The Fourth of July

We did our usual flag hunt and let the kids play with the pinwheels again.  Our lunchtime barbeque was topped off with a yummy flag cake.  While I was decorating it, Ciera asked, "Is it my birthday again?!"

Our homeowner's association always has a Fourth of July party with free food in the park.  The kids loved the water slides, bounce houses, and playing with their friends from the neighborhood.  Free dinner is always nice too.

Later, we headed over to our usual spot to watch Thanksgiving Point's fireworks along with the rest of the fireworks across the valley.  While waiting for the big show to start, Camden and Ciera had some fun with glow sticks.  They were disappointed that I forgot to bring my camera, because they wanted to draw shapes and letters in the air again and see the result in my camera.  The phone camera just doesn't work for that or for taking very good pictures of the fireworks.

Cool Treat

Both Camden and Ciera really enjoyed helping me make some popsicles from pureed fruit, coconut milk, and lime juice.  Every time we needed to add the next layer, they would get so excited.  I think it was mostly because they got to drink the leftover pureed fruit each time.  Once they were frozen, Ciera only wanted to lick hers.  Each time she would start at the bottom, lick all the way up, then throw her head back at the end.  It was pretty funny.

Paper Airplanes

Camden really wanted to make paper airplanes.  Since this week is the Fourth of July, we made patriotic ones.  Ciera actually lasted longer trying to fly her airplane than Camden did.  They love to eat outside whenever they can, so we also had a little patriot snack with fruit and Greek yogurt. 

Fireworks

After we got the kids in their pjs and all ready for bed, we drove over a few streets and parked in a cul-de-sac to watch the fireworks.  We love parking here every year, because we can see fireworks all across the county.  We also like to get glow sticks for the kids to play with while they wait for the fireworks.  This year we tried making glow stick art.  The kids chose letters or shapes, then Darren drew them in the air with a glow stick.  They liked looking at the camera to see which ones actually turned out right.  If only I had a steadier hand. . .

Flag Hunt and Pinwheels

After our dinner barbeque, we went home and had a flag hunt while we waited for it to get dark.  I hid flag cupcake picks around our backyard.  They liked searching for all the mini flags.  Camden especially enjoys these little hunts.  We also had some Fourth of July pinwheels we let the kids play with.  Ciera was very fascinated with them (she loves windmills too).  Then, for a refreshing drink we had fresh-squeezed lemonade. 

 

HOA 4th of July Celebration

The HOA sponsors an annual Fourth of July celebration.  There's food, activities, and entertainment.  They had water slides, bounce obstacle courses and slides, carnival games, rock climbing, a gladiator joust, and a dunk tank.  Camden's favorite was the water slide.  Ciera loves bounce houses, so that's all she wanted to do.  She also liked listening to the music and watching the Polynesian dancers.  She was dancing along with them and clapping away.

Family 4th of July Barbeque

We enjoyed a  nice barbeque over at Darren's parent's house.  It's nice to visit with family and have yummy food.  The kids loved playing in the swimming pool and on the slippery slide.  Ciera hung out in the pool almost the entire time.  She made a game for herself of throwing a ball out of the pool, climbing out to get it, then climbing back in to throw it out again - over and over and over.  Camden had fun playing with his cousins on the slippery slide.  We all loved the homemade ice cream we got to savor at the end.

Popsicle Stick Flags

We got this idea from U Create.  They had a lot of fun painting the popsicle sticks and putting them together.  We did have a little trouble gluing them together.  The sticks didn't always line up with each other and the glue was slow to dry.  It was a good craft, though, for the kids to do for the Fourth of July.

Cookies

We made sugar cookies for the Fourth of July.  I love how they were so good about taking turns doing everything.  Ciera really wanted to eat the star cookie dough after we cut them out.  She did not want me to stick them in the oven.  "I want to eat the cookie dough!"

Just let me eat my cookie!