4th of July

Last year on the 4th of July, Ben and I dropped the kids off in Bend with my parents, and we came back to Portland to pack for our Hawaii trip. Ben and I enjoyed a quiet dinner out to eat and then watched the fireworks without kiddos. This is our last year’s memory of the 4th:

This year was much different. We spent a wonderful day with the kids. We all went raspberry picking together, and Ben totally blessed me by picking two bucket fulls on his own, thus helping to fill my jam quota for the year. We had the Willard’s over for a scrumptious dinner of smoked ribs, fruit, corn on the cob, and ice cream with raspberries. Then we took the boys shopping at a firework tent and let them pick out a few for us to set-off in the street (don’t we all love the age that kids are thrilled to death with $17 worth of fireworks). Finally, we bundled them up, packed our chairs, and drove to a nearby field to watch a show in the distance. We snuggled under our blankets and ate home popped popcorn, while “oohing and ahhing” at the fireworks. The boys loved every minute of it and were excited about each moment and detail.

Last year sure was special, but this year was just as much so. Hawaii is awesome, but there is something so magical about childhood wonder of fireworks and quality time as a family.