americas fourth of july city

before I divulge our july 4th happenings this year, allow me to share some background:
 
2003 was dave and i's very first july 4th.  we sat on a hill overlooking the fort Collins firework display and it ended up being a very special night with whisphered I love yous.  really, an alternative blog title could read 'it all started on july 4th'!

in 2004, as newlyweds we attended his hometown display on the river in Idaho falls and i was impressed:

in 2005, we spent the night on a boat in the Chicago harbor with our dear friends the Flemings:

 

in 2006, our family of 3 traveled to san diego to visit aunt jordyn:

 



Idaho falls was again in 2007 and this time we enjoyed a raft down the snake river (courtesy of steve and Sharon):
 

 

in 2008, we packed up a very newborn jack and went camping with our adventurous family friends- the lish family:

 

 

in 2009, we were in Idaho falls again- enjoying lots of boating, family pics, matching cousin outfits, etc:

 

 

in 2010, I remember regretting staying in phoenix... do you know how hot july 4th there is?  but we did treat ourselves to snaps (one of 4 legal fireworks there!):

 

 

in 2011, we were at lake vermillion boating with my uncle pat and family:

 

 

and last year (2012), we held an Eichmann family reunion.  in matching patriotic shirts, we lit fireworks and then caravanned to minneapolis:

 

 

for 2013... drumroll please....we... went to America's fourth of july city!  judging from the past, you can guess it came as a surprise that we ended up planning our own july 4th.  after all, it was only the second time in stover family history that we were left to fend for ourselves!  luckily, a few days prior, a friend mentioned a farm town named seward.  a quick hour away, we went to check out the hype.  and let me say, it did not disappoint!  there was magic (jack's favorite), a car show, bounce houses, carnival food, a parade (kindin's favorite), and an airshow (dolly's favorite) and the events schedule indicates we only saw 1/10 of the events!  let's just say that the folks of seward (aka America's fourth of july city) have rightly earned their title!  

 

 we finished our day at home by lighting off our very first purchased firework assortment!