4th of July Trivia, Games and Treats: Family Fun for the Fourth

America's Independence Day Bash is coming up soon!  I made these cute cupcakes for my family to celebrate.  I was inspired by Keri's Red, White, & Blue Cookie Cups on her blog, Shaken Together, and I used Kendra's cream cheese frosting recipe from Living in the Shoe.  Red Velvet cake mixes are coming out my ears, thanks to a couple great weeks of coupon deals, so I was thrilled to find something yummy to do with them!

I love learning interesting facts about history---do you?  Here are some trivia questions to share with your family:

Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, but it wasn't until 1804 that the first public Fourth of July celebration was held at the White House.  (That might surprise you, unless you know that the White House wasn't completed until the year 1800!)  Modern day celebrations there include barbeques, kids' activities, fireworks, and the USO show in remembrance and honor of veterans and troops.

The legal separation from England actually occurred on July 2nd but American's began celebrating it from the start on the 4th because that was the date written on the Declaration of Independence.

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not all sign on July 4, 1776.  Most signed on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it then.  The others signed at various times afterward.  The names of the signers were not released to the public for six months.  If we hadn't had won our independence, the signers would have been killed for treason.

Congress didn't declare the 4th of July a legal holiday until 1941 and it's one of the few that have not been moved to a Monday.

The major reason American colonists wanted freedom was because of the practice of taxation without representation. There was no Colonial representative at Parliament to help decide on fair taxes.

More 4th Fun:

Declaration of Independence Quiz

4th of July Crossword

Patriotic Baby Names

4th of July Quiz for Kids
4th of July Fonts

Make sure and stop by the Summer Fun Giveway Hop!  I'm giving away a gorgeous Shabby Chic package---and there are many more prizes from some other awesome bloggers!
Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
Tuesday Link Up Party 
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
What's Working Wednesday @ NextGen Homeschool 
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Home Link Up at Raising Arrows
Homemaking Party @ Hope In Every Season
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Create It Thursday
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
From the Farm
Blue Monday@Smiling Sally
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Matrimonial Monday @ A Proverbs 31 Wife 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Better Mom Mondays
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
Mommy Mondays
Making Your Home Sing Monday

Pretty Pinks and Greens for the Homemaking Party

Lefton and Limoges---two of my favorite things!

 Every now and then, I like to do a "Pinks and Greens" post.  This is my favorite color combination and I feature it in many parts of my life.  Remember the post I did when I was waiting for Kynthia to arrive?  

This past weekend I was out hopping from one yard sale to another and ended up finding some really fun things for my Etsy shop.  A few of them are already listed if you'd like to stop by and visit.  The highlight of the day was this delicate Haviland tea cup and saucer I found at a church fundraiser!

It's my second piece of antique Limoges---which is very hard to come by around here!  I think collecting pink and green Limoges will be a lifelong quest for me!

Here it is with my other Limoges piece.

Yesterday, I stopped by Salvation Army for a minute to see if they had anything neat for my shop.  When I saw a little pink tea pot, I snatched it right up.  It was heavy and the bottom was very worn---two good signs that it's a sturdy antique.

Turns out, it's a piece of Weller Pottery from the early 1920s.  Check out eBay for more on Weller Pottery, but I think it's safe to say I snagged something worth a little more than the $4.00 I spent on it!

I really considered putting it in my Etsy shop---I even took photos of it tonight.  But, as I was editing them, I realized how much I already love this little pot---so it's staying right here with me!

I'm so glad you've stopped by the Homemaking Party!  I hope you'll link up some of your favorite posts and visit others' to encourage them as well.

I love to feature some of the neat posts that are linked up so please make sure and put my button or a text link on your blog so you'll be eligible to be featured!

Here are a few of my favorites from last week's party:

Alison at Mumtopia shares this great story of what they found while doing some work on their home.  She has such an awesome way with words---love her blog!

Nicole at Children are a Blessing shared a subject near and dear to my heart:  Are Children a Blessing or a Burden?  Have you seen my sidebar family picture?  I think you know my answer!

This chair from Maureen at It's All Connected is just so amazingly awesome!!  In fact, let me ramble for a bit.  I was just thinking earlier how irritating it is now that everyone is saying "amazing" for everything.  Ok---it's like last year when everyone was saying "epic".  That's irritating.  Not everything is epic.  Or amazing.  Except for this chair.  This chair is amazing.  My Mom has one of these sewing chairs with the lifty-uppy lid.  I'll just let that sit and steep for a minute.

Thanks to everyone for the great posts!

If you have been featured, please grab a button!

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Have you entered my Giveaway for a box of Sprout Organic Toddler Snacks?  Check it out!

Make sure and stop by the Summer Fun Giveway Hop!  I'm giving away a gorgeous Shabby Chic package---and there are many more prizes from some other awesome bloggers!

Now for the linkup.  Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post.  Have a great weekend!




<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl3MBC08OHdVfVNA2p4AbXHr0RahzOHBRCnosiG00ylKdhunwQJxc6PdOC0n5x99dzbkOheOOhZHAiKstxXgMRdgmbBh-NrDdCn2QxdvHbGldwZ7vlnZcu5_lwiBita04s5UmA5IexKfn/s240/bluebirdbutton1.png " border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:
Homemaking Party @ Hope In Every Season
Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Coloradolady
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace and Crafts
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Create It Thursday
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
From the Farm
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey  
Show Me Saturday
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations  
Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques & Teacups 
Teacup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
Tuesday Link Up Party 
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Wednesday Link up at Adorned from Above
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe
Home Link Up at Raising Arrows

Sprout Organic Toddler Treats---Giveaway!

It's Giveaway Time again here at Hope In Every Season!  Many thanks to my sponsor, Sprout Foods, for providing our family with some yummy organic treats to try out!  Do you want to ditch those sugary "Fruit" Snacks?  Try Sprout's Organic Toddler Treats!  All of Sprout's products are made with organic produce, whole grains, and proteins.

We were sent eight different flavors of Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews and Fruity Yogurt Bites to try out.  You can enter to win your own box of samples below!  Even though they're made for babies and toddlers, all our kids---toddlers to teen---enjoyed these tasty treats.

Some of our favorites were Orange Carrot Yogurt with Real Mango Pieces, and Purple Berry and Carrot Crispy Chews.

Would you like to try some out on your little ones?  Head to the Rafflecopter widget below.  In the meantime, here are a couple coupons to get you started:

                      

Here are more ways to connect with Sprout:
- Like Sprout on Facebook
- Follow Sprout on Pinterest
- Follow on Twitter @SproutFoods 
- Follow Sprout on Instagram
- Enter the Sprout Sweetie Monthly Photo Contest

In exchange for this review, Sprout Foods provided our family with a box of free products.  All opinions are honest and are my own. Check out the new Sprout Foods website at www.sproutorganicfoods.com.

Giveaway open to US Residents.  Winner will be drawn June 26th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway