The Fourth

Habby Forf of Juwhy!

That's how Michael and Emily greeted the day, after some coaching from Sophie. It's funny how excited they can get about something they have no concept of. Sophie had a greater understanding of the holiday, after Terry explained that it was our nation's 232nd birthday. We went to the local Marietta parade, which was hot, but fun.


Michael's favorite part was the fire engines, Sophie's was the marching bands, and Emily's was the funny clowns. (and those are her words, they are not just clowns, but funny clowns) Mine and Terry's were seeing the veterans and how the crowd stood and applauded them. To see the assortment of men and women from all different wars, some my father's age or older, walking in the hot sun because they are proud of their country; it brought tears to my eyes. And trying to answer Sophie in a way she could understand when she asked about them was humbling as well.

Later that afternoon the Amsterdams and our good friend Ruth joined us for a cookout. Thanks to Ruth for staying with Michael and Emily, and sitting with them when the neighbor's firecrackers woke them up, so we could enjoy taking Sophie and Noah to the fireworks.

Before we left for the fireworks, I thought Sophie and Noah would burst from excitement.

The weather could not have been better, it was pleasant with a slight breeze. We had a rousing game of Monkey in the Middle, the kids had snow cones, lit sparklers, then we settled in to watch the main event.


One of the best parts of being a parent is getting to see it all again through their eyes. I like fireworks, but watching your child's reaction to them makes them even better. The look on their faces when that first one exploded onto the black sky was priceless. That excitement carried them almost all the way home, they kept wanting to know what time it was, so they could marvel at how late they were up. Definitely good times.