Fourth of July-- Links for Food and FUN!!!

   Its no secret that here at the Welcoming House we love food and lots of fun! Parties are right up our alley, and having a huge one that includes the celebration of fireworks and a parade all wrapped into one, is our kind of holiday!

   Being a huge history buff, to the point of leaving my husband (and a few friends) asleep on the couch after sobbing and begging me to stop going on and on about the past, I have found this holiday to be one of my very favorites. We have a few traditions around here, including making sure we attend the two things above, but a few others that I would love to share with you.

   Originally, our Independence Day WOULD have been July 2nd, and if John Adams had his way, it would have been ordered that everyone celebrate the day with games, parades, guns going off in salute, and plenty of fireworks. One of the things that was originally a tradition in our country is that at the start of each Independence Day celebration, the town would gather around, including men, women, and children, to hear the Declaration of Independence read from a podium by whomever was chosen to read it. It was a solemn, thrilling moment, as those generations of Americans would stand together and hear the words penned by three men, and ratified by 56 declaring that we were a new nation, and not answerable to anyone.


    So of course, here in the Estey family, we follow that tradition. We also sing the Star Spangled banner, and make sure everyone is decked out in red white and blue, as well as has a flag to wave during the parade. We are a rather patriotic family, and thankful daily for the many freedoms we enjoy in our country while many others will never know anything like it.

   It saddens me that many young children can no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance, or when asked, even tell you much of American history. I have been known to grill piano kids on what they are learning, and then, when their lesson is done, to walk over to my notebook and write a note reminding myself to make SURE that we cover this or that during our schooling time. I am a firm believer that the best way to keep history from repeating itself is by KNOWING it, so we cover a lot of great history in our home school.
    I wanted to share with you some of the great ideas for celebrating I came across in pulling things together for this post. I would also encourage you, in the midst of the food and the fun, go over the Declaration of Independence with your family or significant other tomorrow as you prepare to join family and friends in celebration. Remind yourself of the many sacrifices made so we can fly the Stars and Stripes, speak freely, worship as we choose, vote for those we elect.
   Our great nation has taken some serious knocks in the last couple years, and it is up to us to remember where we have been, and pay attention to where we dont want to go. I hope that you will enjoy this holiday and get a lot of wonderful ideas from these great links!

Many Blessings to you and yours,

Heather

 FOOD:

 http://blushprintables.blogspot.com/2012/05/pretty-little-things-fun-food-for.html?referrer=LuxeFinds.com

http://www.skinnytaste.com/  (cookies with independence day sprinkles)

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/06/35-fun-july-4th-recipes.html

And FUN:

http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2012/06/five-fun-ideas-for-4th-of-july.html

http://crafts.slides.kaboose.com/297-quick-and-easy-fourth-of-july-crafts

http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/holidays/4th-of-july/10-fun-fourth-of-july-ideas/