We used to have people over on the 4th when we lived in Missouri because we lived in the outskirts of the city and were able to do the fireworks real nice. Now that we live in the suburbs we aren’t allowed to shoot anything off ourselves, but our community does do a big fireworks display the weekend before the 4th each year. So that’s nice.

Instead of doing a big thing for the 4th, my husband took the boys to Spider-man and afterward we had burgers and fries at my in-laws house. That evening, I took the two youngest boys for a walk in the neighborhood.

Still close to 100 degrees it was hot but bearable with the sun going down. We enjoyed our time together, taking pictures, looking for frogs, swinging, talking, and watching far-off fireworks.

I treasure our walks together. It’s my favorite way to spend time with my boys, especially in the spring and summer during the warm evening months. I get to watch them together, and enjoy each of their personalities in their own special ways, and interact with them, too.

As much as I missing having family over on the 4th back in Platte City, and the cookout, and fireworks, and my boys being little and mesmerized by the lights in the sky, I am living in these moments and memories, and finding the magical in these days, too.