In Chesapeake they have Independence day celebrations on July 3rd so that city employees can be home with their families on July 4th.  We wanted to show Brooke the fireworks this year since it was a special occasion and planned accordingly by having her take two long naps (4.5 hours total) so she could stay up a bit later.  I also bought her a cute new dress.  We went to a friends BBQ where she had a good time playing with their two dogs and all the other children and then we went to Chesapeake City Park.  Brooke loved clapping her hands as the army band played music; specifically during ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’.  She also had lots of fun walking around and interacting with all the people there.  When the fireworks started she wasn’t afraid but was mesmerized.  After a while though it started getting loud and she enjoyed the rest of the show being held by myself and Laura.