Celebration

It was a week of laid back proportions. Work done slowly and surely, cuddles had plentifully and without reservation and right in the middle, a beautiful celebration on July 4th. Usually our fourth festivities light up our day and culminate with equally exciting explosions in the sky at night, beginning with a parade, a gathering of friends and family to our house for a grand party, too much food and plenty of swimming littles, runs to the local ice cream parlor and then the kicker… a stockpile of fireworks that Chris and his buddies drove too far and spent way too much to get. But we all love it, tired little friends and mamas line up on pillows and blankets under the night sky while the guys put on a great show, our own flashes dance along too the distant rumble of other firework performances.

But this year? It was different. A new place, a new city, new friends… and the fact that Aliyah is in Michigan for a few more days before we get there, all played a new tune on our usual Fourth of July melody. And I’m okay with that.

We bought sparklers and fun little fountains, we took naps, we barbecued with some of Chris’ family in town, and mostly… we enjoyed each other.

As the sun slowly descended over Florida, our neighborhood began to snap, crackle and pop as street displays commenced and I huddled in pure excitement with my little free spirited fire-cracker on a quilt covered lawn. The plan was to enjoy our collection of fountains and sparklers and then crawl into bed with the thunder of overhead fireworks lulling us to sleep… but the real story that unfolded was the sparklers and fountains became the evening’s warm up and we hopped in the car and quickly drove through nearby neighborhoods to catch the best view we could of the Bay’s amazing firework displays that were happening all along the coast, an encore at it’s best.

A laid back, yet spontanious and perfectly beautiful celebration this week.

“Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It’s a miracle, and the dance…is a celebration of that miracle.” 
~Martha Washington

Though different this year, though Aliyah-less for us, it was a celebration. A special one with my littlest, and the magic in that… in the special times we’ve had this week? That alone is celebration worthy.

Our Fourth, in very few photos, but some video to fill in the blanks: