How Was Your Fourth of July?

All while I was growing up fireworks were illegal in Omaha, Nebraska. People had to buy them in Missouri. They still lit them off, but it was low key. If it got out of hand neighbor's called, cops came, and that was it for them.

Since Mica was a baby, so 13 years ago they became legal.

People go crazy with them! They start in June. The amount they get is about $1,000 worth. The most we've paid is $200.

Our mayor doesn't want to put a stop to fireworks. She wants to lessen the time they can be fired off.

You have 2 groups of people: Those that think the mayor is no fun, and those that think she should ban them entirely.

Then there's me, typically the one that can see both sides. I pretty much stand with the mayor on this. 

Against: Many pets hate them, some people in combat have trouble with them, some people on the spectrum can't deal with them. At least if they were certain days people would know, and could wear sound headphones. They still would have the big shows, where you could see them. They are getting pretty out of hand for individual families. I really hate the liter, and the fact that people literally blow up their money.

For: It's not my money they are blowing up. Many firework stands around here are non profits that benefit from the funds. By having them legal I can literally see them all over my property without going anywhere. We do have to clean up because debris goes into our yard, but it's not all the time. I can sleep through anything, so the big booms once a year doesn't bother me.

I'd be a horrible politician because I usually do see both sides to everything. Either that, or I'd be a good one because I can see both sides to most everything. People would refer to me as a flip flopper probably. Honestly I don't flip flop from one stance to the other. I just rest in the middle usually always, trying to bring the other side to the side against it. That way they can see more than one view. Right, or wrong that's what I do.

Are you for or against mass people in cities lighting off fireworks?

We didn't buy any at all this year. Why? Because our neighbor's had enough for us to enjoy.

Special Foodies:

I did make a special breakfast: Coffee Cake for the main dish. Other things with it. We only have Coffee Cake once or twice a year.

Travis did grill a special meal: Steak, corn on the cob, sweet peppers, and cabbage.

I did make a special drink: 3 squeezed lemons or limes, 3 lemon or lime La Croix, drops of liquid lemon stevia or powdered stevia, 1 cup of ice, and water. It tastes wonderful! The boys love it!

I made Jell-O filled Strawberries: 2 containers of strawberries, or 1 big one. We grew our own strawberries, but I bought some. The ones we grew are really small. The bigger you can get, the more room to pour the Jell-O. Core the strawberries out with a small knife, be careful not to cut a hole in them, put them on ice cube trays, or you can use an empty egg carton for the strawberries to be upright.

Cut the strawberries, and have them cored before you begin with the Jell-O.

Cook 1/2 cup water - you could replace this with vodka but I can't drink, 1 package of blue Jell-O and 2 packages of plain gelatin - whisk while heating up. Pour the Jell-O mixture into the strawberries.

They set up really fast because of the extra plain gelatin.

You could replace the blue Jell-O with any flavor of Jell-O, for any occasion.

Put the leftover strawberry centers in the freezer for a smoothie.

They were cute, and Mica enjoyed helping me make them. Isaak asked, "Where's the white?" I responded, "In the seeds." The seeds are actually a yellow color. I suppose you could top them with whipped cream to get the red, white and blue. Then you can't see the blue in the photo.

If you celebrated Fourth of July, did you make anything special?

I Hope Everyone Had a Happy 4th

I'm still trying to play catch up. 

Two days ago we had no idea what we were doing for the 4th. Then Aunt Terra called, and invited us over. She was having our cousin Stacy over. Stacy has a 3 month baby girl, Terra has a 2 month baby boy, and Emerson is like a baby, but he's now 3. Stacy also has a 3 year old son. Then there is Terra's others Evan and Elijah that are our boy's ages. It was kid crazy there. My parents AKA Grandma and Grandpa came to.

I tried getting a good photo of Emerson, but was unsuccessful. Terra got a few of him and I together. She took some with her camera to capture bubbles being blown at us for our birthday invite that will take place next weekend. Emerson giggles when bubbles are blown at him. It's pretty cute. Here's a photo I took from her:

We all brought a side and our own meat. I brought a Quinoa Salad *recipe will go up later, the works for Strawberry Shortcake, and stuff for Hamburgers. If you celebrate, what did you eat for the 4th?

I did get some cute photos of my youngest nephew Edison AKA the boy's youngest cousin. Isaak still calls Edison, "Ederson". It's pretty cute! I love his redish hair.

After we ate, we went up to a local school parking lot, and we lit and watched some firecrackers. We had a great view.

The only sucky thing was is that it was windy, and cold for July. The babies didn't much like that.

Cousin Evan, Mica, Cousin Elijah, and Isaak

It's pretty cute because Mica kept walking with Evan, and their arms were around each other. They were chatting about Indiana Jones. 

Mica has shirts in his closest that are red, white and blue, but according to him and Daddy he could wear whatever he wanted. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt it was. They are named after Italians, drawn in Japan, but they do live in NY. Isaak looks like he's wearing a Valentines shirt. It's actually a British John Lennon quote, "All you need is love." It's red and blue. This mom - me way over thinks this kind of stuff.

My boys weren't the only ones that mixed cultures for the holiday. I made red, white, and blue Parfaits for breakfast yesterday. Daddy said, "Parfaits are French." My comment back was, "Whatever."

We had a pretty good time with cousins.

My family growing up was never into the 4th of July much. I finally learned last night why. My cousin Stacy told me that our Grandpa was always worried about his daughters loosing a finger lighting firecrackers off. My Grandma was a nurse, and she told him stories about accidents that happened during that time of year. I guess that carried onto my Mom's generation. My boys like firecrackers. I think they are pretty, but that's it. I'm not crazy about the noise they make, the pollution they create, and the accidents that happen. I'm thinking I get these thoughts from my own parents. We never did much of anything for the 4th growing up. We just sat and enjoy the neighbor's firecrackers.

Are you big into firecrackers?

I Hope You Had a Good 4th of July!

This was the first year in a long time where firecrackers were legal where I'm from. People bought them in other states and shot them off anyway. This year there were local stands at many of the grocery and hardware stores. People went crazy and bought a lot.

We bought some. Our backyard neighbors always buy a lot! I'd hate to see their bill!

The boy's stayed up late! Isaak still refused to take a nap yesterday! This makes him act punk like! 

Isaak's shirt says, "Moms Little Sparkler!"

The boy's were really excited to find the parachutes! Mica demonstrated to our next door neighbor's what a firecracker is like when it's lit. He was jumping all around in a circle like motion making all kinds of noises! They were laughing. I should have video taped him.

Rainy 4th

• It was pretty rainy on the 4th of July.
• We socialized with Grandma and Grandpa Apel in the morning before they left. They had car trouble on their way home, which is horrible!
• The rest of our day was spent relaxing. We all took a nap!
• Isaak woke up and was asking for momma.
• I got him and he fell back asleep on me while we were on the couch. When we woke up we played with Photo Booth on my computer. It takes horrible pictures, but Isaak loved how he could see us moving on my computer.

• Daddy went back to where his show is set up. One guy talked to him about his work for awhile. He told him that he was an excellent competitor to their other gallery that has 9 artists in it. That's good that 1 artist can be just as strong as a gallery that has 9. Sculpture isn't easy to produce. It takes much longer then a lot of other types of art.
• Then he visited with the company owners next to his dental lab, and they said that they'd buy one of his sculptures. They brought along a good friend of theirs from the main newspaper here, so Daddy made some good connections that evening.
• Daddy came home, and we watch fireworks on TV, and went outside for a tiny bit to watch a few more. The misquotes were pretty bad! I just wanted the boys to have a chance to see and hear a few.