How Do You Celebrate the 4th of July?

You might think my favorite holiday is Christmas or Thanksgiving. But really, it's the 4th of July. It's not that I go anywhere or do anything. Actually, we stay home and usually BBQ with the neighbors, mix up a batch of Margaritas and watch the fireworks going off in neighboring cities. And I spend a moment remembering why this day is so important in our country's history. We must all remember that our soldiers fought and died for our country's independence and continue to do so to this day. If there is one day of the year to show that you have a Patriotic Pulse running through your veins, this is it. To be quite trite, Freedom isn't Free.

Walking down memory lane a bit, it seems like the first warm day in Southern California is always the 4th of July. The silky cool air is scented with night-blooming jasmines and forbidden fireworks. When I was a kid, they weren't forbidden at all, and I have a scar to prove it. Oh, the memories of my father lighting off a cannon and blowing out many of our neighbors windows, including our own, as well as the hubcaps off of a bunch of cars. If cars had alarms back then they would have all been screaming. Later, all the kids piled into the back of someone's pickup and headed over to Alondra Park to watch the fireworks show. Those are some of the memories I treasure as a child and tried to instill in my children as they were growing up. Of course, we buckled them securely into their 5 point harness car seat instead of piling them in the back of a pickup and they weren't allowed to even touch fire crackers, just sparklers. But the memories .... ahhh the memories.

For the 4th of July this year, don't get all caught up in the preparations and forget about making memories for your kids! Let them help make cupcakes or party hats! I found a website that has some great printable crafts, recipes and games for kids and so much more! You can Click Here if you'd like to see all the fun things you can do this year. It's a Disney Website of all things called Disney Family Fun! I found something called "Revolutionary Berries" that look good enough to eat.

For some reason, holidays always seem to be all about food, but if you can make it fun and healthy, why not I say!