Music & Fireworks....Now that makes sense to me.

Does two years a tradition make?  I'm going to say yes.  We returned to Greenfield Village this year for their 'Salute to America.' It's this perfect package of good feeling, family fun, Americana, patriotism, goose bumps (well maybe not in 95 degree weather), and every single thing that should accompany a 4th of July celebration.

Greenfield Village houses hundreds of historic buildings that have all been re-located to this amazing piece of property right outside of Detroit.  Kids (and adults) can spend hours walking through them all, experiencing historical Halloweens in October, colonial baking in December, working farms, glass blowing workshops, perfect general stores, covered bridges, and just about everything else that speaks right to the history buff in me.  So many times in the decade that I taught 7th and 8th grade history in Grand Rapids I felt sad for the kids of my new city who didn't get to experience Greenfield Village on a regular basis like us Detroit natives got to.

Thousands of people make the trek into the historic village during 4th of July week with picnic blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, and strollers in tow until they reach a perfect picnic ground surrounded by historic buildings and homes like Noah Webster's house (my personal favorite), the Wright Brother's cycle shop, Thomas Edison's workroom, Robert Frost's home, one room school houses, quaint chapels, and I really could go on, but I won't.  The race to find the perfect picnic spot kind of reminds me of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in "Far & Away."

We found a great spot!

And really--the best way for me to relay our phenomenal night is just to show you............

Where there are kids there will be $5 light sticks.......and where there are kids and light sticks there will be 'swords.'

Georgia waves 'Old Glory' in an attempt to call a truce.

My friend Jill.....who I think is pretty amazing and who I wished I lived a lot closer to.

Is it possible to get a good picture of a three year old?  With a real smile?

Nope.  I guess not.

My Georgia peach.

Happy 4th of July shoes.

As it gets dark the Detroit Symphony Orchestra begins to play and when the canons go off you know the fire-works are about to begin.........

and when your three year old shouts into the night during a lull in the fireworks, "Music and fireworks....now that makes sense to me!," you know you've pretty much just had the perfect night.  

Hope you have a great 4th of July.  Celebrate the freedom that you've been given.  We are lucky everyday that we live in America.  Keep the principles of our founding fathers close to your hearts and remember that we live in an amazing nation.  We truly do.  

I'll see you later on this week.............

And I'll keep trying to get a picture of Georgia where she's not............walking away in an attempt to escape the soul-stealing camera.