:favorite pics from the 4th:

Our tradition has been to go & see the Long's Park fireworks but NOT at Long's Park.  Instead we go down the road to some soccer fields where there is tons & tons & tons of room to spread out & roam around.  This is MUCH more conducive to kids than being in the crowded park! 

We always pick up Chinese & have a little picnic there.  We go early & spend the evening throwing frisbee, football, talking to whatever friends decide to join us & then just as it's getting dark we do some of our own fireworks as a prelude to the "real" show!  This year Dwayne scored big-time w/the fireworks.

And it was S O  H O T!!

So everyone was glad to see/hear the cute little ice cream truck roll into the parking lot!

And another yearly 4th of July tradition is at Ken & Karen's house.  Lots of people come & we swim.....

(she's getting the hang of it!)

(yeah, that's uncle doug in the background & he is completely fascinated by little yellow ducky squirt toys!???)

we eat amazing food...no pictures of that though..

& THEN.....

when it gets dark, Todd & Co. entertain us with quite the fireworks display!! 

They make a trip down to S. Carolina where you can actually buy these things....

& yes, the sign was appropriate.  =)

but don't worry...they take alot of precautionary measures.  & the show is fabulous!

We had a fabulous 4th~Celebrating & being thankful for our freedoms!