It's all fun until someone gets burned..

I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July, and was able to stay out of the ER... for the most part. We {fortunately} did NOT have to go to the ER and that means we had a good holiday. {actually the only time we have ever gone to the ER on a holiday was Thanksgiving two years ago, James had to have stitches}

Anyways, back to this year. The boys were awake bright and early at 6:30, which is actually late for them, we usually hear them up by 5:00 {I know, I know, lucky us} We went up four wheeling with our neighbors. It was so fun! I love the quads and we had so much fun. We were able to find a good place with some rocks to climb on, and lots of places to get dirty. Megan was the winner when she found a pot pipe and some one's stash of pot. I guess someone is going to wonder what happen when they go back and their little hiding place was found out.

The husband the the boy climbing on the rocks

Tim when he is till clean.

The husband and I took the boys out for a ride, I had Tim and he had James and Tommy. Captain loves the four wheelers as much as the boys as was ready to go. He runs along the side of the quad and can keep up. He is usually huffing and puffing when we get back to camp, but loves going, and when we went out again, I had to make him stay. The funniest thing was when I took Tim out for one last ride, we went by some cows that were just grazing and Captain tried to heard them. The cows just looked at him like he was a crazy dog {which he is}.

Tim enjoying the4-wheeler? {someday we will get some}

Along with the pot pipe the husband and Alan, also found a couple back packs. Taking the guns just in case, they went to go check it out. It was nothing... it was a drop off of clothes. That's when the illegals drop what they are carrying as they are getting closer to town. I have a whole other post about this... but it's a can of worms I'm sure so I'll save it.

After four wheeling and dirt, we went home to get cleaned up. We had the opportunity to have the missionaries for dinner along with Alan, and Priscilla and their family. So we had a BBQ {naturally, what else do you do on the 4th} There was so much food and it was lots of fun.

Our happy family {remember that happy can have many different meanings}

Our neighbors... Alan, Priscilla, and the kids, {minus one} they too are a happy family.

As dinner was finishing up, the kids were getting restless, so we brought out the fireworks... Now I'm not sure why, but there were NO fireworks to be found in all of Sierra Vista!!! I'm serious! All that you could buy were the snaps and party poppers. Good thing for me I bought a few fireworks last year and saved them. We did all of the snaps which we got the boys to step on them and I was even able to pop them on James' head with my hand. Next came the party poppers. {yes two things that are not a fire hazard, what is the 4th of July with out the fire hazard???}

the fun of snaps...




even the big boys had fun with the party poppers.

Our yard is to small for 10 paces, so they each went two.

We moved things to the front yard so we could do the few fire works that were saved from last year. First I want to ask a question... Who thought it would be a good idea to put phosphorus on a stick and let kids hold it? And sparklers sounds much better than burning hot phosphorous on a stick so at least you have to give the person props for creative marketing. I love sparklers, but next year we will defiantly wait until dark. They are more fun in the dark. But all the kids had a great time.... until Tim touched the hot end of the sparkler. He has officially learned the meaning of hot. Because it wasn't sparkling any more I guess he thought it was ok.

Tommy and his sparkler

Tim.... before he got burned.
James waiting to start conducting.

In the end he was ok, and Cars band aide will heal almost anything. Once it got dark we walked about 400 meters and set up the chairs to watch the fireworks that the city put on. I love that I can see them with out going so far, it makes going home and putting the kids to bed easy.

It was a great 4th, and only a few tears were shed. Next year we will be in a new state {hopefully one that will allow us to have hot burning phosphorus on a stick to give to the children} Hope it was mostly safe for all of you too.