4th of July Fun!

In preparation for the 4th of July, we began reading a book about America's birthday and I brought out our 4th of July decorations and "personal accessories." By the end of the week the kids had memorized most of the book, enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to America in concert and played dress up with their star jewelry, glasses and flip flops.
It has been so funny to hear our little guy, who is just recently forming sentences, and for the most part is incoherent to everyone but us, talking about how America became free. We ask him who wrote the Declaration of Independence, and he says, "omas jefferfun" then we ask who was living in America and he says "the cowonists" and what did they have to pay "a tax" to whom "the king of egwand" what happened on July 4th "Amewica is FREE!" he shouts. We didn't realize how much he had comprehended until we started quizzing him - their little sponge brains are amazing at this age.

On the 4th of July we had our friends Dave and Nannette over for dinner and fireworks. It was a very enjoyable evening, hanging out on the deck in the backyard eating and chatting and watching the kids play. The kids enjoyed cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday America" while blowing out their candles. When it came time for the firework show in our backyard, the kids were ready.... so they thought.

First there were three....

Then there were two.... Joseph made it through about 30 seconds and then bolted in the house. Joseph decided he was not quite ready for fireworks yet and opted for bath and bed.
Alex and Esmerelda sat through a few but then lost some of their nerve when the fireworks started popping and crackling!

Then there were none... As you can see below they found a better spot more suitable for their tender ears.
Esmerelda and Alex spent the rest of the evening with their hands over their ears anticipating the loud noise. We watched the 'big fireworks in the sky' from our backyard. Watching the innocence of this age was so precious - definitely a moment in time worth remembering!