Dazzling Day

Fourth of July reminds me of glorious childhood at its best. Splashing in the pool with my cousins all day, eating Pa Pa's famous homemade vanilla ice cream and barbecue ribs. There was the time we had a crawfish boil, in addition to that mouth watering bbq, and observing those poor crawdads crawling out of their styrofoam prison trying to pardon themselves from being boiled alive in Zataran's Crawfish Boil was unforgettable. I remember cuddling securely in the lap of a favorite family friend, Kathy, all wet and tanned to dark chocolate perfection while watching fireworks rain down on us. The sounds of my family singing our firework song while my father and uncles set off the firecrackers in the street will forever shoot tearful feelings of elation and wonder into my soul at the memory.



Now I am 30, happily married to an incredible man, with 3 beautiful daughters and the beloved family of my childhood live 3 states away but I never cease to be excited about 4th of July. For the second year in a row, Sam and I have continued to create dazzling memories of this blessed holiday with our children. We had a Family Home Evening earlier in the week about patriotism and we learned about the flag and its history and importance. It is fun to hear Olivia call the flag by many of it's nicknames every time we see one and to hear Maia sing "You're a Grande Ole Flag" complete with the hand gestures we created.

On the day, we woke up early at 6:30am and met with a favorite family of ours to watch the hot, air balloons rise over the valley at a local park. We ate donuts, yogurt and juice. The kids had a great time socializing and we mommies and daddies had a great time being childlike and promptly got nauseous from rolling down a hill with bellies full of those oh so healthy donuts and yogurt. Sara told me she was nauseous for most of the day, a little polka kielbasa sausage helped my stomach get over said ailment by noon.


The best picture I got of Sara that morning..she is going to love me for posting this one.
LOVE YA --Sara! ;)

Then we packed our van with cold drinks and strollers and went to the Freedom Festival--a 4th of July fair/celebration. This is my new favorite thing to do on 4th of July with our family. We have a great time doing crafts at the Children's Tent, Sam and Olivia climbed a rock wall, watching a cool reptile show and get all hot, wet and sticky, while trying to cool off with snowcones and frozen water bottles.

Later on, Kaylee, Jarom and their new son, Elijah came over for dinner. We made shishkaboobs, hamburgers and hot dogs.

We brought back the spark in our lives by doing sparklers in the backyard.

Don't they just make you scared and smile all in the same moment?

They can make hornets terrified if they dare to take up residence in your swingset and bite your eldest daughter too.

After that Sam and I got wild and started doing cartwheels and roundoffs in the backyard--I told you that 4th of July brings out my inner child, right?

Thankfully, Olivia thought I was cool, instead of crazy.

We put the girls to bed, cleaned up a bit and waited for the fireworks to begin. We could see alot from our neighbors yard. She welcomed us over to watch them and give the chance to take my first ever shots of fireworks. We woke the girls up and they watched with us. All in all--it was a dazzling day. The things I hope my daughter's best childhood memories will be made of.