The 4th of July

The 4th of July isn't so much a day for us, it's more like a whole week. For some it was 10 days! The entire week has been done for so many years now, we've got it down to a science. Though next years revisions call for an "adult" summer bathroom.
To sum it up, we sit around in the sun all day while the kids, swim, fish, jump on the trampoline, go for paddleboat rides and go tubing. Cocktail hour starts at 5 o'clock "somewhere". Meals are carefully planned out and served at the well stocked and organized boat house buffet with Uncle Butch as the grill master and each family contributing their signature dish.

Fireworks are a major part and take up at least two evenings. The lake fireworks and our family fireworks. The lake fireworks are special to me because of their history, but have lost a little of the nostalgia replaced by our family fireworks.
Back in the day, my Dad was in charge of the lake fireworks. Every year my Mom, Sister and I would put the donation flyers in all the mailboxes. Riding our bikes to close places, driving the van to the rest. We would road trip it up to Green Bay to pick up the fireworks. I was so proud of the show every year because it was my Dad doing it. Now that he is retired from his duties, it's not as special, but still a nice evening.
Our family fireworks are the best. My cousins are awesome. They took over the tradition on scale for the bay. We must have had at least 50 people around the fire and 15 boats parked ourside the bay. The show lasts a good hour with a spectacular finale. Top it off with B.T.S. roasted marshallows and you've got my favorite night of the year.
Happy Birthday to Molly, Mike and Eric!
12 adults, 17 kids, 4 grandparents, 1 great grandma and daily pop-over friends all having the time of their lives creating memories to last forever that is the 4th of July for us.
(I'll post pictures soon. I was just shy of filling up my 2 GIG card. Love the new camera!)