We had our normal kid infested 4th of July with the traditional fried chicken from Ezell's and sushi platter from Central Market. Check out my facebook page for the red, white, and blue cake our friend Leslie made.

I like annual events because you can reflect on what stays the same and how much things have changed. The fireworks are still incredible. Frankly, better than when I was a kid. We still snuggle under the afghans and blankets various of my grandmothers made, though it was almost too hot this year for blankets. We still engage multi-generationally. The kids created this game with the dress up box where they put on outfits and tried to fool us over who was who.

But now that the kids are older, it's all easier. It's so nice not to have to send David home early or freak out about the crabby kids we are going to have to cope with the next day. When we tell them it's clean up time, they hop to. Rose had a friend spend the night, which meant instead of snipping at each other, my children are happily playing cards together.

It was all very relaxing and fun.