Independence Day

 I love the 4th of July.  The good company, the good food, the fun.  I really love the big bangs of pretty sprinkles that light up the night sky.  Fireworks are like cupcakes for the eyes.  It always swishes me away to my childhood when we would set outside at Grannie and Poppa's house.  A wide open place smelling of fresh cut grass and always a good barbecue.  We would all gather on an old rickety wooden picnic table and dish out the hard work of the family matriarchs onto crisp white chinette.  I can still taste the goodness.  Of, course all of this would be followed by my sister and I displaying all the firework glory.  Oh say can you see, by the rockets red glare.......this was a happy time indeed.

It is my life's mission to emulate those feelings for my children.  To show them the joy of family and friends and the fun to be had in celebrations like these.  That each of us holds our own happiness.  So, this 4th, I had big expectations.  Of course, Mother Nature came along and thwarted those plans with a torrential story of Noah type of downpour!

Notice the puddle in the background!

And the mud!

And then as if a message from my Poppa, a rainbow appeared over the horizon and perfection set in.  No, it wasn't what I had planned.  It was better.  We called friends, cooked some delicious burgers, and let the kiddos swim!  By kiddos I do mean the littles and the big boys!  We talked, we laughed, and we held wet babies.

Man'n the grill!

Love and gratitude was in the air and it smelled sweet.

We spread out a blanket and watched the show of pretties dancing in the sky.  We snuggled babies and laughed at their giggles of excitement of the pop pop pop.

My girl loved it.  It was a good day.

Thank you friends.

xx