Sparklers!

Independence Day was spent here at home, with my folks and their kids who visited, and Dad helping us with one of my hair-brained projects (is it 'hare' - brained?).  Hubby spent a whopping $15 or so and got a small package of something loud, and a lot of sparklers.  After roasting hot dogs and making s'mores with homemade graham crackers (oh. my. goodness.  I'll never use store-bought ones again.), Hubby busted out his purchases.  With five kids on-site (not counting Baby who is yet a bit young for such activities), he turned on a torch (butane? propane? oxy-acetylene?  I know not which.) and lit sparklers, one after the other, handing them off to eager hands in constant rotation.  We tried to keep the kids out of the dry grass, and from running into each other with flaming hot wire spears.  We mostly succeeded in both areas.

I got out my camera and tried some slow shutter speeds, and caught some interesting photos.

The kids couldn't believe things looked so different on the camera!

Honey, you can wave it around a bit, dance or something..

Hubby tried a few tricks:

Nice expression, dear...

Here the kids are dancing about the backyard.  I love the sky.

You can't see the kids.. I'm not even sure just how many are represented there!  They had great fun, and only one collision-resulting-in-minor-burn incident among them.  :)