Rescheduled Fireworks

Because of the storm we didn't get to finish all our fireworks so we let off a few more & did sparklers tonight. Our next door neighbor, Andrew came over for a bit.

The bugs were getting pretty bad so, I decided I'd get out the bug spray. I never usually spray around faces but Victoria gets bit on the face all the time so I thought I would do it this once. I told her to cover her eyes and I went to spray. Just happened that Justice lit off a firecracker at that exact moment. Victoria wanted to see it so she moved her hand an opened her eyes as I sprayed it. Oh my heavens!! OFF sprayed right into her eyes. We ran her in and washed her eyes out several times. Poor kid! She was not a happy camper. Luckily within an hour she was back to normal but it was scary for sure! Sorry little Linda!

ALSO about the BIG show...

It just happens that the Minnesota State Government is shutdown right now. Ironic since it's the 4th of July and we are supposed to be celebrating our great country. Anywho, the reason I mention this is because with the MN State Government shutdown- they decided NOT to do their firework show. {ND doesn't do one here in Fargo for some reason} But a couple sponsors stepped in and donated all the fireworks. Then God had a plan of His own with the storm last night. But because it was private sponsors, they rescheduled the Firework Show for tonight. There was no way the kids were gonna miss it!!

We packed up the kids, some blankets and a few treats. We got an awesome parking space and sat right under the fireworks. It was a perfect night! {Well except for almost blinding my kid. Oops!}

Lighting up the Night Sky

After all our party guests left and we cleaned up, we decided to do fireworks as a family. The kids always like to buy a few of their own and then my biggest kid (Hubby) has to buy his share as well. We had lots of choices! Everyone took turns lighting a few. I have a whole lot of pyros on hand here. LOL

Here's a few of our favorites from the night:

Then unexpectedly, God decided to put on a firework show of his own. The tornado sirens started going off about 9pm. We watched a storm roll in from the north until Justice was too nervous to be out. We went in and checked the news. MSUM had canceled their firework show and the news was tracking the storm. They advised everyone to take shelter. On their Storm Tracker Screens lightning was flashing everywhere and the Tornado Warning stretched across all of West Fargo. Pretty freaky!Outside, the streaks across the sky were crazy!  It started down pouring shortly after that. It lasted only about an hour from start to finish but it was quite a show up there! God sure knows how to light up the night sky!!!

We took shelter in our basement until the storm passed and they turned off the sirens. Nothing hit down in West Fargo but there was a roof ripped off in Mapleton (from a funnel cloud) which is only a 10 minute drive from our house. We were really blessed to be protected. Brett & I thought it was very cute because as we went down to take shelter, the kids all grabbed their scriptures to take with them. They said that they made them feel safe! ;) Too cute! We have some amazing kids- spiritual giants in their own right!

What an eventful 4th of July and

what an amazing Night Sky full of light!

4th of July Party

4th of July is definitely a perfect excuse for a Seamons ParTay! Most of the people we had over for last year's festivities have left town on vacation or permanently. [We miss you!] But I couldn't bare the thought of not having a 4th of July Celebration. Afterall, we are the Seamons!!! So I got outside my comfort zone and invited a few new people over to celebrate with us! {Don't get me wrong- we know and love these people too} It started out by just telling a few families, then an email to those I wasn't sure of their plans, to only 2 people saying they could not come. The rest would love to!!! WOW!!! Holy Party, Uncle Sam! We were lucky enough to have 74 people over for our 4th of July ParTay! Just for fun I want to list them just cuz that is a lot o' people!!! (I took pictures of most everyone but missed a couple- dang.. we should have gone over the Seamons Party Picture Rule before they came! LOL Also- if I biff up on names really bad- tell me and I'll fix them) We had Brett & Shay, Liberty, Justice, Victoria, Glory, Mike & Kellie, Morgan, Randy, Sydney, Mark & Katherine, Madison, Sydney, Dale & Becky, Josie, Zach, Jessica, Emily, Brad & Minka, Matt & Haylie, Ali, their High School friend & his girlfriend, Art & Marie, Erik & Ashley, David & Lauren, Jared & Katie, Garret, Adelaide, Greg & Lisa, Jessica, Joseph, Becky, James, Rob & Jen, Todd & Jen, Mike, Sam, Becca, Dan, Dave & Bonny, Naomi, Owen, Jeff & D, Phil & Alma, Allen & Beth, Jason & Jill, Landon, Logan, their 3 cousins, Jesse & Betsy, Zyler, Jaxson, and Josh & Emily. Now that is a LOT of amazing people! Thanks for coming everyone!

We laughed because we decided to do an Argentine Asado for an American Holiday but hey once again... we are the Seamons!! LOL Everyone pitched in for the meat and brought a side or dessert. Way, way yummy!!! Brett and Matt started cooking and were relieved of their duties by other BBQers after a while. I love that people just pitch in where they are needed. We have some awesome friends! It was so fabulous! There was so much to eat. And just as many desserts. Delicioso!

We couldn't have asked for a better weather day! It was hot but with a few fans and our umbrella tree, oh!and millions of popsicles- it was perfect! We were so grateful for the sunshine. We put out some water toys for the kids. They had a blast! Well except for 3 Zipline accidents. Dang! Slippery hands and a zipline are not a good combination. Luckily, they are all still walking. Other than that everyone ate, visited and played.

Thanks to everyone for coming! Hope it wasn't too crowded for anyone. We are so grateful you'd celebrate this great country we live in with the Seamons!

Happy 4th everyone!!!!

