The Starr Family celebrates the 4th of July with a Family Get-together

4^th of July at the Starr home

It was a day of sunshine, of warmth, of laughter and play, but above all it was a day that most of the Starr children, their spouses and children were able to come together to celebrate Independence Day.  On July 4, 1776 Americans adopted the Declaration of Independence that was drafted by Thomas Jefferson wherein the Continental Congress unanimously voted for independence from the British rule.   With God fearing men to lead the way a bill of rights was drafted outlining the rights of the people. It became the first ten amendments, the great American charter of personal liberty and human dignity, and became a part of the Constitution of the United States on the fifteenth day of December, 1791.

(The 15^th day of December is not only a national holiday but also on that date we celebrate family birthdays, one is Carl Starr, Lanny's father aka Grandpa Carl Starr. He knew the value of freedom as he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. We also have another family birthday, that of Brent Giles one of our sons-in-law.)

These "rights" referred to as amendments have had an impact on our way of living in that we are free to assemble or gather together, free to exercise our religious beliefs, free to participate in free speech and freedom of the press as well as many other rights.  One way we can show our gratitude for these liberties is to display the American flag as it is a symbol of our country.  The flag adorns our backyard as well as the front and we are proud to display it.  So our flag flies, our hearts are full and we thank God for these blessings.

I have included comments from several of the family expressing their feelings why they fly the American flag.

Maxine, my sister-in-law sent an e-mail asking this question: "Why did you put up the flag today?"

Maxine's reply to her own question was, “I put up the flag because I am Blessed and because I Can :)”

Stefanie's response: “We constantly fly the flag in an attempt to teach our young children reverence and respect for a symbol that carries with it an honorable past and a hopefully and bright future.”

Liddell writes “I love the U.S.A because we have freedom. We also have just laws and rights that I think are mostly fair. Also I love the U.S.A because of it's freedom for religion so you can be in whatever religion you want. As you can see, this is some of the things I love about the U.S.A.”

I found this quote on the internet I especially liked that will bridge my meanderings in American history to jumping feet first into a backyard family extravaganza and fiesta.  It is composed by Erma Bombeck, and I quote, "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."

Arrival:  Brent and Stefanie and their kids arrived first, the kids hurried to the door, one restrained Izzie, the wonder dog, from jumping on others in her excitement to see them. Lucy our tough little pinata basher was asleep like the “sleeping beauty” fairy tale princess, and was carried in and laid on the couch. The boys were eager to see their cousins and were disappointed to find that Philip, Alexander and William wouldn't be here, but were relieved that their other cousin Shogo would. They haven't seen him for over a year. Backpacks and some shoes were deposited at the door and their owners proceeded to the back room and backyard, for video games, trampoline and other games.

 

 Gary, Hiromi, Elica, Shogo, and Larry and Richelle arrived soon after. The chefs for today will be Larry with his deep fried onion rings and curly cue fries, and Brent barbecuing hamburgers and weiners.
Gary and Hiromi picked up things Grandma had forgotten plus crab salad and potato salad. Richelle brought an apple pie and apple crump pies, real whipping cream, and Grandma gained five pounds enjoying the whipping cream poured straight from the carton onto her slice of pie.

An easy lunch of pizza was served, then it was Game Haven for the next few hours, dodging balls on the trampoline or in the pool, digging in the sand pile with the younger ones and a new game a kind neighbor had made and dropped by very early in the morning before we had awaken.

Follow me Caleb.

With our yard planted with pine trees, a maple tree, fruit trees, plus shrubbery and with the sound of running water from the wooden water fountain one may become lost in a canyon like scenario. I always do, and its done in relative luxury. Mother nature smiled on us with nice weather, warm but not as hot as the preceding days.

Elica and her Dad Gary

It is interesting how well things played out today with as little planning as we gave it.  We had a basic plan which was lunch, dinner, and then downtown for fireworks, with a finale of fireworks on the front lawn supplied by Grandpa Lanny and put on by Larry, the fireman. Games were not organized but equipment was on hand.  There was the trampoline, the swing set, the sand pile, the pathway through the garden, videos games, footballs, basketballs a basket-ball hoop in front, soccer balls, a beach ball, a portable swimming pool, board games and the new ring toss Bill Frank our neighbor had made for us.

Angie felt well enough to join in the games. She also spent time with the smaller girls in an art craft which provided hours of creativity and entertainment for them. 

Angie, Lucy and Cumorah

   

Micah jumping over the pool, 
yes he made it 

The boys are of a competitive nature and have no problems coming up with games. They love sports, to get wet, to duel, to jump on the trampoline, over the swimming pool, and play football.

Micah, Liddell, Shogo, Seth

Lucy, Olivia, Liz

Stefanie tossing a metal disk, 
Brent in background

Grandpa Lanny and Olivia crossing paths

Hiromi and Stefanie

Elizabeth (Liz)  and Caleb

Richelle serving and Larry deep frying

Stefanie and Larry 
peeling potatoes

Around 6:00 we delved into some tantalizing foods of American cuisine; hamburger, hot dogs, soda pop, potato chips, homemade fries, onion rings, potato salad, crab salad, with our version of “greens” being a variety of lettuce and spinach cut up. No collards. 

Later in the evening we drove downtown to watch the fireworks hoping our traditional viewing place which we have enjoyed for the last twenty years would be available, and it was.  We lined the chairs along the sidewalk on Division Street hill, with the kids segregating to the lower end and we adults the upper end.  Some of the kids preferred sitting on a blanket rather than chairs. Gary brought his coveted grab bag of chocolate mini candy bars for all.  The fireworks display was exceptional; we thought the finale had arrived several times before it did.  Caleb, Stefanie's two year old was ooing and ahing with a puckered mouth, his eyes opened wide in response to the displays of light.  A few small fires resulted from the show, but the firemen were ready and responded to them.

Brent, Caleb and others

Before the night had ended, we gathered on our front lawn for our own fireworks.  We are in the county so are legal.

Richelle and Olivia

To top the night off we enjoyed some apple pie and ice-cream. Brent, Stefanie and some of the kids slept out on the grass on top an air-blown mattress on top of a tarp; the older boys slept in the tent and the older girls on the trampoline. Mom and Dad slept in their nice comfy bed, Richelle and Larry went home, which isn't too far from ours and Gary and Hiromi took the guest room.

Lanny's favorite meal is breakfast and he had invited everyone for an outdoor breakfast the next morning of pancakes, hash browns, eggs, bacon and sausage and milk.

 

 Thank you dear family family for coming and lending a hand to help make this traditional Starr family American Independence day celebration such a success. Love you all, Grandma and Grandpa Starr