For the 4th year in a row our 4th of July was spent BBQ-ing out on our deck in the sun with our family & friends.

& while the Fourth of July is all about celebrating the adoption of The Declaration of Independence- to me it celebrates so much more. I don’t know why but it is just a special day. I love the excitement of planning the day for my family & friends. I love the happiness & laughs- but most of all- despite everything that has happened in this country and to the country and by this country- I am so proud to be here. To be American. To grow up and have my children grow up in a place where we have been afforded SO MANY THINGS. And while some quintessential “American” traits are less than desireable, I am proud that I have the ability to be a strong, opinionated woman. To make my own choices. To vote. To do so many things that women in other countries STILL aren’t allowed to do. To not be STONED TO DEATH if I decide my husband isn’t the one for me.

I am proud that after 244 years- we are still standing. That we haven’t been broken. That there are still people willing to fight for my family. To defend a document written that long ago. Seriously? I don’t care how many times I curse taxes and the government and the fact that I can barely keep my family afloat. Because I am damn lucky that somewhere aong the lines a distant member of my extended family got their asses over here from Austria and Poland, and more recently- Italy. They came here to give me this. They came here so my children could grow up here. And I thank them.
I also would like to extend thanks to the service men & women of the United States for all they do & even more thanks to their families. Many, whom I have gotten to know from this blogging business: THANK YOU. Thank you for standing by the men & women in your families so that they can fight for me & mine. Thank you for the sacrifices that you must make as husbands & wives, as children, as parents to allow my own family to have what we have. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed, at least by me.

…and so… We fire up our BBQs in unison and say “Americaaaahhhh- FUCK YEAH!” Okay, maybe we don’t say THAT, but the sentiment is there. Me? I’m pretty proud to be an American.

A few of my adorable kid & my 4th themed picnic table all set up & waiting for guests.

Hudson. With his foot in the dog bowl. He does this pretty much everyday.

My twin babies taking a break from the heat. And looking damned adorable while doing it.

We had about 10 people over for a potluck BBQ. It was kinda awesome because HOLY FOOD! But, as I was rushing around tending to babies & cleaning and setting things up etc, I didn’t actually eat much, save for the GLORIOUS chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips Harley made. I may have to make him come live with me so I can have those on demand.

We started at 4 & then around 7 (woah! 47!) we walked downtown for the city’s big firework display.

They block off about 5 blocks of the main street in our city & then 5 blocks of another busy side street and they shoot the fireworks out over the lagoon. We sit about 100 yards away from the people shooting them off. So, they are basically directly overhead. The display is always amazing. We live about 5 blocks away. The city actually pays for & puts on the fireworks, which is pretty much Disneyland status. It’s pretty crazy since the population is about 30,000 people. It’s a very small city. They don’t even have a high school! Even though we only live 5 blocks away we are in another city. Our city doesn’t have any fireworks- even though it’s population is about 100,000. I guess none of that matters. The city is genius for going this display & since fireworks are illegal in our area & even the few cities that DO allow fireworks only allow sparklers & small ground flowers & things. Since no one can do their OWN fireworks- this shit draws a crowd into the downtown area. Probably making the businesses in the area a shitton of money.

I was worried about how Hudson would handle the fireworks this year as last year he was still pretty young to fear thing like loud noises. I hoped the twins would act much like Hudson did last year. I was prepared for a meltdown times three but had no reason at all to be worried. Sawyer sat with Auntie Krust & stared intently at the fireworks. No crying. Krust said she only fussed between the fireworks. Scott held Truman & he was also loving it. I held my Hudson hoping that he wouldn’t freak out. After the first few explosions he started CLAPPING. He was so happy. I was so proud. Somewhere around the middle he wanted to get up and go to “dadeeee” so Scott & I switched our boys. It was a great time. Although somewhere towards the end a flying rock smacked me in the arm. It hurt and I was looking around getting PISSED. I was ready to lay into some rock-throwing idiot. Then? I found the rock. And GUESS WHAT!? It wasn’t a rock. It was a piece of firework schrapnel. As in: they shot the fireworks miles into the sky, it went off except for this giant pellet of gunpowder and then? The ball of gunpowder fell from the sky, I suppose gaining speed until it hit. my. arm. I mean, it hurt but not bad. It’s just the RANDOMNESS!? I mean, I got hit with fireworks out of thousands of people huddled there on the street. It never fails to amaze me that I have such STRANGE luck. I mean, I can’t win the Lotto- but I can be allergic to pregnancy, have twins out of nowhere and get hit my fireworks. Is lightening next? I mean, my stepdad survived getting hit by lightening. Maybe I would too?

After the fireworks we walked home & some of the group went home. The kids went to bed & the few that stayed sat around our firepit & drank tall boys of High Life. I put on my sweats. It was a good time.

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th. Stayed clear of rouge fireworks & spent time with those you love. Also?? I hope you didn’t contend with a mess like THIS in the morning: