Blog Challenge #23 - Happy 4th of July!

The kids with their annual 4th of July tees. =]

Cooking up a storm...

After a swim...not wanting my picture taken really. LOL

Trying to get it to work!

Taryn enjoying her bar-b-que!

The game is going strong!



This weeks blog challenge is brought to you by.... ME!
Independence Day is this Friday. For this weeks Blog Challenge, I would love to see how you spend the 4th of July. Is this a time for you and your family to get together and celebrate? Do you bar-b-que, watch fireworks at the same place every year, participate in a parade or block party? Is it a day that makes you feel more patriotic?
I realize that some of you may treat it like any other day...but write something! Most have it off from work, but if you don't, you could write about what you usually do for the Fourth.
This could even be a two part thing. Blog about past Independence Days and then after Friday, get one more in there to tell us what you actually did this year.
I hope to hear about traditions, favorite recipes, stories from the past. Maybe you could share pictures from past celebrations and/or add some more after Friday.
For those that do not live in the U.S., please tell me how you celebrate in your country for your Independence Day. I would LOVE to see pictures and read about your traditions.



Independence Day has always been a big deal in my house. Growing up, we would go to parades, bar-b-que with family and friends, go to the beach, and of course set off as many fireworks as possible. It all depended on where this Army brat lived at the time. I remember when my dad was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. We actually lived in El Paso. Somehow, we got caught up in some kind of "competition" with the neighbor when we were setting off some fireworks. My dad and the neighbor both ended up leaving after setting off the first round and coming back from 'who knows where?' with a box full of more fireworks. I am pretty sure they both went to the same Indian reservation to buy some not-so-legal ones! What a wonderful sight it was. My dad is such a strong, hard working man. I can't remember seeing him cry very often. Play Lee Greenwood's "Proud To Be An American" though, and he has to start "clearing his throat, coughing, etc." 'cause it will immediately bring up that cry to his throat!


We've always been taught to respect our flag, our country, and our leaders. Everyone of my siblings would agree with me on this.
It is no surprise that I would do the same for my family. I want it to be a big day, but as with other holidays, I want to make sure they know why we are celebrating.
Freedom is not free. It doesn't matter what country you live in, it doesn't matter what political party you are for. Freedom has a price and it did not come cheaply. I want my family to learn traditions and carry them on. I want them to teach their children as they celebrate and remember.


In years past we have gone to the Queen Mary to watch fireworks, but a few years ago, we started a tradition of going to Huntington Beach very early and staying late until the fireworks show off the pier. This year, we decided it might be too long for the little ones. That's fine. We now had a pool and a great backyard to entertain in. =]

The menu for the day was:
Hamburgers
Hot Dogs
Grilled Chicken
Carne Asada (grilled steak)
Quinoa
Peruvian Beans de la olla (like very light and melt in your mouth pinto beans)
Insalata Caprese (salad of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, evoo, balsamic vinegar)
All kinds of fruit
All sorts of chips
More of the Margurites (Marshmellow, peanut butter, ritz thingys)
Cheesecake....
*sigh*
We had family and friends over. We swam, played water polo, ate, hung out and then caught a fireworks show (from our driveway) that was going on at a park a few miles away.


The best thing about this day was that we were not in a rush to be anywhere or do anything. We just enjoyed each other and were thankful for our freedoms. God bless the U.S.A!