Red, White & You

I come from a family steeped in tradition.
(cue "Fiddler on the Roof" song here....)
We have traditions associated with almost every holiday. And Independence Day is certainly no exception.

Every year, we go to my hometown for the fireworks show. The best part is that we don't go to a stadium to watch them. My aunt's home is just outside the stadium. So we go there. We have a barbeque. We usually do some sort of crazy activity. And then, when dusk arrives...we head across the ditch in her backyard.

We set up chairs and blankets. We have treats and snacks. And then we snake the bright orange extension cord from the house and plug in a ghetto-blaster.
(that's right. I said ghetto-blaster. It's that old.)
Then we tune in the local radio station for the simulcast.
It almost always includes some dorky commentary. A bad rendition of the National Anthem. And some Neil Diamond. (which is a requirement for a happy holiday, in my book)

It makes me smile just thinking about it.

Once, in college, I couldn't come home for the fireworks. I remember calling my aunts house from a pay phone in the parking lot. I sat on the curb, listened to people laughing, and cried.

That was a bad year.

But this year, come rain or shine, we're heading to the festivities. And we're sporting some really awesome duds. I think patriotic attire is a must.

For my little sweetie girl, I made an awesome tank. I found the initial inspiration HERE. But I tweeked it a little. I made the back come up quite a bit higher. And I have actual straps, instead of a halter. And I made a little matching flower clip. This is my first attempt at sewing clothes without an actual pattern. And I feel rather proud of the outcome. (check out that cream material...it has the pledge of allegiance written on it. SWEET!)

Little mister's shirt is a simple white T. I made a little graphic in Photoshop and just printed it out on ink-jet transfer paper. The front has an awesome firework and says "Oh, snap!" and then we put an awesome "blow it up" across the back. We also put his name on the right sleeve. All kids love having their name on their clothes.

If you're interested in the graphic from his shirt, just e-mail me. I'm certainly not opposed to sharing!

I hope that you are getting ready to do all your traditions.
(I can hear Tevye now....)
And if you don't really have any....start some. They have to start somewhere!

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