An Amazing 4th of July in the Queen City

So I expected big things from the 4th of July celebration in Charlotte this year since the new baseball stadium was opened and the best fireworks show in the region would now be held right in the center of the city, but I really didn't expect that we would participate in too many of the festivities.  We didn't get tickets to the game this year because with the new stadium opening, the baseball games have become much more popular events, and the game has been sold out for months.  We debated what fireworks show we wanted to see and finally decided we would head in to uptown and find a spot to watch the big show.  We had also heard that a local radio station would also be holding a little festival in the new park next to the ball field.  When we arrived, I was actually pretty glad we didn't get tickets to the game.  I think we had way more fun than we would have sitting inside the stadium!  I could write more about our fun, but I will just let our pictures tell the tale.

Technically, we really didn't need tickets to the game anyway since we could watch from the park outside the stadium.

One of the first things we had to do was ride this little ferris wheel.  

Brody found a flag to wave.

The boys' first ride on a ferris wheel.  Evan really got over his little fear of heights!

We had a great ride.  You can barely see Brody's little head sticking up.

Evan pretended he was Kung Fu Panda at a martial arts school's booth.

And of course, there were inflatables.  Evan also practices his kung fu moves in there.

My little ninja

There were also street performers.

And acrobats.

And a beautiful view of the city.  The tallest building in the center is the Bank of America building.

The tall building to the right with the rounded top is the Wachovia/Wells Fargo building.  Gorgeous Carolina blue skies!

The park was mostly just a large open green space.  All of this was just old parking lots before the new stadium was built.  They really did a great job in this area.

Evan trying out his cartwheeling skills as we walk across the park.

We walked through the city on our way to eat dinner and stopped to chat with this little alien outside Discovery Place.  We may have to pay this little exhibit a visit later this summer.

Brody did not want to pose for a picture.

Eddie got Brody to cooperate but then Evan had lost interest.

After dinner, we found our spot for watching the fireworks and settled in for a long wait.  Our team played terribly, and the game took forever.  

This little dude was chillin' in his shades.

The city in the setting sun.

Brody and I killed some time by going for a walk and checking out the fountains. 

I was not aware that this little water wall feature was hidden behind the fountain.  Of course, lots of kids were playing in it and having a blast.

Yep, Brody had to jump in too.  In his clothes.  I only had a pair of shorts and underwear to change him.  

Proudly showing how wet he got.  He went bare chested the rest of the night and just wrapped up in his blanket.  

But he was happy!

Crazy kid!

Oh my!

The Duke Energy building was lit up in red, white and blue.

THE FIREWORKS

Eddie and I decided this year was the year to learn to take pictures of fireworks.  We googled and finally figured it out.  I think Eddie did a good job capturing the beauty.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!