Our Fourth Celebration

Fourth of July was Will’s first major holiday celebration.  And since it was a long weekend, we were able to squeeze in a bunch of activities without sacrificing naptimes.  On Saturday, we went to a pool party cookout…forgot my camera so I didn’t have any photos…and then watched fireworks in our friend’s driveway.  On Sunday, we climbed Stone Mountain (a local attraction that boasts the title of largest known rock of granite) to catch an amazing sunset and then see a few more fireworks as they exploded at eye level.  Then on Monday, we celebrated Independence Day with my folks. 

Of course, it’s tradition to make way too much food and then eat more than on a Biggest Loser challenge. We made corn on the cob, veggie-bobs, hamburgers (including a few with some chopped onions and feta cheese mixed in), and chicken thighs.   

And speaking of dinner, I have to share this beautiful and easy red-white-and-blue tablesetting that would be oh-so-fun to recreate. 

Mom used a white tablecloth layered with a red piece of fabric for that burst of firey color.  Then blue & white plaid fringe-edged placemats add a little country appeal.  Matching blue napkins folded into a little silverware pocket provide the perfect spot for sticking a mini-flag.  And the center plate is the placesetting’s crowning glory.  Actually these are two plates – one white plate and one currier and ives patterned blue and white china dish.  My mom layers plates like Lance rides bikes…it’s her thang.  And she finishes off the tablesetting with a cobalt blue wine glass.   

And that placesetting looks even better as it does it’s job – serving up my dinner.  Oh yeah.

We finished off the night with a little sparkler fun.  Last year, I showed you guys how we learned to use our camera to capture different pictures that we ‘drew’ with the sparklers.  Well, this year, we attempted some more designs.  Some were patriotic…

Others were just for remembering the fun:

  

And some were for you:

Hope you guys had a wonderful fourth of July.  What did you do?  Did anyone attempt the sparkler-spelling?  And for those international folks – do you have an independence day?  Or a national holiday to celebrate your own country’s awesomeness?  Spill those patriotic details. 

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