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How To Have A Cheap 4th  

post #1 of 16
6/29/06 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Both Dh and I have a 4 day weekend coming up. Which is great except this is always when we seem to spend a lot of money. DD is 8 months so really not into watching fireworks and honestly I could skip a year. Any other ideas? Whats on everyone elses agenda? Thinking of trying to stay home most of the days and do scrapbooking. I really would love to paint something. Just in a painting mood but again its not a priority. Any ideas?
post #2 of 16
6/29/06 at 12:59pm
Is there anyplace nice to go have a picinic? Maybe not on the actual 4th of July because most places will be crowded, but perhaps you could make a homemade lunch, bring a big blanket, some toys for your baby, and sit and have a picinic in a nice park if the weather is good. If you have an easel, maybe you could bring your painting supplies with you and paint while you all hang out at the park.
post #3 of 16
6/29/06 at 1:40pm
This weekend we'll be doing some hiking and bringing a picnic lunch.

Last year on the 4th, we went to the parade, then came home and cooled off by playing on the slip 'n slide and running through the sprinkler. DH took the kids who were awake to watch the fireworks. We'll probably do something similar this year.
post #4 of 16
6/29/06 at 2:33pm
ditto on the picnic idea...

we are planning on camping at the inlaws river lot and going into town for the parade
post #5 of 16
6/29/06 at 4:29pm
We'll probably have a picnic and light some cheapo sparklers in the front yard.
post #6 of 16
6/29/06 at 5:48pm
We do the same thing every year - go down on the 3rd to the country fair in town, which is free to attend, but of course is all booths and things that cost money, but the food is cheap and it supports local nonprofit groups. Then on the 4th we run the road race and watch the parade (if we feel like it, we've skipped this for the past few years, though DD is getting old enough I think we may do it again) then we head to my grandmother's for a cookout and family whiffle ball game.
post #7 of 16
6/29/06 at 5:55pm
We always go to the parade in town (bring snacks from home) and watch the fireworks - free entertainment.
post #8 of 16
6/29/06 at 6:01pm
i thought you meant how to have a 4th child cheaply! lol!
post #9 of 16
6/29/06 at 6:13pm
We go to the parade in town and then go tailgate in a parking lot across the street from where 3 different towns pool together their resources and shoot off fireworks. We've been doing it for 10 years - taking off the year after ds1 was born because he hated his carseat w/a passion. Let me tell ya - seeing fireworks on tv just isn't the same.
post #10 of 16
7/1/06 at 11:59pm
Rethink the firworks idea!

Pack a picnic dinner! BBQ some chicken of rdinner the night before, shred it up, spread a tortilla with bbq sauce, add lots of shredded lettuse and some chicken, finely sliced red onion goes great too. Roll it up and slice on teh diagonal. This tastes incredible!

Make some potato salad, some cole slaw. Get a big ole blanket and snuggle up outside, with the babe. Free fireworks are hard to beat, and you can go somewhere new.

How about a cookout at the beach? Or in your yard? Invite a freind or two to a potluck BBQ. Go to a farmers market, or walk a nature trail.
post #11 of 16
7/2/06 at 2:07am
our local park is having a firework show and free music!
post #12 of 16
7/2/06 at 2:11am
We are taking the kids to a fireworks show that is free. We are not allowed to take food inside so we'll just eat at home first.
post #13 of 16
7/2/06 at 2:27am
Fireworks here don't start until 10pm and dh can rarely stay up that late. And, we hate to travel anywhere on this holiday. Seattle traffic is bad on a good day; it sucks on holidays. So, we just have a picnic at home and try to eat July 4th food that we don't normally eat - hot dogs and watermelon and popsicles. Dd and I may stay up late to watch the fireworks on tv.

Honestly, I actually do not like this holiday. Every year, some people in the neighborhood by the illegal fireworks and head to the school play lot two blocks from us and light up fireworks all night long, usually until about 2 or 3am. It is really no fun for us trying to sleep.
post #14 of 16
7/2/06 at 9:45am
We went swimming yesterday (we have a pool pass), are thinking of taking the kids to the free drive-in about 40 miles from here tonight (it's church-run, and they show older family friendly movies, but...it's free!), and on Tuesday we're having a 'hobo dinner' at my mom's and then going to the free fireworks display in her town. I would rethink the fireworks too...my babes have always loved it (or slept through it, and I love them so...)
post #15 of 16
7/3/06 at 3:28am
Get together with friends and have a BBQ potluck? Shouldn't cost you more then $20 if you hit the sales that are going on in the grocery stores this weekend. We never do anything for the 4th but watch the fireworks from the porch because I don't wanna deal with the horrible traffic when the show is over and you can see the show from pretty much any where in town so lots of places to park outside of where they actually hold the show.
post #16 of 16
7/3/06 at 5:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aisraeltax
i thought you meant how to have a 4th child cheaply! lol!
So did I
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