Every 4th of July for the past 5 years or so, we have went to a big family party at my Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Stu’s house.  In that time, this gathering has grown from about 15-20 close family members on each side to more people that I could even count (my Dad says around 75-80 people were there).  This includes my family, my Uncle’s family, and my Aunt & Uncle’s friends, basically making for a great group of people, and the best 4th of July celebration in southern Indiana.

Even though I love all of the people that were there, what might be even better is the amazing spread of food that we had.  Everyone brings at least one covered dish, so we had homemade noodles, baked beans, homemade pesto, pulled pork, and too many other amazingly delicious things to mention.  I may or may not have made more than three trips through the lines of food…and yes…I did say lines.  There was the dessert area, the drink area (arguably the most important…thanks to the best sweet tea on the planet that is made by both my Aunt Carol and Aunt Cheryl), the appetizer area, and the regular food area.   I’m starving just thinking about all of the deliciousness…(I would have taken a photo of all of this, but I was too busy eating…my apologies.)

After we ate, we sat around and chatted like we always do.  The only thing that my family likes to more than eat is talk…and we had so much to catch up on with my sister’s wedding coming up, my internship at Vera Bradley, and since my cousin, Amy, is pregnant!  (My family loves small children as well.)  Once it got dark enough outside, we all ventured out to the backyard, where my cousins and my Uncle Stu put on the best fireworks display this side of the Mississippi.  There may or may not have been a small competition going on between their display and the neighbors across the street…but there is obviously no question as to who won that competition….Uncle Stu is a fireworks genius.

This photo doesn't even begin to resemble how great the fireworks were.

Why can’t the 4th of July be every day???