Independence Day

In my family, Fourth of July is a bigger event than Christmas because we are all together celebrating.

The grandkids spend hours decorating their bikes for the parade, we bake flag cakes and wear our red, white and blue proudly.

Every year, my dad starts the festivities early by waking us up with the song from the video above blaring on the stereo. Every year we complain...and we love it. It's the Chamberlain tradition.

Then we head off to the flag-raising and the parade, followed by egg tosses, pie eating contests and three-legged races. It's about as corny as you can get...and it brings a tear to my eye just to think about it.

Here's wishing you and your family a joyous Independence Day.