the summer holiday

Although Memorial Day is the holiday that typically kick start summer, I typically find July 4th to be more fitting due to the sheer heat that typically comes around this time of the month. Over the weekend, the weather god brought us >100 degree heat, and we greeted it head on in our bikini attires.

I did something that I have never done in my 28 years of life - I went to the movie theater by myself on the first day of my 5 day weekend. The day was beckoning for me to do something daring. I had the day off of work, the heat was scalding, my baby is with her grandmother, I had nothing else to do because everyone else was at work. So I said goodbye to a friend I was chatting with, jumped in the shower, headed out the door make-up-less and purchased my one movie ticket for the 2:40 showing of Bridesmaids. It was hilarious, and I sat there in the dark, feeling kind of silly laughing (and crying) by myself. And amidst the ten others in the theater in good company, I ate my chips and nachos, inhaled my large coke and got lost in the movie. For two hours, I enjoyed my own company. It was a good time. It was much needed time away.

I came home to my girl waiting for me, naturally with open arms. The rest of the weekend, we spent time together, 4 days in each other's company, and a lot of those hours in the good company of people we love.

Fourth of July always knows how to deliver summer and this year was no different.

My hydrangeas are in full bloom and I snipped one of the prettiest blooms for my pretty vase. I adore this vibrant color.


My girl and I can often be found sharing an ice cream together. She loves the cold to her budding teeth.



She also find it very amusing to climb into the dishwasher while I load the dishes these days. She really is so quick that I just let it happen.

We BBQ'ed, we dipped in make-shift pools (for both children and adults) trying to find some relief from the heat, we dined lazily with friends. There is always a point in the day when we realized we stayed out just a little too late, where we braved the long drive home with wailing children, internally vowing we would never do this again until our children are at least five and externally cursing under our breaths as we try to sooth their pitch to a more manageable decibel. It never works. But by the time she is safely tugged away in bed and I stare down at her innocent, slightly darken skin, I realized what a fabulous time we had and vowed to do it all over again next year, but even better, because by then it would be that much more important to take the time for these things because they will eventually be seared into her brain as one of her greatest childhood memories.





One day, I will attempt to explain to my girl the importance and meaning of this holiday. She will understand that her ability to blow bubbles innocently to the wind and her opportunity to dream and actually hope to fulfill those dreams are provided by this great land. She is first generation American on my side of the family, so one day she will understand the struggles to be free is still a memory in her parent's lifetime. She will understand what it means to be an American, from both an immigrant's and native's perspectives.

For now, we dolled ourselves in patriotic get-ups and celebrate our freedom.







Although there is no great fireworks to be watched, our hearts were bursting with joy and our heads bursting with memories. We are thankful for these days, to spend it in the presence of our family.