After a long day of parade watching and dinner at my parents house, Tara & I headed off to Fenton with Tyler, Samantha, Drew, and Jayden to stake out a spot to watch the Freedom Festival Fireworks. Thad & Melissa, along with their kids Hannah, Taren, and Tevin, were right behind us. We settled down in front of an empty bank building (in the same spot we had last year) and set up our tent and chairs. The kids were begging from the get-go to do sparklers and those "Pop-It" noise makers, but we somehow managed to hold them off for a while.

    The next of our party to arrive was Beth with her children Adam and Jessica (and another daughter whose name escapes me that I met for the first time tonight). Beth brought popsicles for all of the kids to enjoy, and once they were gone it was time for the noise makers. Despite our attempts to get them to not throw them at each other, Tyler managed to learn why they were called noise makers when he took one in the ear. He was genuinely concerned that he may have lost hearing in one ear, but neither Tara or I had any sympathy for him. When it gradually started to come back he was extremely relieved.

    We had two more additions to the party at this time. First to arrive was my Dad & Mom, along with Uncle Steve. Next was Dwayne & Erica with Donovan and Marissa. With everyone here it was time to break out the sparklers - including the extra long ones that Tara found at a fireworks stand! The kids had a blast with all of the sparklers, and nobody even got burnt! I'd call that a success!

    Finally it was time for the show to begin. We settled into our chairs and on blankets in the grass to watch the fireworks show unfold in front of us. I think most of those who attended the Groveland show with us deemed that one to be the better experience, although this was enjoyable too. Of course getting out of the parking lot after the show ended proved to be difficult, despite us not actually parking in the bank parking lot this year. Aside from that snafu, it was a great evening with good friends.

    I still want to just arrive a little earlier next year and cook out... bring a grill, some dogs and burgers, and make a tailgate event out of it!

Fenton Freedom Festival Fireworks
	Tyler and Taren getting ready to throw some "Pop-Its" at the ground - and each other.
	Tevin, Samantha, Tyler, and Taren playing with the "Pop-Its".
	Add a goat to the list of pets that people take out on a leash in public...
	Some of the group socializing while others enjoy a nice cold popsicle.
	Beth, Terry, Gary, Steve, and Melissa talking along the sidewalk.
	Thad and Tara watching the kids play.
	Jayden and Hannah just finished a rousing karate match with each other.
	A photo of the kids. Starting with the front row: Drew, Tevin, Adam, Jayden, and Jessica. Middle row: Noah, Taren, Samantha, Marissa, and Donovan. Back row: Hannah and Tyler.
	A closer look at the kids posing for a photo together.
	What group shot of kids would be complete without a silly photo?
	The kids lined up while waiting for their long sparklers to be lit, starting with Jessica, Jayden, Adam, Tevin, Drew, Marissa, Donovan, Samantha, Taren, Tyler, and Hannah.
	The kids with their lit sparklers.
	Donovan watching his sparkler go.
	More of the kids playing with their sparklers.
	Drew was attempting to recreate his famous "D" photo from a couple years ago.
	Taren waving his sparkler around.
	Sam waving her sparkler back and forth.
	Tyler moving two sparklers back and forth.
	Jay making little circles with her sparkler.
	Hannah waving her sparklers around as the other kids play in the background.
Please click here for page two of the photos