The Excitement of the Fireworks When You're 4 Years Old

  My earliest memories of going to the Fourth of July fireworks is when I was about three years old.  The memory is really foggy, but I remember that finding a place to park was difficult, we had to wait FOREVER (I was a very impatient child), and I spent the entire time worrying that the doll I brought was going to fall into the river.  I knew that it was something fun and special, but I was just so confused about the whole thing.

  

   GD had a very different first impression of the fireworks.  

   We are able to watch the fireworks from the parking lot at the factory where G works. The view is great, there's plenty of parking, restrooms available, and the traffic flows smoothly. But GD's favorite part is the free hot dogs and drinks that are provided.

   GD had two hot dogs and so much fun at the fireworks last year that he has been looking forward to go this year for months.  He started asking how much longer until the fireworks in March and played "going to the fireworks" with his toy trucks.  I even had to cut some fabric squares so each truck could have a blanket.  

  This weekend the big night finally came. His excitement was contagious and he and his little brother were running out the door 15 minutes before we had planned to leave. 

   Because we left early we had to wait awhile for the fireworks to start. But that's ok because it gave the boys time to eat their snacks, run around like crazy, and be entertained by the sparklers and smoke bombs the teenagers next to us were using. The older kids even shared some Pop-Its with the boys. 

   GD was so proud to be taking his little brother to his first fireworks experience. When the fireworks started, GD explained to GE what was going on and that the noise was just the fireworks. 

    Both boys were thoroughly impressed with the fireworks. I was concerned that GD would be disappointed since he had built up the event so much over the past 4 months. 

   I asked him,"Was it as exciting as you imagined?"

   "No," he answered, "It was exciting-er!"