Planning a Forth of July Picnic!

What is more All-American than a Fourth of July picnic? There are several ways to add some pizzazz to make your family picnic not so drab. This picnic can be done indoors or out, regardless of rain or beastly hot weather.

Every picnic must start with a great picnic basket. I even decorated mine to match our theme for the day “stars.” I simply bought a strand of wire with stars that stuck out in festive colors. I looped it around the handle and secured it to the end with a knot. Easy to remove and no harm is done to the basket.

Now, with five children, I knew this picnic would require some doing to keep them close by and entertained until 10:15 when the fireworks would go off. First off, easy snacks of crackers and cheese. I used a mini-star cookie cutter to cut out the cheese. The kids didn’t even notice it but, hey, I felt like a Martha.

Drinks – Anything that came in a box with a straw. There would be no more hard learned lessons of leaving a favorite sippy cup behind in the dark amongst crowds of people again. But a word of caution for the future: If you give the kids beverages, make sure there is a porta potty or bathroom facility nearby. We managed – between 4 kids who are potty trained – to have to use the bushes and trees 10 times in the hour we waited for the festivities to start. Or, instead of using the game idea below, make “taking the kids potty” a sport. An adult and a child race to a bush, go without getting any clothing wet, and return to the blanket before another has to go. It is quite entertaining for others nearby to watch also.

Cookies – If you’re planning ahead, you can make star shaped sugar cookies. Have the kids help make and decorate if you feel the energy. If not, store bought taste and look just as good is what we did.

Fruit – Grapes, raisins and strawberries (if they are in season in your area) make good finger snacks too.

Now, the blanket is spread out, the shoes are off and the kids have devoured the snacks in 3.5 minutes. Time for a game unless you’re making a potty run. If you’re lucky, it won’t be too crowded where you have planted the blanket to watch the fireworks. We were lucky and could play tag. Our kids are old enough where most of them could understand a version of “star” (freeze) tag. If not, running around with sparklers also kept them happy.

If you are in closed quarters, have a pack of paper and crayons to draw patriotic type pictures. Or if you are braver than I, face paint and decorate each other.

If the weather turns sour, have your picnic inside the vehicle or in the garage. If the weather is too hot, try the basement. If the fireworks are rescheduled, postpone your picnic to coincide if you can hold off the children. Remember to take pictures for the scrapbook! My kids love to look them over and reminisce about what we did on our fireworks picnic. Funny though, none of them remember having to go to the bathroom all the time.