tradition

Something to know about my family: we LOVE the 4th of July. Like so much that I was the Statue of Liberty and my brother was Uncle Sam one year for Halloween. Side note: find that picture and post it.

When I was younger, the annual celebration of the red white and blue included a flag cake (like this one, but where you see fruit, substitute more icing), silly old school Americana music blaring throughout the house, and a neighborhood firework show in the middle of the street. The master of ceremonies (aka man with the lighter) was my Dad who had a special "fireworks" outfit. (Again, wishing Facebook was around in the early '90s so I could quickly find a picture of said outfit.) Some years we'd even have a shaving cream party and run around in the sprinklers afterwards. Is this normal? It was for me. 

When my parents bought a lake house in 1997, we started a new tradition of celebrating the 4th of July at the Ozarks. The first four years we would invite family members or a small group of family friends. Then in 2001 my parents had the brilliant idea of inviting three families that would change what the 4th of July means to me for good. It's still a holiday spent focusing on celebrating this country I'm a big fan of, but for our families, it's also a holiday rich in tradition.

What kinds of rich traditions? Let me enlighten you....

The first night dance party 

Healthy eating

Family competitions

An occasional alcoholic beverage

You didn't really think I'd write two sappy essay-posts in one week, did you?

Love these families, love the memories, and love celebrating America! Thanks to these two for getting the party started back in 2001, I can't wait for this year!

cutest rents <3

What is your 4th of July celebration like? Do we share any of the same traditions?