Independence Day 2007

July 4, 2007 was a little different for us this year. Dana spent all day one the 3rd and 4th working at a firework stand. I decided to take the children to spend the day at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

In the afternoon, I decided to be a nice mom and take the little ones out front to play (they can usually only go in the back because of the fenced in yard). Just my luck.....Michaela hops on a little bike and starts scooting down the side walk. It was like slow motion.....I saw a neighbor across the street throw down a lighted pack of 'Black Cats' (or whatever those loud firecracker things are called nowadays). I totally knew what was going to happen. Do I run like a mad woman and try to make it to Michaela in the 5 seconds before they go off? I yelled, "Michaela, plug your ears!"
Poor thing. She didn't hear me. And those firecrackers went off. She jumped right up screaming and ran to me. And, as a pathetic little gesture, her little bike went rolling down the driveway and into the road toward the culprit.
It is kind of funny, in a way. But I felt so bad that she had to get scared like that . The neighbor brought the bike over and apologized and said they wouldn't light off anymore. But, it didn't matter because there was no way Michaela was going to stay out there.

Let me warn anyone who needs to be warned: kids LOVE those parachute fireworks.

And, it is just tragic when some children are a little bigger and faster and catch them all and the little ones cry.

My suggestion is to just say a word or two to the kids first about sharing and letting everyone have fun and they may surprise you at how generous they are at letting the little ones have a turn. (no, I wasn't smart enough to actually do that myself. I had to wait until kids were upset and crying)

And, don't get too mad at the boys. I mean, a little parachute falling from the sky? How can they resist?


Hope you all had a great Independence Day!