I love how Redlands celebrates the 4th. Very festive. The City goes all out with activities all day and long into the night. What a great family day!
Duane and his family came from across the dessert to celebrate with us. And from John's family, Laura, Rob and baby Harry came from Utah.
Our day started at our Ward Breakfast and patriotic program. I loved hearing from Brother Shaw. He fought in WWII. He was stationed in England with the Army working with the planes flying over to Normandy on D-Day. What a hero! I always get emotional watching the young scouts raise our flag. And this year what a treat to have our own ward's 4th of July band. Meagan played her flute. Next year John promises to be ready to play his trombone and Addie her violin.
Then on to Sylvan Park for the kiddie games. This year the children won four gold fish. Grandpa always loves to get the kids to play that game. He's such a sucker for gold fish. I was relieved to hear that he snuck them over to Gary's house and dumped them into his fish tank. It heated up quick at the park so we went swimming at Grandma & Grandpa's all afternoon while the men saved a place on the field at the stadium for the fireworks show. 
And what a show it was...First the skydivers came down. Then the fly over from a squad of some kind of planes - I can't remember. Then the next fly over was amazing. It was a huge cargo military plane. It flew slow and low right over our heads. It was so loud. I loved it when the announcer said, "listen for the sound of freedom." Peter was not impressed. He cried most of the night off and on. I should have left him with Grandma.
"Saturday in the Park. I think it was the 4th of July... " and other songs played in perfect sync to the fireworks. What a great show and reminder of the blessings and privilege to be American and to live in the land of the free and home of the brave.
