Proud to be an American!

The 4th is one of my all time favorite holidays. Right up there with Christmas.

I love the way that we celebrate every year. It is probably one of the longest standing traditions that we have in my family.

We start the day off by going to the parade. A little break in between and then we all gather at my mom and dads house for a picnic and games with some of our extended family. The one family that is always guaranteed to be there is the Peterson bunch. Even when we haven't seen each other for a long time-we can always count on the 4th to be able to see each other and to catch up! And now, our kids are doing the same that we did growing up. Just running and playing and drinking as much pop as they possibly can. Sometimes we get other members of the family there as well, and that is always fun too.

My dad is the cook. His hamburgers are amazing.

We play games and most years make a trip down to the canal for a freezing cold swim. The weather did NOT cooperate this year, so there was no swimming, but we all still had a great time.

We then meet up later on for the fireworks. (Thankfully, most years my kids manage to catch a nap in between all of the fun.) Every year at some point during the fireworks, my eyes fill up with tears and I am thankful. For my family, for our country and for our freedom. I think how blessed I really am to live in a country where I am free to do as I please, without anyone dictating my every move. I can worship how I please, walk free as a woman without being regulated, and really just do anything that I want to do. Like I said, I am just thankful. This year was no different.

This year was Piper's first 4th. She attended all of the festivities and did amazingly well for being only about a week old. Here is a little of our day in pictures.