4th of July - boom and bust

Last year's 4th was a complete bust, with us purchasing a bunch of fireworks and about three into them having Cade freak out in terror never to be dragged outside again. We were intent on having a different result this year.

We went to fireworks at a community nearby on the 3rd. Lots of people and kids, and this was held at a golf course where the kids could run and run and run, collect golf balls, and generally work out a lot of energy. Cade had fabulous fun with the other kids in our group and couldn't wait for 'fewwyworks'. The fireworks show was really good, and Cade made a few happy, excited exclamations, went between daddy & mommy's laps, and only twice had to close his eyes. He didn't freak out though, and he could talk about nothing else that night and the next day.

So the next day, the 4th, we're super confident. We go over to a friend's house for dinner with them and their FOUR kids, who are all considerably older than Cade. Then there's the oldest kid of the bunch, my husband. At the point that we're about to shoot the purchased fireworks off in the street, it's also the point of Cade's bedtime. No pack and play. Hadn't thought about it b/c the night before he was fine. Worse yet, NO BLANKIE! [dun dun DUN!!!!] Mom rushes home for the blankie, and upon return finds that Cade is no where to be found. Enter the house to a crying Cade. OK, here's blankie, all is good, right? Not so much. "Let's go outside and watch fireworks, Cade.", says mom. Envision a leech clinging to its prey...every surface area of the leeches body is in contact with its host. Yah, that was Cade on me. I've never had him cling to me that tightly. He was terrified. After a few attempts of getting him to go to sleep on the couch while I lay down with him (yah, try that in a house with 4 excited kids), I gave up and took him home.

Cest la vie. Better luck next year.