Campfire + Sparklers = Family Fun!!!

On the 4th we had an indoor picnic with family and friends (it was raining), but that's all we were able to do beside play games and chat. We didn't go anywhere this year to see fireworks, and our next door neighbors, who usually put on a great fireworks show, decided not to do their own. So, we ended up having our own family fun in the backyard last night! We set up our outdoor fireplace, gathered a gazillion sparklers, and lots of goodies for making s'mores.

Other than our dog Cody, we all had a wonderful time. He was so nervous being outside, but he managed to huddle under the table near my legs for most of the time where he felt safe...poor guy! We knew that if we left him inside by himself he'd have been even more scared. There were fireworks going off all over the neighborhood, and the noises alone would have sent him into cardiac arrest!! He just needed to be with people who would reassure that he'd be safe.

I actually had more fun taking photos than playing with the sparklers or eating s'mores - although I must say that they bring back wonderful memories of summers spent up at Camp-of-the-Woods in New York! Anyhow...here are a bunch of the photos I was able to take by using a combination of my nightvision and tv modes. I haven't mastered the camera by any stretch of the imagination, but I play around with it enough to get a few good ones now and then.

Here goes:

Our campfire...no it wasn't out of control, it's just a moving photo.


Sweet-Pea and Lionel enjoying s'mores...well, Lionel is. Sweet-Pea is eating a Hershey bar by itself. = )


Sweet-Pea had a BLAST playing with the sparklers! Her dance experience came in handy for some 'moving' photos!


Lionel got in on the fun trying to make interesting designs.


Oh, I almost got the heart shape Sweet-Pea was making! Bummer I didn't wait another second!


Lionel making a circle with 10 lit sparklers - it was VERY bright!!


Sweet-Pea with what looks like the number 43 - how old I'll be this year. ha ha


I think by the time we were done, got the fire out and everything cleaned up (including showers for us all...and the dog) it was midnight! Phew! We had so much fun though, we didn't care what time it was. We already talked about next year. We decided that we're going to invite friends over and have some smashing fireworks of our own. I can't wait!!! Care to join us?