4th of July!

In our family, the 4th of July has always been a special holiday.  I know it is my sister Darlene's favorite holiday.  Here's me in 1948 before the flag had 50 stars.  Alaska and Hawaii were not yet admitted to the Union.

Here's Adam with his Dad doing 4th of July black snakes that you light with a match and they grow long.  You can tell that Adam was in the pool before this picture.

When we owned the house in McHenry, Illinois, we had a family reunion on the 4th of July.  Here I am with my cousin MaryAnn, my Aunt Jo, and my cousin Barbara.

Here is a picture of the McHenry house with various relatives enjoying the day.

Here's my sister Darlene and her husband Robert clowning around near their house in Marion, Indiana, in the year 2000, which was the year they got married.  Duane and I also got married in the year 2000, and so did Heather.  Quite a year!  Duane took this picture when we were visiting them that year.

Last year Heather spent 4th of July with her friend Michelle, and here she is with my adorable grandson Reese.  Note the patriotic shirt.