This was Kamryn’s first 4th of July.  She was just shy of 9 months old and I thought I could pose her in our front yard with two little American flags waving next to her.  As you can see, that didn’t happen. 

If I remember correctly, I printed those flags off on paper and stuck them to some chopsticks.  I’m not sure why I taped the stick on the wrong side of the flag, though.  I’m sure I had my reasons.

I have always been a fan of Independence Day.  Who doesn’t love some freedom?  But beyond celebrating our great country, this holiday is the epitome of summer.  Picnics, fireworks, parades, and parties. 

Growing up in the Midwest, I felt like 75% of the 4th of July’s were ruined because of rain.  The firework show would be postponed and if it rained on the rescheduled date, they were usually canceled.  That was always a real kick in the pants when you were a kid that just wanted to see some fireworks.

We haven’t started a 4th of July tradition with the kids.  I don’t know that we need to since as soon as they are old enough to go hang out with their friends, Ryan and I will get ditched anyway.

I may try to bring back the tradition of taking a picture of the kids with some kind of American paraphernalia in the background.  They are going to really appreciate that in 5 years – especially Rory when I try to get him to dress up like a Yankee Doodle Dandy.