Fireworks

Bedtime in our house is around 7:30. Fireworks here don't usually get started until after 9. I'd like to keep my older one up to watch for the first time, but i'm worried it will totally mess up his bedtime. We have to drive about 20 minutes, park, etc to see the fireworks here. The twins are only 19 months so I don't think it's worth keeping them up that late.

What is everyone else planning or what have you done in the past?

 

We aren't keeping them up for our local fireworks. My dad and some neighbors light off some pretty big ones around 8/8:30 on a lake right across the street from his house. We took the girls there last year and it was perfect. If we couldn't do this, we probably wouldn't go. My dh works 2nd shift and it's not my idea of fun to keep them out that late by myself. :blush: Even if he was off, I probably wouldn't do it. Between parking and walking and waiting, it's just not worth it to me.

 

We don't have 4th of July fireworks around here, but Cincinnati has a HUGE display on Labor Day that a radio station (WEBN) does and it is all choreographed to music. You can see them really well from the end of my mom's street, so we go over there every year to watch them. We've taken the kids every year since they were born, but last year was the first time they actually stayed awake for them. They LOVED them!

It was just one night, so staying up late wasn't a huge problem. They were a little cranky the next day, but the look on their faces was so worth it!

 

We do keep the boys awake for fireworks. This will be their third show, and my boys LOVE them. Watching them is better for me than watching the fireworks. :wub:

 

Yes, we will! They love it. I love the wonder with which they see them!! It's fun!

 

We've never kept the kids up for fireworks and probably won't this year. It bums me out that I haven't seen them in 5 years (we were out of the country over 4th of July when I was pg), but it's not worth keeping them up that late. There is also the hassle with driving someplace, parking, walking to wherever you actually watch them from, dealing with crowds, etc.

We actually have a friend with a perfect view from his deck, and he has a party every 4th -- so I was even toying with the idea of keeping them up this year, but it turns out he's going to be out of town and not having the party. So probably next year will be their first time.

 

My kids go to bed pretty late anyway, so yes, we keep them up -- and we have since Nadia was a baby. Our club does fireworks, and it's really fun because everyone finds a spot on the golf course and spreads out picnic blankets, etc.

Last year, K&K had just turned 1, and we took the Super Yard with us and set that up, LOL. It worked great! The year before, when they were newborns, we left them home with my mom, and just took Nadia.

The parking and crowd is a bit of a hassle, and we do end up with some crankiness. Still, we've figured out the best place to park in order to get out of there fast....and, it just seems worth it to see the fireworks.

Plus, July 4th is our wedding anniversary (11 years this year!), so we love to celebrate with the kids.

 

Yes, we did last year, and although they only wanted to watch from the kitchen sliding glass doors, they loved them. This year I'm hoping to get cotton balls in their ears and let them sit on the porch. But, they hate loud noises, so we may be sitting in the kitchen again this year.

 

Nope,

We dont have any that arent a bit of a drive for us. Our girls also go to bed at 7 pm and fall right asleep---not work it to have 2 ubercranks the next day.

 

Definitely. We did not keep them up their first 2 summers (ages 3 months and 15 months) but now we do. The absolutely love fireworks. It's as entertaining to watch them as it is to watch the fireworks.

We try to stick to an 8-8:30 bedtime, but we will stray for things somewhat regularly, especially in the summer. We were at a Balloon Festival until 9:30pm the other night. They will usually sleep on the way home and it's just a quick change into their PJ's and back to sleep when we get home.

 

This will be the first year we'll let the twins try to stay up. If they are completely losing it, I'll put them to bed. We don't go anywhere...dh (and many other people in the neighborhood) does them in the driveway. They can watch from inside if it's too loud and there's no traffic! If we had to deal with driving, parking, etc we'd skip it again this year.

 

We'll be keeping ours up for the firework as long as they aren't tired. I am sure they won't be But it is just for ONE day they'll be sleeping in especially in the morning. My twins' could never sleep pass 7:30 AM.

 

Yes we are! It's one of those fun things for them. We kept them up last year when they were 2.5 years old too and they loved them. :Clap: BTW, bedtime here is 7:30 and our fireworks start at 9pm.

 

Most definitely! They love them!!! The memories are far worth a little adjustment schedule for us.

 

We have always kept them up. We usually park in the local Del Taco parking lot and watch the high school fireworks from there. It gives them a chance to hang out in the car if they get tired or scared. We usually bring them in their PJs so when we get home it is straight to bed.

 

All except their first year we stayed up. We have local casinos who do really nice shows

 

QUOTE(happybearsfan @ Jun 28 2009, 10:37 PM) [snapback]1372905[/snapback]
We do keep the boys awake for fireworks. This will be their third show, and my boys LOVE them. Watching them is better for me than watching the fireworks. :wub:



I agree. They saw a real show the first time last year (the other years, they were small ones). They were amazed. Now that my little one is almost 2, he will be able to appreciate it too.

Im looking forward to it. We do the parade. BBQ and Fireworks. A town close to ours does a big thing, and its wonderful. It's one of my favorite times of year with them!

 

Last year was the first time we kept them up for it. It was fun! We're doing it again next year. Caleb will probably fall asleep.

 

Yes, this will be their first year for fireworks. We'll be out on the boat watching them and there is a cabin so they'll have their pillows and blankets and can go down and rest if they need to. They napped on the boat last weekend so it wouldn't be the first time they've slept there but I still suspect they'll stay up.

 

A&A stayed up last year for the first time. Yes, it was late but it was worth it. Aidan freaked out a bit by the loud noises but we anticipated that since he is a bit more sensitive than Amanda. We drove to a friends house and then walked to a local park and brought a few snacks and drinks. We went right home after the show was over and they fell asleep in the car.

I do think that 19-months may be a bit young for it but you'll know your kids best!

 

We're keeping them up for the first time this year. It's just a short drive and we're going with friends who have twins the same age. I think they'll have fun.