4th

I love the 4th of July

It is the most romantic of all holidays to me

maybe because

it is everyone you love

together

no gifts

no obligations

no expectations

This was my first 4th of July

ever

in Utah

and it was

'the best 4th of July EVER!'

as Holland said

maybe 43 times

And celebrating it in our little town

made it even more romantic.

The neighborhoods are lined with flags.

The park is packed with old friends

picnics, live music, bounce houses.

Even a 'Kids Parade'

Decorate your bike, your dog, yourself.

And Holland was in heaven.

Because doing the kids parade meant

she got to reunite with Giorgie.

And hold him the entire parade.

That smile did not leave for a second.

and I think Giorgie thought he was Grand Marshal.

Dancing to Neil Diamond

Laying on your back

with fireworks

bursting right over you

getting up early to run down the street

for a hometown parade

being pelted with more salt water taffy than you knew existed

playing at the pool

hiking to the waterfall

summer food

being with friends and family

That is romance to me.

Easter

We love Easter Egg hunts

and got to share ours with the cousins

The Bun Bun brought Holland a hula hoop

and shook her booty all day long!

Christmas

Some things I want to remember about Holland in Hawaii

How important it was to her to have, and wear almost every day, a Hawaii dress
That all she wanted to drink every day was lemonade
How many pieces of coral she collected and piled on our towels
How much she LOVED the Polynesian Cultural Center, how many times she said "that's beautiful"
How much sand dumped out of her swim suit at the end of the day and then the long tubs she would take
Watching her excitement as she kissed and danced and tickled the bellies of the dolphins
Chasing fish in the reef
Teaching her how to boogie board and how much she loved it
Eating shaved ice before it could melt
Sitting under an umbrella while it rained and darting out to the sea whenever there was a sun burst
Sitting on the beach watching fireworks on New Years Eve, Holland still looking for more coral
Convincing her how amazing the pineapple was, and then having her ask for it at every meal

So grateful to bury my toes with you Holland

Tradition

Every year

well, since Holland was one

We go and get our nails

Halloweenified

Just to be in the spirit of things

Usually it is just our toes

but somehow when I was too into what 

was being done to my toes

I looked over and Holland's hands

were busy

being busied on

This year it was as the little Miss instructed:

Black Toes

with

Orange Pumpkins

So what did you pick for your hands?

Orange with scary guys on them.

Traditions.

A few things I want to remember

The Fourth of July holiday has been romantic to me

Romance is a demonstration of Love

So I am reminded of the things I have loved these past few days

and want to remember them

First, sitting with 11 beautiful, wonderful girls, and one perfect

5 week old baby chatting and passing popcorn through 6 hours

of the Edward diaries.  WE are the faithful.

I love these girls and am so so so grateful for them.

Next, going to my first Asian Bath House.

I really almost cried halfway through

mostly because I was being taken care of

and cared for and I forgot what that was.

There is love there too, because it reminded me of giving your

little one a bath and scrubbing behind their ears, between their toes.

That is a tender demonstration of love.

And then, watching fireworks in an almost night sky, while you

float in a very heated pool

and sing and dance to forever in blue jeans, babe.

And looking around at all the friends

who have adopted you and your little one as family.

And love you.

So that is why

The Fourth of July is indeed the most Romantic of all Holidays.

O Christmas Tree