see the NYC Fourth of July fireworks over the East River. Definitely *not* how I remember it as a kid LOL, but definitely a unique big-city experience. It was crowded and with buildings, not trees, blocking part of the view LOL The best part is the unbelievable ethnic diversity in Queens - watching the fireworks was a cultural experience!!

Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 1:34pm
Late that afternoon, we (ds15 and I) went with some friends to the free concert and fireworks display in the park. They were showcasing all the West Texas musicians. They had kids as young as probably 5 up to grownups singing and playing instruments. It was pretty impressive. There was this one little girl, 7 years old, that started everything off with the national anthem. Good grief! Not only did she sing it acapello (sp?), but at the end she hit the high note, and then popped it an octave! I *still* get chill bumps when I think of her singing. I'm always amazed at the young ones that can really sing well and can do it in front of this huge crowd. (Understandable I guess, I love to sing and sadly, can't carry a tune in a bucket!) Finally, after the sun went down, they dimmed all the main lights, and our youth symphany orchestra played some wonderful songs that were timed with the fireworks show. It was really, really impressive. I had really not wanted to go, but I am soooo glad I did. I really enjoyed it. :)