I Could Not Ask For More

A recent quote from Ethan goes something like this: "My favorite months are December, April, and July because December is Christmas, April is my birthday, and July is the 4th of July at Joni's house." I would have to agree, although I love January because that's when my birthday is (have I told you how much I love my birthday?).

As Landon and I emoted about this past 4th of July, we both felt that we couldn't ask for a better holiday. It's incredibly low-key; there's no stressful preparations. It has a great color scheme. 4th of July food is always low-maintenance.

Our neighborhood had its 10th annual parade. It has such a small-town feel to it and it makes me thankful for our community, our good neighbors and friends, our country, and our lovely tree-lined streets. I somehow feel all's right with the world on the 4th of July. It gives me such an optimistic, patriotic, grateful feeling to participate in our parade.

Can you see Ethan there in the middle in a red shirt?

Henry rode solo for the first time this year. No bike trailer for him, no sir.

After the fire truck had finished in the parade, they hooked up to a hydrant on our street and sprayed the crowd. It was awesome; the crowd cheered and it made me truly feel that firefighters deserve to be our heros.

Ethan stood in that mist with his arms spread-eagled and it literally gave Landon and I a lump in our throats. What a memory for our children. What a perfect, American, child-like memory.

Henry sported a red snow-cone smile for the whole day.

For quite a few years now, our friends Joni and Grant have invited us over for the 4th. They have 3 grown sons and it's been a quiet, mellow dinner.....until we decided to start adding kids 7 years ago. But their boys treat my boys so darn cute that we all love hanging out at their house.

This is the only photo I got of the 4 Farmers. Heaven help us. And someone help Grant know what a good picture looks like.

Joni was the first friend I made when we moved into this neighborhood 13-1/2 years ago and this is the first picture I have of her. We go to dinner quite regularly but have never snapped a photo. Seriously love her.

Landon and Grant with Jesse (Joni and Grant's oldest son) in the background.

Red, white, and blue Jell-O squares from "grandma" Joni.

There is always a remote-control car at the house for my boys to play with. Once a boy, always a boy, I guess.

Parker, Joni and Grant's middle son, is an AMAZING ping-pong player. I'm not sure he did anything but play ping-pong on his mission to Korea.

Jesse teaching Ethan to use a lighter. Great.

Henry thinks it's a little too loud.

I seriously could not ask for more in a holiday. I love, love, love our traditions and our friends. I feel more gratitude on this day than even Thanksgiving.

God bless America. And He has.