I’ll bet you didn’t know there was actual preparation involved in watching fireworks, did you? Well, if you have kids there IS. My suggestion is to begin around 9 hours before show time.
Step 1: Decorate your mantel with hodgepodge patriotic decorations about 20 minutes before your in-laws come to visit. That way your mother-in-law won’t comment about your lack of 4th of July decor.
Step 2: Spend an hour decorating your kids’ bikes for a patriotic bike parade going on in your town.
Step 3: QUICKLY realize upon your arrival that your kids are SO not going to win the best decorated bike prize.
Step 4: Consider letting this “big, scary dog” loose to somehow sabotage the competition. Step 4.5: Decide against it because…well…you’re an adult.
Step 5: Take lots of pictures (including of other people’s kids because they’re just too darn cute!) of your town and think about how much you LOVE living there!
Step 6 (but feels like 15 at this point): Prepare a Fireworks Basket. I’ll be posting about this tomorrow! Come back!
Step 7: Force your kids to stand still long enough for a picture together…
before they go do this. Hope they don’t break their arms just before the fireworks.
Step 8: Take picture of you and your hot husband together. Then lean over and kiss him, ‘cause he’s just that cute.
Step 9 and 9 hours later…sit back and enjoy!!
Hope you all had a nice holiday!!
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cute, cute post.
i'm so glad you shared those tips.
i'm gonna do it right next year!
love the mantel, hope your M.I.L doesn't read this! 😉 love all your patriotic pics. Your kids are darling, and I really enjoy your blog!
The kids and their bikes are so cute.
I'm def. coming back to see what this firework basket business is about : )
Looks like a great weekend! What a great post.
Love it! What a great post, awesome pictures!!
Very nice!
We live in the 'Zoo. (Yeah, I said it haha..) And, there was literally NOTHING going on last night for fireworks. Nothing. Lame. OK, I lie, one high school did it, wanna know how PACKED that place was gonna be?
*Sigh* Next year.
I'm jealous of your town and their parades and fireworks. Expect the stink eye from me for a couple days.
🙂
Oh and I looove the mantel! Love it!
Your mantle is SO pretty!! Love all the pictures!
You just get better and better! Great post! Love the mantel. Glad you had a fun 4th, so did I. Nancy from OHIO
We haven't done the parade in a few years. It's always fun when we go though!
Heee…I soo remember all of this. When you have teens it's just three steps.
1. wake 'em up to remind them of the party later in the afternoon (bike parades and town parades are long gone)
2. Wake 'em up again…
3. Hope and prey they don't lose a digit or two…as they are the ones lighting off the fireworks for us all to ooooh and ahhh.
and I'll add a 4th. Kiss your hubby (cause he is still cute)…and kiss the kidlets 'cause you cannot believe that 10 years ago they were just putty in your hands.
Love the mantle! Your bike decorations were great. Glad you had a nice 4th!
Your kids are just too darn cute ~ but then again you two look pretty good too! Hope you had a wonderful 4th.
Cute post. Love the steps. Should have done them.
What a cute family you guys are! It's nice seeing pics of the fam! 🙂 Looks like a great day!
I just wanted to thank you for a fun blog. I love reading it.
JoAnn
Love, Love, Love this post! Way too cute! Seeing these pictures makes me love our country even more! Good, good times.
Thanks for sharing.
Traci
What a great post – love the mantle!
I've tagged you with an honest scrap award – if you would like to play along please check out my blog! Hope you play along!…..Jo
Cute post. I love how you decorated your mantle!
That sums it up!!!
Just found your great blog~~
xo Laura
Very comprehensive list! I think the only thing I would add is "change kids' clothes at least once because they have spilt 4th of July bbq all over themselves". Oh, and "melted popsicle all over themselves more than once". 😉
It looks like you had a wonderful holiday.
*Tricia
What a fun parade, and glad to see even the dog was sporting red, white, and blue!
As a child, I lived in a neighborhood that had a parade like that every year for the 4th and it was so much fun!!! Your children are adorable! I think you all had a great 4th! Love & blessings from NC!
Looks like a fun day on the 4th. That certainly is a parade ~ love the outfits. Someone put a lot of energy into their display.
Jo
Fabulous fireworks pics! And your babies are adorable!
Super cute post! Love the mantle… it looks great…very cottage/southern living!! 😉
And the general patriotism is just beautiful to see! Hope you had a blessed 4th!! <><
Love the steps, love the decore on the mantel! Love it all 🙂 Looks like you had a great 4th, stop by tomorrow to check out our adventures!
Love the mantel. I'm so happy you had a nice holiday weekend.
I LOVE the bike parade!! what fun!!
and I have to say, your son looks like a "minnie me" of your hubby! They're so cute, and your daughter is a doll!!
Great pictures!
~TidyMom
Beautiful fam and love the simplicity of the mantel! 🙂
I hope you had a fantastic 4th of July!! I like the background and the header of your blog? you made iT?
nice blog…Hope to see you around my blog and stay for a while, leaving comments!
have a nice warm summer evening
Hello! I just stumbled upon your blog and I love it! I am a fellow Michigander who now lives in Indiana…but I exactly know what "Up North" refers to! We used to say at a cottage similar to the one you did! LOVE IT! Just wanted to say hello and I love your blog!
Nice pics. Everyone looks so festive.
such a great home town feeln' with those kids bikes and get-ups…
What a great blog…You rOck!
Great post! Looks like you had a fabulous holiday 🙂 I loved the part about the quick decorating, sounds like something I would do!
Great pictures, and I love the mantle! We went to a 4th of July parade for the first time this year and I just about died over the kids with their decorated bikes. Too cute!
Great post! Your family is adorable…
Blessings,
Spencer
Hahaha to funny. Cute mantel!
Hello SITSA! I love love L.O.V.E. your fireplace mantel display and your son is so your hubby's mini me!
So fun – looks like you had a terrific Fourth! Looking at all those flags makes me happy.
Just wondering if you know of any other places to purchase vinyl words. (like the ones you used on your door) That person isn't taking orders anymore…and I would like to purchase something similar.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing Chris! We had a great time sitting in the back of the pickup truck watching the fireworks. I felt like such a country bumkin! Hope all is well!
I love your mantel decor! Great post, Chris.
-Desiree
Looks like your 4th of July was as fun as ours was. Mimi
I am jealous of your small town. Small towns are the best on the 4th!
Btw, thanks to you and your giveaway I have a new front door! I blogged the after today! Thanks again!
LOL!
I really thought this was going to be a step by step guide on how to prepare fireworks. You got me there.
Happy fourth of July! 😀