Still ALIVE.

So, the fourth is over for us, firework-wise. This year was slightly less exciting... Emil wasn't here, so that means no roman-candle-wars with him and Dad... The parents were more strict and precise with instructions this year...
But still, totally awesome.
I stayed inside with the adults while Kailey and the cousins (Some of them. Sarah, Michael, and little Josh, at least.) starting playing with the fireworks Dad and Alan bought. ((Can you BLAME me? Kailey with FIRECRACKERS? Or Josh, who burned Emil last year? Or Sarah and Micheal, who none of you know?))
So, anyway, they played with the poppers and smoke bombs and firecrackers and such until we went out there, when it started to get dark. Mom and I set up the blanket to sit on, and the other adults sat in the chairs in the space they had claimed. Well, actually, we watched as a roman candle went off, INSIDE one of those traffic cones, I might add. See, Nana lives on a hill a few blocks away from the big fireworks, so everybody wants to drive down that street, which doesn't actually GO to the park. So the neighbors set some cones up to discourage cars this year. :D And Sarah decided to put some fireworks inside of them. It was nifty looking.
Anyway, the bottom of the hill, right out in front of Nana's is the place where all the neighbors come and set up their chairs.... AND bring their fireworks. And let me tell ya, these guys don't go cheap on them. They were setting off some big ones, while Kailey and Sarah and Josh set off some artillery shells and such. Mama talked Kailey into shooting a roman candle at one of the street lights (long story. Josh turned one off last year with one.). The OTHER adults were yelling at them to stop (them being her, Sarah, and Josh. Josh was doing the actual shooting.) Josh came to sit with Mom and me then, so I figure his dad really wasn't happy. Kailey and Sarah continued shooting some off. The crowd across the street (maybe twenty-some-odd people) were yelling for them to hit the streetlight. And some point, Kailey yelled back, "Are you TRYING to get me in trouble?!" It was funny.
When it was about time for all the big ones to start, our blanket filled up. I was on one corner, with Kailey in front of me and Mom on my left. Sarah was on her side, Micheal was in front of her and Josh was in front of Mom. That's all the "kids" of the family. Including Mom. She's "young at heart".
Sarah, who I might add is normally quiet and such, was very loud. It was rather funny, actually. We were talking about all the stuff that's happened through the years, like the year the fireworks stopped for a long time before starting again. Sarah's decision was, and I quote, "Somebody probably caught on fire... And they had to wait until he stopped burning. State legislature, you know."
Then came the first picture-made-of-fireworks of the night. A swirl. In the DUMBEST possible voice, she announced, "It's a SWIRL!" And when we all laughed at her, she added, more quietly, "In case, you know, there are any blind people..."
Our blanket also started a group "ooh and ahh". It was pretty good. We grew bored, eventually. The kids across the street tried to copy us, but they were quieter after my dear cousin yelled "LOSERS!!" across the street.
Also, when we were looking at the shapes in the sky, she yelled out, "Do a PIRATE!!"
Kailey and Sarah were laughing about a cute little Mexican midget (also a long story. One I do not plan on explaining.) at some point...
I think Kailey was yelling FREEDOM!! when Mama said, "She sounds like she's drunk." Sarah replied, "She's drunk on AMERICA!!"
And, finally, after the finale, there was the healthy round of "Thank you New York!" and "Goodnight!"'s from the Blanket. There was also one, "NOW GET OFF OUR LAWNS!" from my cousin, and lots and lots of "AND PICK UP YOUR TRASH!!" from Kailey.
Hope you had a Happy Fourth, everyone, and congrats if you made it this far...
I love my family...