"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers...but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." -Erma Bombeck

Ah, the 4th of July. I love it. Growing up, my family didn't do much for the holiday. I don't ever remember going to the fireworks or to barbecues. I think I remember an occasional hot dog roast in the backyard followed by some sparklers. One tradition my siblings and I started at some point was to sleep in our backyard on the evening of the 4th. Our family didn't own a tent or more than one sleeping bag or any real camping gear for that matter. So my siblings and I dragged the mattress from our bed, complete with all of its bedding, and literally plunked it out on the back patio. It was grand, sleeping under our massive sycamore tree. If we were really lucky, someone in the neighboring street would be shooting off illegal fireworks, and that my friends, was our show for the night. Good times.

I try to give my children the traditional 4th of July experiences that I missed out on. You know, boring things like parades and barbecues and local fireworks. It's no sleep-out under the stars, but I think the kids appreciate the traditions.

Much to Neil's chagrin, we get up early and head over to the Layton Parade. We have a perfect shady spot, one that more and more people are beginning to discover, so we're having to get over to the parade earlier every year.

This year, the bag-pipers were rehearsing next to us, which was quite a treat considering we're all suckers for some good bag-pipe music.

We have a good ol' time watching the vintage cars, unicyclists,  dancing horses, and the floats. Jessica looks forward to seeing all of her high school buddies in the drum line. We adults feel our age as we watch the cheerleaders go by. They look like toddlers.

This is what cousin memories are made of. Sitting along the curb, waving at perfect strangers, hoping someone will throw some taffy your direction.

We give the kids one chance to wave at the horses at the end of the parade, then we blow out of there. At this point, heat stroke is surfacing as is the low blood sugar, so it's a beeline to Mimi's, where we enjoy a big breakfast. 

I don't know that I love the fact that Mimi's is now advertising the calorie count on all of their menu items. I was perfectly content living in my own delusional world of breakfasts peaking at what I was sure were no more than 500 calories. Now that my bubble is burst...

"Could I please have your 900 calorie buttermilk pancake platter? Oh, and can I get some eggs and sausage with that?"

We got home with just enough time for me to prepare my food assignments for the evening barbecue at Grandpa Watson's. I was going to prepare the potato salad the day before, but this was literally the first time in a week that I had access to my kitchen. Selling a house is heinous! So I slaved in my kitchen for three hours, peeling potatoes and boiled eggs, sizzling bacon, mixing and rolling out cookie dough, and piping frosting. If I hadn't put Neil in charge of the bean dip, we never would have made it. This is one of the times that I really miss Grandma. She used to handle most of the food for our family gatherings. A lot falls on Teresa and I now.

After we had filled our bellies beyond capacity and had played enough Mexican Horseshoes to satisfy everyone, it was off to Layton Park for the fireworks.

The kids anticipate this event more than just about anything. It is the ultimate cousin free-for-all. 

This year, it was all about how many glow sticks each cousin could have on their person at one time. All sorts of Star Wars battles were going on, with this little band of cousins protecting the world from aliens and evil-doers. The fireworks were in full force, and there sat Jonah, with his back to the show, organizing his glow sticks.

There are two books that I believe every American should read, both of which were written by David McCullough, the first being 1776, and the second being John Adams. I will now bore you with some quotes from those books, but I can't help myself. We Americans tend to forget the miracle that this democracy is and the brilliant men who, with God's help, brought about this great country.

"We are fighting for our county, for posterity perhaps. On the success of this campaign the happiness or misery of millions may depend." Henry Knox

"The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army." General George Washington

"Surely it is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in our eyes." -Abigail Adams

"Never was a cause more important or glorious than that which you are engaged in; not only your wives, your children, and distant posterity, but humanity at large, the world of mankind, are interested in it; for if tyranny should prevail in this great county, we may expect liberty will expire throughout the world. Therefore, more human glory and happiness may depend upon your exertions than ever yet depended upon any sons of men." George Washington

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is a natural manure." -Thomas Jefferson

"Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever." Thomas Jefferson

"I have not one drop of blood in my veins but what is American." -John Adams

First sentence of Article I of the peace treaty between America and England: "His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States...to be free, sovereign and independent states."

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." -John Adams

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more." 

-John Adams