4th of July is a favorite holiday in our house for so many reasons...
First and most importantly, we have many family members and close friends who have served in the military, protecting our freedom, and we feel it's very important to recognize that. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have their family members return from war, and we want our kids to realize the cost of freedom that some people have paid is very high. We feel it's very important for our children to understand that 4th of July is not just about cookouts and fireworks.
If you'd like to join us in explaining the importance of this holiday to your children, here are some great links:
- Grandparents.com does an excellent job of hitting up all the historic elements of this holiday.
- KidsKonnect.com helps by putting things into language that kids can clearly understand.
- Parents.com takes a little bit of a different angle by teaching children why America is so great and why we love our country.
- EnchantedLearning offers a free printable activity book along with lots of other simple 4th of July crafts for all ages.
So if you're hosting a get together this 4th, or want to bring a dish to a party you're attending, here are some very easy dishes with lots of patriotic flair:
Simply Kierste knocks it out of the park with these adorable fruit trifles served with lemon cream sauce.
I love the idea of serving this flag-inspired taco-dip as an appetizer with a bucket of cold beer or a big pitcher of fruit-infused iced tea.
A very easy and refreshing side dish would be this blueberry, strawberry & watermelon fruit salad. Add feta cheese for more of a "red, white and blue" theme.
There are tons of 4th of July-themed ice cream desserts if you search Pinterest, but they all look a bit complicated if you ask me. I like this idea... just take store-bought ice cream sandwiches and let them sit on the counter for a few minutes until the ice cream is softened, then dip each side into a shallow dish of red, white & blue sprinkles. Stick em back into the freezer until dessert time, and Voila!
Of course there are a gazillion adorable decor and craft ideas for the 4th, but these caught my eye this year...
Whenever we break out the sparklers for the kids, they burn through them at a rate of about 2 per minute. I love this idea of opening up all the boxes and setting them out so that the kids can run back and grab another one while you just have to sit in a chair with a lighter ready to assist them.
How cute is this DIY Sparkler Station from My Sweet Savannah?
I've seen this idea floating around Pinterest and Instagram for a while now and I think I'm going to have to make it next year. It would be adorable on a 4th of July buffet table.
If you've never made tissue paper "poufs" before, please give it a try. It's SO easy, I promise! I've made them several times for different parties and even though they're a cinch to make, they add a huge statement to party decor. Here's a good photo tutorial, but there are tons of how-to videos on YouTube as well.
Last but not least, if you are looking for a cute hostess gift (beyond a bouquet of white flowers tied with a beautiful red, white & blue wired ribbon), these confetti wine glasses are an adorable idea!
The full step-by-step instructions are available here, but really it's just a regular wine glass (I would recommend non-breakable if you can find them) covered in dots painted with acrylic paint using a Q-tip. How easy is that?
Whatever you're doing this 4th of July, I hope you stay safe and celebrate our country's freedom surrounded by family & friends. A special thank you to all of the Veterans and current military personnel out there. We are free because of the brave. Thank you.
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