So the 4th of July is my absolute MOST favorite holiday of the whole entire year. Yes, it even tops Christmas. (But barely. If Christmas had fireworks, it would be my favorite.) I love the patriotism that Americans show and I love the way we celebrate the wonderful heritage of our country. Families get together (although mine didn't this year... I'll explain later) and communities come together for the parade and games in the park. It's just an all-around GREAT family holiday.
My family doesn't have a lot of "holiday traditions." And when I say that, I'm not saying we don't do anything for Thanksgiving, Christmas or the Fabulous 4th. I just can't remember doing the same thing every year for any holiday. We were always with family, whether in Utah, California or Colorado, and we always had fun. That's mostly what I remember.
However, we did, for a little while, have a 4th of July tradition that I was sad to see die. One of my dad's mission companions, Frank Priest, lives with his family in Pleasant Grove. My family used to go up to their house every year to celebrate the 4th with the Priests. I remember one year there was a really big fire and my dad recorded it on his video camera. It wasn't close to the house at all, but it was big and when my dad zoomed up with the video camera, I could see huge flames blowing this way and that. I remember standing out on the grass in the backyard with my sister, the Priest boys and our parents, watching the fire, mesmerized by the flames' terrifying beauty. It was frightening and stunning. What I remember most from that year was the way we all watched the fire in awe.
I also remember going back the next year, to Frank and his boys (Parker, Jordan, and Jonathan) lighting off bottle rockets. I distinctly remember hearing that bottle rockets could possibly start house fires if they landed on a roof and then remembering the fire from the year before. And I'm not going to lie, I thought the Priest boys were crazy AND stupid for lighting off those bottle rockets. Did they not remember the fire?? Ha ha. It was fun though.
Anyway, this year my mom and Perry were in Japan and my dad and Realaine were out of town. Andrea was celebrating with the Stratton's and Megan and Jon were tagging along with her. I didn't feel like tagging along and Emily was down from Provo so I invited my friends over to watch the St. George fireworks on Saturday night. (And can I just tell you right now how awesome it was having TWO 4th of July's this year. St. George's on Saturday and Hurricane's on Monday... they should do it like that every year!) Anyway, a lot of people were out of town, but I had a blast with Leah and Emily, watching the fireworks from my truck's tailgate.
(Sorry Em that your face is partly cut off)
And then on Monday... Shaunie, Emily, Alma, Makenzie and I got food at Durango's and went to Alma's house to eat and hang out. It was a lot of fun hanging out with these girls! It was fun to get together for an afternoon and catch up. That night a bunch of us went up to the ball field's to watch the fireworks. (We originally wanted to go up to the spillway, but apparently that is where all of the polygamists go to watch the fireworks. I don't think I can describe mine and Emily's reactions when we pulled up and saw at least a baker's dozen of the cutest little pliglets I've ever seen, all lined up in a row, wavy bangs and all! That's not a picture I will soon forget.) It ended up being a great weekend. Oh!! And I even painted my toes for the occasion (yes, I know, the dumb things girls get excited about... ha ha) Here's a pic...
So anyway, I've come to the conclusion that my future family will either "go big or go home" for the 4th of July, and let me just say right now, we ain't going home. I want to have awesome 4th of July traditions with my family and really ingrain in them not just a love for fireworks, but a deep love for this great country we live in. I am so proud to be an American and I am so grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for the freedoms that we as Americans take for granted most days. This holiday is truly dedicated to everyone who has ever sacrificed to make this country a better place to live, which I hope is all of us.
Happy (late) 4th of July everyone!
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