Wow! The 4th of July 2010 was one full of surprises! Not only did it pour down rain forcing us to improvise many of our plans but this was also our first 4th of July we spent in Mustang, OK. We've lived down here for the previous two summers but we were always visiting family and so didn't get to experience a "Mustang 4th", if ya know what I mean!! If you don't know what I mean then I'll explain more later...but first things first!! Right after celebrating Maddox's 4th birthday we went right into our 4th of July family get-together!! Everyone that attended the birthday party (minus a few friends) stuck around for grilling out, fireworks and lots of fun! (I think we were surprised with even more fun then we planned! HA!!) I had put together a goody basket of things for the kids to do during the evening, and while we were waiting for it to be dark enough to do fireworks, but since it was raining and soaking wet outside we had to get creative with the goodies. I had bought bubbles, red-white-and blue chalk, glow bracelets, star sunglasses, a 4th themed visor craft and some outdoor toys. It made for a crowded outdoor space but we all crammed on the covered front porch and let the kids color with chalk and blow bubbles out there. There was really no need for sunglasses this year but the kids still got a kick out of the star shaped glasses and wore them anyway!
I was sorta shocked but excited when I heard the ice cream truck playing its tune in the distance!! We told the kids to flag him down and they did just that!!
Their treats didn't last too long. They each took a few licks and then abandoned their character shaped ice cream. We, being great mommies, placed their popsicles in the freezer for later but they never went back to them. In fact, I just threw out thier ice cream yesterday! Oh well!
While the men all grilled out burgers, hot dogs and brats in the front yard (we had to move the grill into the opening of the garage because it was raining so hard) we let the kids start with some small fireworks in the backyard. The rain was finally letting up a bit but was still sprinkling. We made the best of it! Ashtyn was so NOT afraid of fireworks that it was almost scary!! He lit small ground blooms and jumpking jacks all by himself with his own punk and even burnt himself with it a couple times. He would sorta wimper for a moment and then go right back to lighting fireworks! I was shocked! He didn't slow down all night!
Ashtyn was loving all the firework action but his ears needed a break! Grampa gave him some earplugs so that he wouldn't have to go inside! He looked so cute lighting fireworks and talking WAY too loud with his earplugs in!!
Before it got too dark we had dessert! S'mores and strawberry shortcakes! Mmmmmmm!
The kids had fun doing their red, white & blue visor craft! I bought these foam visors at Hobby Lobby and also some foam stickers to decorate them with! Don't they look cute!?!?
I don't think she wanted her picture taken...
There we go!! That's much better!!
OK...so now let me explain why having your 4th of July celebration in Mustang, OK is unlike anywhere else in the world...no joke!! First of all, it's perfectly legal to do fireworks inside the city limits!! That's unique enough!! But then add to that the fact that everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is out in front of their homes letting off so many fireworks, right in the middle of the street, that the entire city looked like it was on fire!! You see all that smoke?? Well, that's not just from the firework we just lit! Nope! The whole city was a giant smoke ball. It was so smoky, in fact, that we couldn't see the house directly across the street from us! I'M NOT KIDDING!!!! It looked like a warzone any direction you looked!! There were bomb noises in the distance that never slowed down, giant aerial fireworks going off in every direction, people laughing and screaming up and down the streets...I mean it's madness!! Fun, sure! But still madness!!
While the men all grilled out burgers, hot dogs and brats in the front yard (we had to move the grill into the opening of the garage because it was raining so hard) we let the kids start with some small fireworks in the backyard. The rain was finally letting up a bit but was still sprinkling. We made the best of it! Ashtyn was so NOT afraid of fireworks that it was almost scary!! He lit small ground blooms and jumpking jacks all by himself with his own punk and even burnt himself with it a couple times. He would sorta wimper for a moment and then go right back to lighting fireworks! I was shocked! He didn't slow down all night!
Ashtyn was loving all the firework action but his ears needed a break! Grampa gave him some earplugs so that he wouldn't have to go inside! He looked so cute lighting fireworks and talking WAY too loud with his earplugs in!!
Before it got too dark we had dessert! S'mores and strawberry shortcakes! Mmmmmmm!
The kids had fun doing their red, white & blue visor craft! I bought these foam visors at Hobby Lobby and also some foam stickers to decorate them with! Don't they look cute!?!?
I don't think she wanted her picture taken...
There we go!! That's much better!!
OK...so now let me explain why having your 4th of July celebration in Mustang, OK is unlike anywhere else in the world...no joke!! First of all, it's perfectly legal to do fireworks inside the city limits!! That's unique enough!! But then add to that the fact that everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is out in front of their homes letting off so many fireworks, right in the middle of the street, that the entire city looked like it was on fire!! You see all that smoke?? Well, that's not just from the firework we just lit! Nope! The whole city was a giant smoke ball. It was so smoky, in fact, that we couldn't see the house directly across the street from us! I'M NOT KIDDING!!!! It looked like a warzone any direction you looked!! There were bomb noises in the distance that never slowed down, giant aerial fireworks going off in every direction, people laughing and screaming up and down the streets...I mean it's madness!! Fun, sure! But still madness!!
Beleive me, you haven't had a 4th of July party until you've had one in Mustang! It's crazy! You could literally sit on the back deck and see a better fireworks show then any city in the great USA could put on! It was awesome! Nothing could compare! We did our own fireworks until about 10PM and then came inside to put the kids to bed all the while listening to the "bombs bursting in air" all over the city!! The national anthem takes on a whole new meaning when you visit Mustang on the 4th!! HA!!!!
2 comments:
I know that you did your very best job at describing a Mustang 4th with words ... but there are just not enough words or pictures that can help people really grasp what that night is like. It's an experience like No Other!!!!!!
It truly is an event on the 4th there in Mustang! I'm so glad we could be there for all the madness! Thank you Erika for putting it all together and thank you B for the oh so YUMMY grilled foods :) You guys are awesome!!!
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