Most people who have known me for any length of time know that Independence Day is my favorite holiday… I mean, I love Christmas, obviously, and Easter is perhaps the most religiously significant, but let’s get real: on July 4th, I can legally set stuff on fire and blow it up.

One of the most satisfying things in my life is being able to share things that excite me with those I love, and I can’t really think of anything that makes me happier than sharing this particular tradition with my kiddos. Jack, at 10 years old, is in the full swing of things– he’s finding stuff to cram with firecrackers and completely obliterate, lighting his own artillery, shooting his own bottle rockets… I’m a proud papa. And Dorothy, from her very first Independence Day (she was 2.5 months old) has LOVED the noise and colors of it all. But this year, we (I) set out to officially indoctrinate her into the greatness that is fireworks.

I think Dot’s favorite firecracker this year was actually this ridiculously good pink smoke bomb that sent off like 40 seconds of bright pink smoke… Jack, of course, had an immediate use for it!

Sometimes, the firecrackers are too loud for the girls!

When you take an ice cream break, it’s good to spend a little “girl time” under the dining room table. Or so I’ve heard.

What you can’t see from the pictures below, is how Dottie “helped” me light around 25 artillery shells last night… Totally amazing!

I hope you guys have something you love this much to share with your favorite people. These are memories I’ll never forget!