OT: Your 4th of July - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Your 4th of July

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Not living in a country that has yet found a way to really celebrate its nationhood I am curious how the American's on YLF celebrated the 4th of July yesterday. In my mind I have attending a parade followed by a BBQ or picnic - am I right? Do you dress up in red, white and blue?

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31 replies

Latest reply was from

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

We were camping for the whole weekend. Yesterday, we went to an art and crafts fair, then some friends came up to join us at our campsite. The kids explored and played while the adults chatted. We had a great big dinner of pasta with meatballs and Italian sausage with salad and artisan bread followed by coffee cake with blueberries and whipped cream. Then, we walked over tot he lake to watch the fireworks display. It was a great time for all.

agrace

What a great question! We watched a family movie because we had to have a way to keep our kids awake (they are very little) until the fireworks, then we piled into the car (kids in their pjs) and went to see the fireworks. Last year, we went to a neighborhood parade where kids were invited to be participants. It's always a fun holiday for children I think and we all loved the fireworks.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Khris - your family camping trip sounds wonderful - reminds me of camping trips for New Years in New Zealand.

Agrace - Kids in cars in their pjs sounds so cute - I bet they were excited to stay up so late.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I think the traditions differ dependent on the region of the country actually. Living here in the Silicon Valley, parades aren't a big deal, but most big venues will do fireworks. (sports stadiums, amusement parks, etc) We bbq'd at home, hung out at the pool, and then went to a local park where we could sit at the top of a hill and see the fireworks all over the city. Personal fireworks are actually against the law here in San Jose, but you would never have guessed that from looking over the city

I will wear a combination of red white and or blue if I can do it without looking like I tried too hard. Yesterday I had on white clams and a red shirt. Nothing I wouldn't have worn on any other Sunday actually.

Katja

(website)

I was privileged to spend the afternoon and evening at the opening ceremonies of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games here in Denver.

There was supposed to be a parade followed by ceremonies (including color guards, torch lighting, speeches) in Civic Center Park, but unfortunately the whole thing got rained out, so they moved the whole affair indoors to a hotel ballroom, which wasn't nearly as nice - but it's still amazing to hang out with all these veterans. There were WWII and Korea vets there - these guys must be in their 80s, and they are still doing sports! Real role models.

Normally our family would go to the local park and have a picnic - the symphony orchestra plays an Americana program ending with the 1812 overture complete with real cannon fire. There's a pie/dessert judging contest. Later we'd go to the golf course at about 9 pm to watch the city fireworks display at the county fairground.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

As legal aliens we stayed at home, ate well, snuggled with our girls and watched the fireworks from our bedroom window.

Kristine

Veteran

I had a cookout with my family on Saturday and a cookout with friends yesterday evening. I didn't watch the fireworks, I don't really care for them. They're pretty but I also feel bad for the bugs and birds, not to mention my scaredy-cat dog who hides in the bedroom. We have the fireworks very close to our house so I usually camp out and keep him company while they're going off.

April

Veteran

I can tell you what the rest of the U.S. *wasn't* doing yesterday. They weren't at the movies (SO and I went and nearly had the theater to ourselves) and they weren't at fabulous Indian restaurants (SO and I went and nearly had the restaurant to ourselves.)

He lives on the water, so it's a great place to see fireworks. Everyone goes out in their boats, and seeing the boats with their lights lit, waiting on the darkened water for the show to begin, is lovely. Also we discovered that our second-floor balcony has an ideal view of the fireworks over the water, so that's where we'll be next 4th.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

DH and I watched the little neighborhoood parade with Biscuit, until he got too upset/excited by the prescence of the other dogs there (we brought him back in the house) then last night when the neighborhood kids started setting off fireworks we had to give the dog a sedative (he gets so scared he just shakes unless we do) turned tv up and kept hugging/petting him till after midnight when things quieted down- so the only displays we saw were on the local news....

taylor

Veteran

BBQ, pool parties, and fireworks for small children..:)

Maya

Veteran

I'm not a big 4th of July person. It's not much fun if you a) are not a small child, b) do not have small children c) don't enjoy the smell of meat cooked over an open flame. I'm all of the above. I just took the day to rest up as I don't get enough sleep these days and that's fine with me.

marianna

Veteran

My fiance and I just relocated and don't know anyone in the area yet. Thus, we stayed at home and went swimming. It was a bit lonely (our first 4th away from our families) but it was okay. Usually we have a family BBQ.

