4th of July

Can you believe that the 4th of July is my "Hands-down" favorite holiday? Yep. I think it is because absolutly nothing bad has happend in our family around this date, and historically the family is together and doing something fun--even if it is just vegging! lol

When we lived in the Mountains, it was illegal to own fireworks (you can imagine what fireworks can do in the forest!), but Bass Lake always puts up a HUGE display over the lake. It is wonderful. We used to go up and spend the day, but then it got so crowded that you had to pick your spot out at 4 am and we decided that was just too crazy...so we had our picnic at home or in a nearby park, then loaded up the kids in the car and drove around the lake for 30 mins during the fireworks! lol Well, sometimes they would open the "group camping" area for late arrivals, so several times we were actually able to find a parking spot and sit outside and watch the display. It was AWSOME! however, the last time we went up there it took us 1 1/2 hours to get home--and we lived only 5 miles away! We decided as a family that it was just too crazy to spend that much effort for the fireworks, so we looked around for an alternative. We found one in Madera--a small town about 60 miles from our home. (My dh works in Madera--and did so at the time, which is how we found out about it). Anyway, they had their fireworks at a park...open and free to anyone. So, we took our picnic there! It was great fun, Tons of shade, fun to watch the kids play, lots of eats to buy if you wanted to...even entertainment (dance schools, judo schools, etc). Plus, it took us only 1 hour to drive home! lol We did this until one year something missfired and the fireworks fell into a nearby business and set off a fire in their pallets! THAT was fun! We couldn't leave because the fire engines were there lickety-split and clogged up the street where we were parked. Besides, we had a ring-side seat for the action, because we actually saw the thing start! lol Needless to say, they no longer have fireworks there! *sadness*

Last year Poodle had to work, so the plans were for my husband and I to head over to Madera to see the fireworks at the Fairgrounds. Of course, that was the day that Poodle put my car up on the rocks in someone's front yard as we were taking her to work! So we wound up staying home and watching the fireworks go off all around us, because we didn't trust the car to drive anywhere.

This year we are working at the County Fairgrounds. My husband's alter-ego the Clown is making/selling Balloon Creations, and the I will be doing face/arm/shoulder/leg (and any other G-rated body parts, lol) painting for a fee. This is the first time we have done an event like this so we are anxious to see how we are going to fare. Of course, the temp is suppossed to be 104, and balloons dont really like the heat, and my paints come off with soap and water (or sweat)--because they are water-based...so we will see how we do. But the up-side is that we get to spend the day together and watch fireworks!

So, hope that each of you have a safe/sane/happy 4th!