July 4th, 2011

Today we had our (relatively new) tradition of fireworks on the weekend of the 4th.  Ya, I know, us and everyone else.  But...give us a bit of a break, eh?

This was the first year that we had use of the firepit and lanai, so that was a nice thing.

People started arriving around 4pm.  Cory and Jill brought over a little tent for shade so we set that up.  As people arrived, they brought their food offerings.  Russ, of course, made tray after tray of salad, fruit, veggies, chips and dip, etc., and two coolers of drinks.  Alma and Dave brought pineapple upsidedown cake and rainbow jellow.  Cory brought some home-made salsa and chips.  Chris and Beth brought persimmons, figs, lychee nuts/fruit. 

 

Garry and Russ had bought hamburger patties, hotdogs, chicken, corn-on-the-cob.  Garry and Cory began the grilling....well...Garry did mostly.  Cory, um, was the cheerleader...?  Hehe.  Nope it was great.  The food, drinks, desserts...everything was fantastic.

As the sun began to set, we moved the tent and lit the firepit.  The big kids (Cory, Garry, Greg, Granison) started lighting the smoke bombs, firecrackers, and other things that can't be seen in the dark.

Once it got dark, they began the bigger, brighter things.

(Then the aliens landed! Looks that way, anyhow!)

 
(Damian and Alex P. light up 150 bottle rockets.)

(Looks like a phoenix!)

And then it was over.  Everyone had their final drinks and went home..and arrived safely.  We put out the fire, gathered up the exhausted cartridges for pickup tomorrow, jumped in the shower to wash the gunpowder off.

Then we went to bed.  It was a great night!