Beth

Veteran

We spent the last two days with my parents, who live on the water. Their annual party was last night with barbeque and drinks for 90 people and professional-level fireworks that the neighbors across the water do every year. It's fun, but its also a lot of work. April, the same thing happens here...as dusk falls, boats start arriving and anchoring out with their lights flickering across the water. It's just beautiful and there's such a sense of community:)

This morning, we headed a few miles away to the cutest small-town parade. Lots of fire-engines and antique cars and kids on decorated bicycles. Then we went back to the house to finish party cleanup and have lunch. DH and I left in the late afternoon to get home and check on the animals. It's been so hot!

elpgal

Veteran

We didn't head out to the large fireworks in the area because of the traffic but did watch the local show out of our window and caught the big one on TV while enjoying blueberry muffins.

AJ

Veteran

My neighborhood has a morning parade where you can either sit and watch or drive your decorated car/motorcycle/truck hauling a boat and toss candies to the kids. There's a high school marching band that starts the parade and after the procession of people and many adorable dressed up doggies, then the automobiles go by. It ends at an elementary school where there are free slices of watermelon, snow cones, face painting, etc.

Usually after our afternoon water springkler/water gun wars, we brave the downtown crowds for the evening fireworks, but this year we went to a minor league baseball game which had a wonderful fireworks show at the end.

Yes, we do dress up in red, white and blue. I wore a red tee with denim clams and a bracelet that had all three colors on it.

Scarlet

Veteran

A bit homesick overseas, trying with only partial success not to nag my sweetie, who had to work Two years ago I had dinner with friends and saw the fireworks over the Charles river in Boston, accompanied by the Boston Pops (orchestra). Normally I am not into fireworks, but that was really amazing. Otherwise usually the cook-out and pool with family/friends type of day.

Refugee

Veteran

I suppose the way I spent my holiday will sound obtuse to many. I find it to be right on track with the importance of most holidays. Spend it with those you cherish, create traditions and memories. Spent the morning and early afternoon clothes shopping with DD who was in from out of town. She was so impressed with my new fashion savvy. (Thank you YLF) She kept asking 'Who are you and what have you done with my mother?" Spent the evening at my parents house with the whole family (including my baby sister and her family who were in from half way across the country). Lots of love and looking through family photos. Normally we would have been outside, but there was lots of rain throughout the day.
Fortuantely, the rain subsided at the end of the day and fireworks were every where. I live in rural area where everybody can buy fireworks and blow up their yard. For many this is a rather scary proposition. For me, it's part of tradition.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Queenie, Taylor - that sounds like a lovely, chilled out day. Hanging out by a pool sounds wonderful!

Katja - same about the weather. But it is wonderful to see servicemen and women get recognised by their communities.

Kristine - what's the difference between a cook out and a bbq?

Maya, Angie, elpgal - A day at home is sometimes the best thing ever!

Biscuitsmom - I hope that your puppy recovered well!

Beth - your parent's party sounds amazing. Hope that you weren't too worn out. What did you end up wearing?

April - that's funny! What movie did you end up seeing? We have a good view of the Guy Fawkes fireworks from our balcony too. Saves going out in the cold!

AJ - your day sounds like a lot of fun. I bet the parade was super cute!

Scarlet - I am sure that you will settle into your new community too. Plus you have the chance to celebrate German and American cutoms!

Marianna - yes, but you got to go to that Nordstroms

Refugee - whoohoo - I bet those comments made your day!

