Home of the FREE because of the BRAVE

i've always loved the 4th of July. 

not because of family traditions like sleeping outside to secure a spot for the local parade like a crazy person. 

or even staying up late to watch the fireworks. 

because in truth i think i went to like 2 parades my entire childhood, and a handful of firework shows.

{ i know my parents should be turned in for negligence }

but i love summer and i love snow cones and i love to see flag lined streets in a proud show of patriotism provided by the poor eagle scout and his dad who realize at 5 am that they chose the wrong project.

i love BBQ's and swimming and being on the lake.

and the 4th of July pretty much encompass's all of those things.

However,

 i've always believed that parades were a poor excuse to get out of bed at the crack of dawn and sit in the blistering sun or rain to see a couple floats, horses and firetrucks drive by while dodging copious amounts of stale taffy.

my darling niece Alix dancing with her lancell team mates in the layton parade.

BUT.... THINGS ARE A CHANGIN'!!!

 These two little's have opened my eyes and reminded me that life is what you make it. 

they've helped me appreciate the unicycler and local high school marching bands that provide the prefect music for you to show off your best moves.

the horse people that paint their horses to look like the american flag. 

or the people who walk the entire length of the parade on stilts mesmerizing little minds that cant believe someone is that tall. 

the elbows thrown and tears shed all for a piece of that magical parade taffy. 

YES, my little family will be frequenting parades.

the look on their little faces as a giant blow up tooth floats by advertising the newest dentist in town is reason enough to get my butt out of bed in the morning and honestly after the taffy has been held onto like a vice grip in grubby dirty little hands...it softens and its not so bad. 

and the fact that i want my boys to grow up and appreciate the country that they live in and know the freedoms that we enjoy came at a price and should not be taken for granted. 

 Happy birthday America

we will be celebrating right along with you from now on.