5 New Ways To Celebrate The 4th Of July

To start the day off right, serve up a patriotic pancake breakfast.  These pretty cakes are made even sweeter by the fact that they're naturally colored using cherries.



Once their bellies are full, enlist your children's help in making some kid-friendly party favors and decor.  Clever noisemakers are made from inexpensive wooden spatulas, so they're incredibly easy to assemble.  And this life-size American flag project will help the kids understand what the holiday is all about.



If you really want to take the opportunity to learn, don't miss this book and a craft based on the 50 states or Allison's list of books about the USA. 

Once you're done chowing down, decorating, and reading up, it'll be time to break out the sparklers and enjoy the big show.