The Fourth of July!

Canaan's (second) Fourth of July consisted mostly of this face: pure astonishment.

We begin our Fourth of July celebrations on the Third of July...why not have TWO days of fireworks, danger, and the commemoration of our country's Independence? So we head to Rope Mill Park with our fireworks in tow (obtained illegally across the border...I mean, we bought them at Kroger). First up, a seemingly harmless display of sparkly sparkler things. Or so we thought.

With the camera rolling, Canaan only four feet away (what harm can a sparkler firework do), and Tim lighting the fuse, we soon encounter the kind of trouble that is so rampant on Fourth of July Celebrations--not reading the directions.



As frightening and "Blair Witch Project" as this video seemed, there were no eyes shot out during the firing of these mortars. Canaan's look of astonishment told us, "Just how can you mistake a harmless show of sparklers with mortars that shoot twelve feet in the air, complete with booms that have the reverberation of Civil War cannons??"

So we lit the actual sparklers instead. Canaan, her parents, and the Cherokee County Fire Department were much happier.

Next on the Fourth of July Agenda, an authentic Fourth of July Parade! Complete with friends to watch the parade with (Casey and Angela Smith, Kaitlin and Ethan), real high school marching bands, two fire engines, thousands of plastic American flags courtesy of the local "Lion's Club", and a fantastic show of every "Miss something or other" riding in her convertible that you could possibly imagine.

Canaan's look of astonishment at the ninth Mustang convertible with some girl aged four months to eighteen years old wearing a crown, waving to her assembly of on-lookers, also astonished at just how many "Miss Teen Marietta" and "Tiny Miss Cobb County" and "Little Junior Miss Georgia" and "Teeny Tiny Miss Little Preschool Down the Street" there are.

Here, Canaan is proudly "waving" her American Flag while the veterans walk down the street.

She's thankful her Uncle John, who was stationed in Iraq for many years, is back home safely and for good!

She's secretly hoping her Uncle John will let her ride in his Mustang next year and that she will be chosen as the 2010 "Little Miss Peanut of 408 Redwood Trail."

We love the Fourth of July!

Finally, it's time for a cook-out with Kate, Andy, and Sierra Potts and a real fireworks display!

After a pig roast and many cookies, everyone hurries to find their place in the back of the truck. Canaan's hoping these fireworks are less scary than the mortars, yet more remarkable than the sparklers.

And they are!

(Just a side note...do you see that curly hair?? On both husband and kid?? I'm astonished at how cute they are.)

And finally, Canaan's second Fourth of July comes to an end...fireworks were wonderful, cookout was yummy, friends are awesome, parade was amazing, and Sierra's look of astonishment told Canaan that you can have a fun-filled day, with no naps, eat lots of chocolate (as evident by Sierra's chin), and hang out in the back of someones truck watching fireworks until ten o'clock, and STILL ensure that your cute bow or hat stays on all day.