4th of July Partay on the 5th

The Partay NEVER stops at the Seamons house. LOL!  We decided to throw a BIG 4th of July on the 5th Partay! It was a lot of fun! At least we thought so :) I LOVE dinners where everyone brings something and you end up eating like Royalty. Everything was amazing and so delicious! Brett & I had our favorite, of course! Alexa made a flag cake! SO AWESOME!!!! (She even teased me that she asked her Mom if she thought it would make it on the blog! Oh YEAH!!! Look how awesome this thing is!! Way to go lady!) We had hamburger, hot dogs, all the fixings, fruit, veggies, chips & salsa, and all kinds of desserts. I LOVE food! YUMMMMY!

We're so lucky to have such great friends here in Fargo. Our Partay Guests for today included our neighbor- Andrew; the Hoffmans; the Larsens; the Ironroads; the Mausolfs & Jen's Dad; Rob Neuteboom (Jen's in Utah this week); the Parkers; the Potters; the Ransoms & their friend; the Roberts; the Tuckers, and the Seamons (hey we count! LOL!). Thanks everybody for coming! We just luv you!

Today was a Par-Tay to remember, for sure- at least for anyone that was in a swimsuit! The Potters let us borrow their blowup waterslide. It was such a blast! {Thanks guys! You're the greatest! You are always welcome to our grass anytime you'd like to use it! ;)}

We also had LOTS of other Waterfun! We had waterguns, a kiddie pool, the big pool/hot tub, the water table, the tramp, and the zipline. I LOVE that the weather has been good enough to enjoy some water! Yeah for Summer 2010!

After a little cleanup, a group of us headed for the Fairgrounds. Brett decided to bring over the GoKart for anyone who'd like to ride/drive it. We still get teased about calling it a "Go-Kart" but we bought it at Go-Kart USA so that's what it will always be to us! LOL! It's always fun to see grown men instantly become kids again. Another of Brett's toys that turned out perfect!

After a change of locations (gotta love fairground managers! ;) we had an awesome 2 hour firework show brought to you by the Larsen/Seamons Men! I wasn't sure they were ever gonna end! LOL! AND I think we still came home with stuff. Gotta love their enthusiasm, right? OR be very scared of their pyro-ism! Either way, it was very patriotic!

Lucky for us (Overstatement of the Year), our Firework Viewing Area must have been a mosquito nest because I'm sure we all left with hundreds of bites. OUCH!! We tried to smoke them out and probably just bought the makers of OFF Spray a new car but nothing worked for long! The kids had a blast though! They tailgated, took turns lighting off fireworks, swung sparkers near each others heads, tried to light the grass on fire, let off smoke bombs and ran around crazy until 11:00 PM. That's any kid's idea of an awesome 4th, right? It was a very long weekend, with lots of late nights. But you gotta love it! Thanks to all our friends who stuck it out to watch with us! I have Calamine Lotion people can borrow! LOL!

Happy 4th on the 5th Everybody!

and

Happy Birthday America!

Celebrating the 4th in Minnesota

We headed to Minnesota to celebrate the 4th tonight. MSUM is the ONLY place in the Fargo/Moorhead area that celebrates with fireworks. Well, with anything actually! That's so crazy!!!! Especially because where I come from there were fairs, parades & a firework show at almost every park in the valley.  (I think that they do big stuff at the "Lakes" here BUT I guess they don't think us non-lake people need anything to do. What thoughtfulness! LOL!)

We hadn't even made plans to go until the Ericksons said they were going and asked if we'd like to go. Hey- why not? Afterall, it IS our Holiday! ;)

Our family (Brett, me, Liberty, Jutsice, Victoria, Glory, Matt & Haylie :) all met up with the Ericksons for some line-standing, bouncy, visiting, cookie-eating, glow-stick frisbee, firework fun!

They had free Bouncy Blowup Toys for the kids. More line standing for the Seamons family. Oh joy!!! They did get to go on about 3 or 4 a piece so they were happy! We ran into the Britts from our ward and the kids got to jump with Hannah. She's so darling! We also got to visit with the Langers. She was Justice's kindergarten teacher. Such a darling family!  The little girls did the Mickey Mouse house. Glory was in heaven. Victoria was way brave and did the Double Trouble with the older two. Justice & Liberty did the Bungee Cord one. It was so funny! Then they all jumped with Hannah on the last one. Lots of fun!!!

After a LONG wait at the PortaPotty line (Again-yeah for us!), we settled in to wait for the show. Brett had made his yummy cookies earlier today and Justice brought some to share. I also brought glow bracelets for the kids. They turned them into frisbee circles and had a blast tossing them to each other. With the rain last night, the mosquitos TOTALLY enjoyed their 4th with a massive feeding opportunity. Gotta LOVE North Dakota's wildlife! Right around 10 o'clock, people started coming by the hundreds. It was crazy! But worth it!! The show was great! Victoria took her normal place on Haylie's lap. Glory ended up being scared of the noise so she covered her eyes. That's helpful!!! LOL! Our family are OOOO and AHHHH-ers which always add to the fun of the fireworks, I think! Baby Logan loved them and Landon joined our blanket half way through to lay with us. Too cute!! Lots of fun! We just LOVE the 4th!

Just in case, you missed them or were straining to see them out your bedroom window, I documented them for you! LOL! They are so beautiful! Enjoy!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

We partayed at the cars until almost midnight. LOL! Oh---- I mean we never got out of our parking space until almost midnight but hey- it's all perspective, right? We had a great time! Thanks to the Ironroads and the Ericksons for celebrating our freedom (and Fam Holiday) with us! Luv ya!

Happy 4th of July!

We are so blessed to enjoy the freedom of this country! Thank you to all who help make it that way! We can never be thankful enough. God Bless America!

Happy 4th of July!!