Kristine

Veteran

London, there's no difference. I guess bbq conjures up ideas of meat and I'm vegetarian, but I use the terms bbq and cookout interchangeably.

April

Veteran

Fi, we saw "Get Him to the Greek" -- probably not the best choice since neither of us loved it. It thinks it's a Hilarious Comedy, and I don't like humor that whacks you over the head.

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Fi, as transplants from Portugal, we celebrated as we have for 30 years with the same family - only much expanded now since the "kids" are all grown and have significant and others and children.

We have a big barbecue and play games on the lawn. No matter what the weather...and it was blistering hot yesterday ! We STILL barbecue. If it rains, we move into the garage !

We have a really weird mix of food : Traditional Portuguese foods and fish ( roasted sardines) and we have hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken with potato salad. We drink a Portuguese drink called Sumol and beer and Coke.

I was thinking on Sunday, we were so thrilled to get our independence, but yet we really struggle with the same issues so many years later - only now they are internal.

Dusty

(website)

We took DD to a parade (DS was spending the weekend with Grandma), went out to lunch with friends) then DH mowed the lawn and built some shelves for DD's closet and we went out for dinner. Then we went to the hardware store for the DH's parents, lit some sparklers for DD (but didn't let her touch them) and we were going to go see fireworks, but DD was falling asleep, so we put her to bed and I went to the fireworks by myself.

chellebrate

We hung out at home most of day. That early evening we had friends over for a barbeque and watched the fireworks from our yard.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Aww, thanks, Londonkiwi! Its *not* his favorite holiday, thats for sure! He's still a little jumpy today, but getting better....it was bad timing because we had to bring him to the vet the next day- he had a crusty bump on his nose I was worried about...he had cancer surgery 7 months ago, so Im naturally scared when something pops up, but TG it was nothing to worry about- just Hyperkeratosis (a overgrowth of skin cells-common in older dogs) my vet told me. Thanks so much for your good wishes!

NK

I guess we celebrated pretty traditionally because we went to a BBQ at a friend's house. (I brought the pasta salad.) We had hamburgers and hotdogs and made s'mores over their firepit. Later we drove out to an empty field and watched the fireworks around the valley while being munched on by the mosquitos. I passed out glow bracelets for everyone, because I love doing that when we're out in the dark like that and the kids always get a kick out of it.

I wanted to take a picture of my outfit but didn't get around to it. It was pretty close to this, but without the jacket, a different denim skirt, and a pair of tan sandal wedges instead of red heels:

http://whenlifehandsyouapear.w.....-today-10/

The kids wore red, white and blue too!

Oh, and like Refugee, we live in a pretty rural are, and we could see firetrucks driving around and what looked like a big fire off in the distance. Silly people! Leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals!

Sparky

Veteran

Fi, you have pretty much nailed what happens for us. Some years we attend a parade ~ and once the whole family rode in a parade float. The float, for a local farm, was a brand new chicken coop ready to house hens.

This year we had friends over for a brunch so we skipped the parade. We have a membership to a pool, so we spent the afternoon swimming and then sauntered over to the neighboring field for a town-wide cookout, music and finally fireworks. My kids made beaded necklaces in red, white and blue in the morning (their idea), and my boys picked out their patriotically themed outfits the night before (again, their idea ~ they are very stylish at only 6.5 years!). One of my sons was so excited for the holiday, he woke up, got his own breakfast, go dressed and made his bed, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and washed his face ~ all before mom and dad got out of bed.

Most popular in our neck of the woods I'd say are cookouts with friends and family, attending parades, and watching fireworks.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I love it how some of you had what I would imagine a typical 4th of July to be like. Two things that I would like to do are be in Paris for Bastille Day and New York for either 4th July or Thanksgiving.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Any day in NYC is fabulous....I miss it SO much! Been there 5 times and its not even close to enough!

medusa

Veteran

I was in Boston looking for an apartment - spent most of the day walking around looking at apartments. We went to watch the fireworks by the river, but it was too much for the dog. So we went to sleep, which we sorely needed.

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