Sparklers!

Here are some photos from July 4th...of last year!...about which I never blogged....

They capture T's first experience with sparklers!

He had such fun!!

Here he is, posing as the Statue of Liberty...his idea!

Happy Independence Day!  Have a fun and safe day.  :)

5

The second letterbox we searched for was "5."  It was planted in Five Forks...

by a letterboxer who has lived in South Carolina for five years.

watching Mama look for the letterbox

stamping the find

Palmetto Pastime

I cleaned out and straightened up my letterboxing "kit" a couple of weeks ago, which made me want to go letterboxing!  (I didn't realize it had been more than a year since my last find.)

Today being Independence Day, my husband had a holiday from work.  We took the opportunity to go letterboxing!  We looked for two letterboxes and found both of them.  That doesn't always happen!  :P

The first letterbox we searched for was "Palmetto Pastime," planted by a letterboxer who lives in California.  He planted it on a cross-country road trip!

Fireworks on the Fourth

...more like on the ninth, actually.  My plan was to make this meal for T's lunch on Independence Day...but, it didn't happen.  :/

• firecracker-shaped sandwiches (with licorice for the wicks and star-shaped marshmallows for the "sparkles")
• "pop"corn (with firecracker rocket picks)
• "JULY 4" (written with food-safe markers) star-shaped marshmallows
• Mott's Mixed Berry Applesauce
• cranberry juice

The "fireworks" on the right is a pick, placed in the hole of the muffin tin.

Did you know...?

• The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th century China, where they were invented.
• China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world.
• The Walt Disney Company is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States.

source:  wikipedia.org

Linked to:
   Bent On Better Lunches
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Fun and Festive on the Fourth

For supper tonight, I served T's meal in a muffin tin.  Muffin tin meals are great for picky eaters; however, there was no need to coax T to eat since we were having one of his favorite meals:  meatloaf and mashed potatoes!  :)  For fun...and to be festive...is why I put T's meal in a muffin tin on the fourth of July!!

• meatloaf in a biscuit (like a little all-American hamburger!)
• mashed potatoes
• baked beans
• Mott's Mixed Berry Applesauce

Happy 4th of July!!

Linked to:
   Another Lunch
   Bent On Better Lunches
   Bento Blog Network

Hooray...for the U.S.A.!

...an Independence Day lunch.

For lunch today, T ate the following:

• U.S.A.-shaped sandwich
• Snyder's Patriot Pretzels
• vanilla yogurt with raspberries and blueberries
• Newman's Own Alphabet Cookies (U, S, A) with mini m&m's in between
• milk with Hershey's Strawberry Syrup

The Uncle Sam hat is a ring, and the stars USA is a pick.

My inspiration for T's red (more like pink, actually) milk came from kewkew at Tots and Me.  Earlier this week, she tinted her children's milk blue.  Although, I have to say that when T saw his milk, he said "Pink. Yuck."  (He doesn't particularly like anything out of the ordinary.)

Did you know...?

"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938.*

          ♪♫  God Bless America  ♫♪

             God bless America,
             Land that I love.
             Stand beside her, and guide her
             Through the night with a light from above.
             From the mountains, to the prairies,
             To the oceans, white with foam,
             God bless America, my home sweet home.
             God bless America, my home sweet home.

*source:
   wikipedia.org

Linked to:
   Another Lunch
   Bent On Better Lunches
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Red, White, and Blue

...an Independence Day lunch.

For lunch today, T ate the following...

• star-shaped sandwich on white bread with blue edible glitter
• white popcorn in red, white, and blue muffin tin liners
• applesauce with red, white, and blue star sprinkles
• white milk in a red cup

...all served on a red Solo plate on white and blue placemats.

Did you notice the star stickers on T's white napkin?  ;o)

Did you know...?

The official national colors of the United States are red, white, and blue.

The exact red, white, and blue colors to be used in the national flag of the United States of America are White, Old Glory Red, and Old Glory Blue...as specified with reference to the CAUS Standard Color Reference of America (10th edition).*

Although the colors did not have a specified meaning at the time the American flag was adopted, they did for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782.**

          Red is a symbol of valor and bravery.
          White symbolizes purity and innocence.
          Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

*source:
   wikipedia.org

**source:
   statesymbolsusa.org

Linked to:
   Another Lunch
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Stars and Stripes Forever

...an Independence Day lunch.

For lunch today, T ate the following:

• star-shaped sandwiches
• red, white, and blue star-shaped marshmallows in a red silicone liner
• starburst-shaped tortilla chips in a red and a blue silicone liner
• sliced carrots and celery arranged like a flag (with dip on the side)
• applesauce with red, white, and blue sprinkles
• milk in a red cup

Did you know...?

"The Stars and Stripes Forever" is a patriotic American march composed by John Philip Sousa.  It is the official National March of the United States of America.*

          ♪♫  The Stars and Stripes Forever  ♫♪

             Hurrah for the flag of the free.
             May it wave as our standard forever,
             The gem of the land and the sea,
             The banner of the right.
             Let despots remember the day
             When our fathers with mighty endeavor,
             Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
             That by their might and by their right
             It waves forever.

*source:
   wikipedia.org

Linked to:

   Another Lunch
   Bent On Better Lunches
   Bento Blog Network

Firecrackers on the 4th

...sort of!

We were out of town last week, so I wasn't able to make an Independence Day meal for T.  (~Forget trying to do it before we left!!)  Hence, I made the meal today for T's lunch.

• firecracker-shaped sandwiches with Twizzlers Pull 'n' Peel candy for the wick and star-shaped marshmallows for the "burn"
• stars Goldfish Space Adventures crackers
• applesauce with jumbo stars sprinkles
• mini cupcake with vanilla frosting and a flag icing decoration

He went for the cupcake first.  ~He's a smart one!  ;o)

Check out some other muffin tin meals....

Linked to:
   Bent On Better Lunches