America The Beautiful

We had a busy and fun Independence Day full of shopping, swimming, picnicking, more swimming, snow cones, barbecues, and fireworks. It was the most exhausted I have felt in a long time. And after all our friends headed home and all the major fireworks had been blown up, we left the dity dishes right where they were (scattered throughout our dining room and kitchen) and instead opted to lounge outside, arm in arm, in our hammocks.

We swung in unison beneath the stars and the leaves with the entire valley and what was left of a pink sunset as our backdrop. Few views can rival the one we enjoy right outside our door atop our little hill here in Logan Utah. I haven't figured out yet how to separate myself from such a view, and so we remain until I can devise a plan of detachment. I'd snatch this townhouse up in a second if it were for sale and hardly change a thing. 

Our soundtrack, while we rocked, was the booming of far off fireworks being lit long into the night. Even when we eventually made our way sleepily upstairs and into our bed they were still lighting up the night sky outside our window. It was with this patriotic percussion and with Ryan's arm tucked safely around me that somehow we realized that all day long not once had we heard the national anthem. It only took a little persuading for me to get ryan to sing it softly (I don't know all the words) and after that only a little more for him to get me to sing mine (he doesn't know all the words either). It was by far my absolute favorite part of the day. Anthems evoke emotions from the very deepest part of the soul, and so we continued with God Save the Queen and what I could remember from the national anthem of Romania. 

I felt overwhelmed with patriotism and gratitude for the beautiful world we live in. And sheer pleasure at being witness to an entire valley celebrating beauty and freedom in unison. I am glad our children will enjoy the blessing of knowing and loving two countries in just such a way. 

Incidentally, July 4, 2005 was also the very day my current hubsy and I were set up on our first date. 

It was a casual group thing -- picnic and fireworks at sugarhouse park -- but our first official date nonetheless.

So a very happy first-date-aversary to you my love, we owe your sister big time!

Fourth of July

We flew home on July fourth (our first date-iversary), picked up our car, drove home, and then made impromptu plans to celebrate the independence of this fine country.

We ended up with: Picnic - pizza. Park - providence.

Fireworks - parking lot. Movie - green lantern (thumbs down.)

And a sunset as a gorgeous backdrop to it all.

Clearly we were pretty hard core with the fireworks this year, look at those army trucks go!

for love of country.

   {our re-creation of both our homelands flags.}

  

ryan and i do not share a motherland.

he pledges allegiance while i salut the flag.

so when july comes around, we're all sorts of patriotic.

we both love our own native countries fiercely.

and recognize that our respective loyalties will probably never change.

so we celebrate the freedoms that we share,

the commonalities and camaraderie between our two fine nations.

we're even attempting to learn each others anthems.

{this may be quite a long process since we're not very diligent in this effort.}

but we're trying, you see.

especially me, since i do live here now.

but it's a little more difficult than i anticipated.

i still believe that canada, as a nation, offers a tad more to her citizens.
{hello delicious chocolate!}

however, i'm slowly acclimating.

and like a new but unfamiliar friend, i'm trying to see the best in her despite her faults.

{every country has them after all.}

take the constitution for instance.

i really love the constitution, especially the first amendment.

so for now i will focus on that.

and that is precisely what we celebrated.

on canada day {july first} we celebrated bbq style with these guys.
where we enjoyed the absolute best grilled veggies, burgers, & even adorable canadian cupcakes to commemorate.
{thanks you two!!}

{tiff, these cupcakes were adorable, and everything so delicious! you guys are so sweet!!}

and independence day {july fourth} found us rooftop with pizza & rootbeer,
along with these good friends watching jets & fireworks.
{this is also where we experimented with boxes of sparklers.}

cheers! to a lovely holiday! a lovely country! a lovely sunset!!

 

allegiances aside, we both simply love the fourth of july and all its traditions!

fireworks galore.

after this weekend we have more fireworks pictures than i know what to do with.

and we all know that firework photography just can't do live fireworks justice.

but regardless, there i was, snapping away.

completely swept up in the moment.

yes, i'm afraid i got a wee bit carried away.

eventually i had to put my camera away just so i could really enjoy them.

we had a birds eye view of these watching them from atop an apartment building.

the same apartment building from last year.

we didn't even have to look up, just dead straight ahead.

i really love this tradition.

but more on that & other fourth of july extravaganzas to come.

weekend highlights?

the building.

the elevator to the top.

the ladder to the tippy-top.

cafe rio and other necessities going up.

seriously so happy with the view.

which looked like this + sunset & lightning.

the fireworks.

(i love how it's just one sad looking firework.

i took over a dozen of these shots, most of them show nothing but black.

fireworks, i have discovered, are camera shy.)

the sparklers.

and a little red, white & blue.

happy anniversary!

we had our first date on july 4, 2005.

- picnic & fireworks {both kinds} at sugarhouse park -

so today we celebrate the anniversary of our countries' independence,

and the anniversary of the beginning of us.

happy 4th of July!

to sweetie & everyone.