Celebrating Freedom with our boys

We celebrated the 4th with our two newest Citizens yesterday!

To say that I felt compelled to celebrate July 4th this year would be understating the situation.

After all, we have not one, but TWO new US Citizens in our family.

So, despite the fact that we are moving in...dare I say it...9 days!! (ugh) and despite the fact that we only started packing 2 days ago....

Well, it was important that we take the time and put forth the effort to take the family to some sort of Independence Day celebration.

So, after a morning of packing boxes and measuring rooms at the new house, we stopped working and switched gears.

Our "American" festivities began with an all American dinner--

HOT DOGS!

Then, we took the boys over to the Riverfront Park to join in on the festivities put on by the town of North Charleston.

The Rylands Family
July 4th, 2012

Optimus Prime was there!! Tommy was pumped!

Our FAVORITE!  Chef Bob came to join us!

Tommy and Cameron enjoying a pear on the lawn

We attempted to get there early to get a place to lay our blanket.  This was the first year that we have been to this particular venue, so we weren't sure what to expect.

There were LOTS of people, even early...

jump castles for the kids...

more people....

Ruben Studdard, from American Idol

and even Ruben Studdard, from American Idol. Sorry about the horrible picture, but needless to say, I wasn't able to get very close and I am certain I wouldn't have wanted to! (Ha!) There were mobs of fans.

Tom and I were comfortably stationed in our chairs, while...

the boys shared the large beach towel as they not so patiently waited for the big event!

Of course, MY chair was adorned with not one, but two, Off bug repellant fans which worked wonderfully!

(Tommy and I are especially tasty to mosquitos!)

As dusk came, they got more excited about seeing the fireworks.

Starting from around 8:00, we got the typical, "Mom, when do the fireworks start?" oh, about every 10 minutes....

Finally, there they were!

One of the local radio stations was giving out trinkets to the children and Cameron chose dog tags. (Try explaining that term to a child with limited English!)

On one side, it was an American flag,

on the other side, it said....

I think that about sums up the theme of the evening!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

God Bless America!