what's my favorite holiday?

the 4th of July

By far the best holiday ever. 

I love it. Every single year.

I always get to see lots of my cousins whom I love.

And feel the love hanging out with frends.

And watch fireworks which I love.

So much love really.

Plus it's a meaningful holiday, not some Hallmark bonanza.

Not that I dislike bonanzas.

The 4th of July is always just the prime of summertime for me.

This year I began the day bright and EARLY with the traditional Little Mountain family hike.

Here is the "little" mountain.

When I was little SO many of my cousins went, but now lots of them are grown up and have their own families which is the equivalent of becoming super lame I guess.

Except my cousin John.

He puts family first and appreciates tradition. 

He brought his oldest child on the hike.

 And taught him ALL the traditions.

I'm really grateful his 8 year old son was using a stick to carve the way for us through the forest portion of the hike. Well mostly I'm grateful I didn't get smacked in the face with the stick during the process. I'm sure his bushwhacking was somewhat helpful for us.

Emerson caught a horny toad.

My cousin & his friend threw some rocks down the mountain.

 We posed for the classic group shot at the top.

 Basically, we nailed all the traditions, as we do every 4th of July.

 Even the one where we near the bottom and wave down to our aunts & cousins in my grandma's backyard who opted out of the hike.

Look close and you can see them.

It was such a good way to start the day. Mostly because I've been sitting at a desk job all summer avoiding the sun and that just isn't right.

That afternoon I ate half of a watermelon. 

Well I ate some of half of a watermelon.

I would have eaten more, but I was sharing.

And you know how sharing food with boys is... 

the whole thing was gone before I even began.

Still it was a nice 4th of July activity.

THEN a family bbq, volleyball included.

And finally,

 FIREWORKS!!!

The perfect addition to any holiday/celebration/event. 

Sign me up ANYtime there are fireworks involved.

I could watch those beauties all day.

 Then when they were over, me and this guy:

(he's a bit camera shy, sort of like a celebrity, gotta protect the moneymaker)

 hopped on our bicycles and cruised right home past all the traffic.

Never again am I using any other mode of transportation on the 4th of July.

Bicycles are generally the best option on any occasion, but especially on the birthday of our nation.