some good loving for america

i’m pretty convinced that provo, utah is one of the best places ever for the fourth of july. the boy and i spent independence day with his family cradled in the grandeur of that timpanogos valley. we drove down from park city the night of the third, and i stayed with my friend lisa, who stayed up to paint me some patriotic nails. in the early early morning we went to see the balloon festival – provo sends off dozens at sunrise every year. we were sad when the weather did not allow for launch or even blow up…but i was glad it got us up early to enjoy a full, long celebration of one of the top 4 days of the year!

i seriously, seriously love the fourth of july. this year it included:
-the provo parade! lots of marching bands and small town beauty queens – and a couple hundred missionaries!
-swinging on a hammock with the boy in his grandparents’ backyard – relaxing and talking to relatives
-a big, extended family barbeque
-a nap on the grass in the dappled sunshine
-a run for byu-creamery-best-in-the-universe chocolate milk, and a slightly later run for milkshakes
-oooohing and ahhing at all the aerial fireworks being set off down the street and across the freeway and over the trees from stadium of fire
-sitting on the grandparents’ front lawn and setting off loads of little fireworks (and a few less-little ones)
-of course, sparklers!

i am sure grateful for america (and real glad for a day to celebrate it!).