Loading ...Independence Day in the U.S. is an annual holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Inpendence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of U.S. independence and is celebrated in all states and territories of the U.S.
The holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until 1941. The Fourth is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades and pageants, patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks; early in the 20th century public concern for a “safe and sane” holiday resulted in restrictions on general use of fireworks. Family picnics and outings are a feature of private Fourth of July celebrations.
What are your plans for the 4th of July? What is your most patriotic holiday? How do you celebrate? Let us know how you felt to be a true American on this most wonderful holiday in the USA!
Happy Independence to all of you! I hope it’s a firecracker of a good time!!
Summertime is in full swing and I hope that you have all found some great activities in your area to keep the kids entertained! Please be sure to always have sunscreen on the children and carry extra bottles of water for those longer outdoor playtimes!
This weekend Americans celebrate Independence Day. Think of it as America’s birthday. We celebrate our country’s birthday in a variety of ways. Some of us head to the campground for a weekend with the family; some join with neighbors for picnics and pool time; some spend the day with friends and family, swimming and boating at the lake. However we may spend the day of the 4th of July, I can promise that most of us will end the day with fireworks! Whether you head out to watch a fireworks show or just stay home and create your own displays, I hope that you enjoy this fun and VERY American holiday! Let us know how you plan to celebrate America’s birthday with your host family this year.
Please join me at my house on Friday, July 10th from 6:30pm -10:00pm for our 4th annual Au Pair appreciation night. Thank you all for your dedication to the Michigan AuPairCare region. I truly appreciate your hard work to the Au Pair program.
The Cost is $0 to you!! Light snacks and Beverages will be provided. Please bring your own lawn chair to sit around the bonfire. Since my backyard is located on the Clinton River, the grass can be a bit soft. It is best to wear flat shoes. High heels will sink into the grass.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST S’MORE!
Making S’mores is not difficult. In fact, it is probably the easiest recipe to make next to boiling water. There is no “right” way to make a s’more. Anyway you like it, is the right way. This recipe is one passed down through years of family and scout camps.
#1. Start your campfire. There is no true camp way of making s’mores anywhere else but over a campfire. With family and friends gathered around the campfire, there is no better way to start an evening. In order to properly enjoy your s’more, consider having stories ready to tell. Heroic stories, ghost stories, and funny stories are always enjoyed, but it is best to tailor them to your audience.
*Assemble the ingredients*
*1 square - Hershey’s mile chocolate bar.
*2 squares - graham crackers
*1 - Marshmallows(big size)
#2. Heat your marshmallow over the fire. A traditional would suggest using a stick that has had the bark whittled away. A long roasting fork will also do the trick. There are two main variations on heating the marshmallow.
*Variation#1 - place the marshmallow in the flames and allow to ignite. Quickly blow out the ignited marshmallow and move on to step 4.
*Variation#2 - Gently brown the marshmallow near the fire until it becomes very soft. As you might imagine, warmed marshmallows are wonderful solo.
#3. Assemble the S’more. Layer the ingredients as follows, from bottom to top layer: graham cracker, Hershey’s mile chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker.
#4. EAT!
#5. Repeat…Continue until you are filled!!
Although some of the marshmallows will end up in the fire AND some of the S’mores are going to end up on you, it’s all in good fun!!
Can’t wait to see you all on the 10th of July!!
Jeannine
Summer must be here! Its already the 4th of July!
This weekend is the Fourth of July - America’s Independence Day! A day for sun and fun, picnics, parades, and of course FIREWORKS!! Typically, Americans get together and cook-out and watch fireworks. Let me know what you do and if you have any holidays in your home country where you celebrate with fireworks!
Join the party at one of these local events:
Red, White and BOOM
Cape Coral Pkwy, Cape Coral
(239) 549-6900
http://www.capecoralchamber.com/chamber/events.asp
Independence Day Festival
Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers
http://www.centennialpark.com/events/fjuly.html
Fourth of July on the Beach
Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier & Times Square, Ft. Myers Beach
(239) 454-7500
Independence Day Parade and Fireworks
Periwinkle Way and Sanibel Causeway, Sanibel Island
(239) 472-1080
Star-Spangled BONITA Fourth of July Celebration, Bonita Springs: This 51st annual parade moves along Old 41 Road starting at 9 a.m. and ending at Riverside Park. The city throws its Party in the Park following the parade, with food vendors, live entertainment, a kids’ water slide, face-painting, relay races, a pie-baking contest and a hot dog-eating competition
NAPLES: Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza - DowntownFireworks start at 9 p.m. from Naples Pier
Parade from 10-Noon in Downtown Naples
NAPLES: Sugden Regional Park
Fireworks begin around 9:15 p.m.
Games entertainment begins at 3 p.m.
Hosted by the Naples Jaycees
MARCO ISLAND:
Fireworks begin around 9 p.m. - located west of Seafarer Condos
Hi all! Hope you’re enjoying the sun and fun in Maryland. We’re so close to the beach and the water that this is a GREAT place to be this time of year! 
This weekend is the Fourth of July - America’s Independence Day! A day for sun and fun, picnics, parades, and of course FIREWORKS!!
Join the party at one of these local events:
CELEBRATE IN WASHINGTON, DC
The National Independence Day Parade steps out at noon along Constitution Avenue. Special events also take place at the National Archives, Washington National Cathedral and other places around the city. In the evening, watch a live concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the Capitol, followed by the spectacular fireworks display on the National Mall. Go to july4thparade.com and washington.org (Events Calendar) for more.
… IN ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis kicks off its celebration with a downtown parade at 6 p.m. followed by a free concert by the US Naval Academy Band. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. 101 Dock St
… AND AT BALTIMORE’S INNER HARBOR
This year’s Fourth of July celebration at the Inner Harbor includes doo-wop performances, patriotic music and the annual fireworks display. Festivities begin at 3 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30. E Pratt St & Light St, Baltimore
Summer is in full swing now. Please remember to keep yourself and the kids protected. Lot’s of water, sunscreen, helmets and fun!
I want to Thank the au pair’s that attended our cluster activity at Madame Tussands, we had so much fun!! Also a big Thank you to the au pair’s that attended the Summit, New Jersey Tot Trot. I heard it was a big success! Be safe this 4th of July celebration.
Hope to see you all on July 12th, Six Flags Adventure!
Hi Girls, Happy 4th of July! I hope you all have a lot of fun celebrating our Nation’s Birthday. Let me know what you all do. Typically, Americans get together and cook-out and watch fireworks. In Columbia, many families go to the pool or to the lake and then watch the fireworks at Fort Jackson. Some families go to the beach. I’m going to try something new this year. I am going to the 51st Lexington County Peach Festival in Gilbert, SC on the 4th of July. It starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes to 10 p.m. at night ending with fireworks. I’m going to the Peach Parade in the morning. 100,000 people attend this event. If you want to go with me, just give me a call. Whatever you do for the 4th of July. Have Fun!
Okay Au Pairs, the 4th of July is nearly upon us! In Palm Beach County, that means it’s time to to go watch things explode in the sky… and impressing your friends and families in your home countries with the fireworks is a must!
Taking some great fireworks pictures is not actually all that easy. So, here are some great fireworks pic-taking tips that may help!
Please don’t forget to charge those batteries and clear out some space on your memory card first!
4th of July Fireworks Tips
Skip the Flash
You’re shooting at night or dusk, and unless you change it, your camera’s auto-flash setting will want to go off with every shutter press. So, find out how to turn it off before you get started because that T flash will work against you by slowing down your camera, causing you to miss shots.
Tripods Are Your Friend, plus they make you look like a real Pro.
Low-light photography means keeping things as still as possible during the shot. A tripod will help immensely here. If you’re comfortable with manual settings, change the aperture to f/8 or f/16 and use ISO 100, which pros say are the best settings for fireworks.
Rapid-Fire Mode can secure a hidden treasure
Most cameras have a speed mode that lets you take anywhere from 5-15 pictures within seconds! 5, Give it a try when you know the big fanile is coming up. You never know what you’ll catch.
Think outside of the box, Vary Your Angles
More interesting shots often include the environment — the crowd, surrounding buildings or landscape, clouds, au pairs & host families…anything else nearby. Consider getting a seat further away than you might ordinarily try for so you have this option. At the same time, ultra-close zoom shots of fireworks can yield very interesting and unusual results.
Get Creative
Have some fun with your shots. That means capturing reflections of explosions in bodies of water, mirrors, and glass windows (consider the windshield of your car), and grabbing shots of audience members, including the faces of the kids seeing fireworks for the first time.
Get to it girls! Bring home some fabulous shots of the most colorful fireworks displays to hit the sky in Palm Beach County, Florida. Be sure to eat a hot dog too!
Summertime is in full swing and I hope that you have all found some great activities in your area to keep the kids entertained! Please be sure to always have sunscreen on the children and carry extra bottles of water for those longer outdoor playtimes!
This weekend Americans celebrate Independence Day. Think of it as America ’s birthday. We celebrate our country’s birthday in a variety of ways. Some of us head to the campground for a weekend with the family; some join with neighbors for picnics and pool time; some spend the day with friends and family, swimming and boating at the lake. However we may spend the day of the 4th of July, I can promise that most of us will end the day with fireworks! Whether you head out to watch a fireworks show or just stay home and create your own displays, I hope that you enjoy this fun and VERY American holiday! Let us know how you plan to celebrate America ’s birthday with your host family this year.
