How to Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day

Here you see the children lined up. Begging to begin the big show. Or at least a sparkler or two. Never mind that it's not dark. They are ready for some action!

See that travel trailer right there in that there background? That would be my sister Paula's. We lived in it for several months during our transition back to Oklahoma. I say you haven't lived until you've gone through tornado season in a travel trailer!

Also, please be advised that underneath that trailer was the "storage" for the fireworks during the big show. This tended to get a bit scary when a misfire resulted in hot embers landing in the box of fireworks. Under the trailer. Right where the propane tanks are...

We are nothing if not safety first in this family!

Here is the line of spectators, gearing up for the main event. Guess what? When a firework misfires and explodes from the bottom up, directly INTO the crowd, it's pretty hard to scramble out of your chair and to safety when you're all lined up nice and tight like that!

There were lectures on firework safety from the resident safety expert/master rule follower.

A wild game of whiffle (wiffle? whiffle? waffle? whittle? waddle? I have no idea how to spell this word) ball was played. The rules were simple. There are no teams. The goal is to get out whoever is at bat/on base. You are allowed to throw the ball AT the runner to tag them out. If the fielders are being too slow to get said ball and tag out the runner, the pitcher may grab any one of the balls next to him on the "mound" and tag out the runners...

Pretty much, it's every player against the current runner. As you can imagine, it was rather difficult to get a run.

Popcorn made the sacrifice of putting on old clothes to play in the sprinkler with her little cousin. What a giver. Yep. I'm just raisin' these kids to be selfless that way...

Grandma Irene, reining queen of our clan was there to monitor the festivities and make sure we played nice. I'm not sure she was entirely successful.

Laughing bloggers took pictures of laughing bloggers.

Rednecks. 'Nuff said.

Oh, and just so you know, this is Brad, you might remember him from the Journey of the Sun Dolphin. And that is Paula, the sister who doesn't blog...

And yes, he is wearing a headlamp. The better to light the Redneck 9 Shot firework that exploded from the bottom, and shot into our crowd of spectators...

Yes, we had an EXPLOSIVELY good time this Independence Day. Not too sure about the safe part. But it was definitely happy! And exciting!

And dangerous...

And hair raising....

So. How was YOUR fourth?