Patriotic

One of my favorite things about being an American is having the freedom to gather together with family and loved ones and just enjoy! Have lots of food, fun, and visiting.

Decor
Decorate with lots of red, white, and blue. Accent the tables with a table top version of your State's flag, a USA flag, and the first official US flag (the 13 stars and stripes on this flag represent the original 13 colonies).

Activities
If your party is held on the Fourth of July, have plenty of fireworks and sparklers available. Or, make your own. NASAkids.com tells how to make fireworks using film cannisters and alka-seltzer.

My mother never let a gathering pass without having some "soul food". Spend a moment reflecting on the blessings you enjoy as an American.

Ask your guests, "what do you love about being an American?" Then pass around a bowl filled with american flag buttermint creams. Whomever the bowl is in front of takes an buttermint cream and expresses a blessing they enjoy. The bowl can travel around the table as many times as you would like.

Which guest can recite the most of the Declaration of Independence? What is the Declaration of Independence? How about the Constitution? Reward the "smarty" with their own bag of Smarties. Or, bestow him or her with their own patriotic hat.

Party Eats
To keep the party simple but fun, have guests bring their own meat to barbeque and a side dish to share.

Enjoy your time together!