This is why I pay taxes

After holing up in the house most of the day, taking shelter from the blast furnace outside, we ventured out to the Gilbert Independence Day celebration.  We found a perfect spot right on the side of the road and backed up the van.  Then walked over to the party at Central Christian Church and procurred some bomb pops.  The things melted faster than we could eat them.

Even Sophie enjoyed one, although I am not sure the sugar agreed with her, since the few licks she got all ended coming back up.

The viewing location couldn't have been better.  A quarter mile across open field from our spot to the launch location.

The big kids played games in the back of the van.  Sophie mostly fussed.  Luke dug and dug and dug and dug in the dirt.

The show before the show.  The sunset was awesome.  But note the brownish "clouds" near the ground.

The haboob soon arrived.  Luckily the wind wasn't too bad, just a bunch of dust.

Then the show started.

The kids thought it was awesome.  They had a running commentary going the whole time.  Levi and Noah especially got into it (horrible quality pic from a video capture.)

Midway through the show, Paige made some comment about our tax dollars going up in smoke.  I told her "This is exactly what I pay taxes for.  They should just wipe out large chunks got the goverment, and use the money to pay for more fireworks!"

The kids kept waiting for the "great finale."  I think they asked "Is it the great finale yet?" about 100 times.

Then after the big show, we had a little tiny one at our house.  Being that fireworks are now legal in Gilbert, I couldn't really pass up the opportunity.

Happy birthday, land of the free and home of the brave!