The mosquitoes stayed away, low humidity, 75 degrees, friends, family, great food, drink, some background music, meeting new neighbors, plenty of laughter, a beautiful sunset, some fireworks in the street and a front row seat to the local display.  It couldn't have been a better day.  We started the celebration in the cities at my brother Andy's house.  His oldest son has a birthday on the 4th of July (his 2nd son's birthday is on New Years Eve).  I would love have a birthday on the "fourth".  It's my favorite holiday.  The weather is always favorable and everyone is in such a good mood.  It's the "New Years" of summer.  Not to mention my love for fireworks.  I love the smell of sulfur after the blasts.  Really!  It's weird but after the fireworks last night around eleven, there was this smog-like haze of sulfur hanging around.  It's a unique olfactory experience.  Call my crazy, I know. 

I love all those John Phillip Sousa marches they play around I.D. It's so patriotic yet corny.  It's just appropriate for this day.  So, when you put all this together you have one of the most sensoral events possible.  Every sense has it's little treat all day long.  This is what makes it so memorable to me. 

In the photo below are (L to R) Esta Cox-Freeland (grandma), the my dad Al, then Chad & Juley Jenkinson with their 3 kids Sebastian, Isabella and Boden.  Then my wife Lori, me, my mom Sonja, then Bill & Pat Jenkinson (Chad's parents).  Pat & Bill live in the cities.  I grew up in Iowa with the Jenkinsons before we all moved to Minnesota in the early 80's.  We moved up here August 15th 1981.  That will be 27 years in Minnesota this summer.  I'm 35. 

This is a video of 2 "Patriots" being lit at the same time.  Caution: Loud!