Fireworks Fun

This year for the 4th of July we were on our own.  Just our little family of four.  We had a handful of options as far as fairs and shows and all my kids really wanted to do was light our own fireworks at home.



After a little research we decided to go out to JBLM Freedom Fest as we have never been out there for the 4th and wanted to do something new.  We've been out there for their airshow and had tons of fun so we thought we'd give the 4th a try.

The kids were a bit reluctant and would rather just hang out.  I wasn't having any of that laziness.  We had the day off and we were going to take full advantage of our day and do something fun that we don't normally do.

After getting on base and checked out we got on the bus to take us to the location.  We were there so early they were just getting started.  I have to say it was a lot smaller
then I had expected.  We made the loop in probably one hour or less.  We ended up looping several times and even checking out their car show.

The highlight for Andrew was the sword fighting booth.  They did role playing and had a bunch of supplies to be a knight.  There were shields, spears, swords, and so on.  All of the items kid friendly and nothing to hurt of cause injury.  Andrew got in the designated area a few times to act out fighting with other kids.  He loved playing and probably could have been there for half the day.  Megan had no desire to even play.

Megan loved the rock climbing wall.  They had a free wall that you could climb.  After both kids got on their gear and got on the wall it was clear Megan was enjoying herself but Andrew not so much.  He only made it a few steps up and called it done.  He didn't like being up so high.  Megan made it all the way to the top and wanted to hit it up again later.

We debated if we should stay for the fireworks show or go home and do our own.  The main issue was the crowds of people and trying to leave.  We'd have to take a bus back to our car and then drive home.  Fireworks don't start till 10pm and it was barely lunch time.  We had seen everything and just didn't know what to do with ourselves for such a long period of time.

We ended up deciding we should head out.  It was just too long a wait with very little to do.  We also didn't want to get stuck in a crush of people when it was time to leave.  Both kids were fine with this plan as they had really seen and done everything they wanted to do.

We went out to a late lunch and had a nice time.  We ended up at home and waited for it to get dark.  We heard fireworks all around us as people got their own parties started.  We waiting till it wasn't too dark but on it's way and it was finally time for our own personal show.

My kids were just over the moon with happiness with the fireworks we had.  We started out in our driveway but later had to move.  Some of these things just shoot out some crazy sparks.  We didn't want to risk damage to cars or property.  We moved down to the mouth of the property where we had a ton of room and we went to town.

My kids LOVED it and would have been happy with this private show.  Who needs the big show in the sky when you can get up personal with your own stuff.  All in all we had fun just being together and doing our own thing.  Good times...