Backyard Sparkles

This 4th of July was...strange. The entire week was just did not eminate the excitement and anticipation of upcoming holiday carnival and festivities. Maybe it was because the week of was somewhat on the chilly side. A typical Iowa summer is hotter than blazes laden with enough humidity to hydrate the desert. 4th of July 2009 was the opposite of hot and humid. The parade was delayed about two hours due to a down pour. I think the high temp may have been about 57. I don't recall the sun really showing its shining face. It was just down right weird.

Before the kiddos went off to watch the fireworks, they lit up the backyard with some sparklers. Due to the dampness of the day's rain and drizzles, it took some effort to get the sparklers to light. But in the end, the kids lit up the back yard with their smiles, shrills, dances and sparklers.

Kelli and Austin showing off their sparkler-ing tae-kwon-do-ish moves


Nick and Austin lighting each others fires.

Karina followed Nick up and down the side walk
with her hands reaching for the sparklers. So close, yet so far away.

Since Karina could not have the pretty sparkly sparklers that she tried to mooch from her brothers and sisters, she resorted to her ingenious one-year problem solving abilities. She picked up the water noodles and attempted twirling them around like the others were twirling the sparklers. Very adorable.

When she got tired of that she found a ball and chased it around the yard.