Q: My mom's pretty paranoid/sensible about all the crazies out and about on the 4th, and falling firecrackers by irresponsible neighbors, and the like, so she's always kept her kids indoors the whole day/evening of the 4th. Not much fun when you know there's so much brouhaha going on outside. I was thinking about having a family party on our screened-in patio, if I can persuade her it'll be safe and fun. All I've come up with so far is buy a few handheld sparklers and bring in some hot dogs to grill on my roommate's George Foreman electric grill. Any other cheap ideas that my mom will go for and my siblings will like?
A: Well I'd go ahead and put loads of decorations inside the patio... Flags and everything... You could also go ahead and do this if you got a drill and colors: Take empty cans (like the ones for corn and beans and stuff) and take of the paper (you can use hot water for that). Then you drill holes in the can (size and number depend on you). After that you paint the outside of the can in red, white and blue and when it's dry you can put a tealight in each... a nice effect, especially when it's darker on the evening... If you make enough you could use them for a nice light and atmosphere... Get some patriotic music... on iTunes or on CD... second hand is good too. Then put a player in the patio and have it playing as some background music... Get paper plates with flags on them or just red ones, white ones and blue ones... Use Jell-O in red (Cherry) and blue (Berry Blue)... You could take the clear CoolAid and Gelantine for "white". Play some games and make a quiz... Here is a scrabble: http://hometown.aol.com/kidfun101/KidsParties4th/4thScram1999Copyright.gif Key: http://hometown.aol.com/kidfun101/KidsParties4th/4thScramKey1999Copyright.gif 50 State seach: http://hometown.aol.com/kidfun101/KidsParties4th/StateWrdSrch.gif Key: http://hometown.aol.com/kidfun101/KidsParties4th/StateWrdSrchKey.gif They are both from this page: http://hometown.aol.com/KidFun101/KidsParties4th/HolidayFunPg10Patriotic.html 4th of July Parties, Printables & Games: http://hometown.aol.com/KidFun101/KidsParties4th/HolidayFunPg10Patriotic.html 4th of July Dessert Recipes: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/specialfeature/july-4th-cakes/ Just a few little ideas...