Sharing in Papa's Passion

Bet you didn't know that April is when all the big fireworks distributors start showing off their latests and greatest in pyrotechnics gearing up for the busy summer season of ballgames, and city Independence Day celebrations? Tonight was one of the many shooter schools and catalog demonstrations happening this month in KS and MO. Despite a busy day ... starting with me leaving for Women's Conference in the wee hours of the morning while GR fed, clothed and packed a car for three morning soccer games, then spending a hour and a half at the school carnival that afternoon once I got home from WC, we decided to live life dangerously, armed ourselves with well rested children, McDonald's for dinner, jackets and a good size blanket, and venture out about an hour from home to the middle of nowhere Kansas to meet up with GR's fireworks buddies and watch the demo.



For GR it was exciting to watch huge fireworks ... 2.5", 4", 6", 8", 10" (that's the diameter of the individual shell) and rank them with the children. Rebecca and Dim rated the cakes and decided that there are some really boring cakes out there! And I loved listening to the announcer as he read off the name of each shell before it exploded in the air. Finally learning the names of the fireworks I love ... like Peony, Chrysanthemum and Willow. Sam announced the he really likes Willows and Falling Leaves, and like his mother, loves the ones that whistle! (if you follow the link connected to cake you can read the definition of each of those names if you want to know what they are an sound super knowledge able at your next fireworks show.

ETA: We didn't leave the show until 10pm (the boys crashed well before that with me in the car), and it did make for a very, very, predictable church experience for the boys, which GR and I were prepared for (although looking back, maybe we should have warned the rest of the congregation?), but everyone had a great time and we are always in need of more quality family time and this fit the bill perfectly!