I had recently wrote a post about taking pictures of fireworks.   So, on Saturday night I was prepared to take some great shots at Sparks in the Park, but our super.secret.awesome parking spot was blocked off by the police in our town.  I was forced to park in one of the local school lots, and our view wasn’t the greatest.  Add to that the fact that as I was setting up I realized that I forgot my remote shutter release.  I didn’t even think I’d get anything decent.  I did, however, get a few that I liked, but only one that I loved.

I was determined to capture some more fireworks in Dahlonega.  We got to the North Georgia College & State University’s Drill Field around 8:20pm.  It was packed.  The sea of red, white, and blue was amazing.

We hung out, Davey ran around, and we enjoyed some Funfetti cake cookies while we waited for the show.

Night fell upon us rather quickly….

Soon thereafter, over the speakers, one of my favorite renditions of The Star Spangled Banner filled the air.

Then….BOOM!  BANG! OOOH!  AHHH! {View the whole set on Flickr}

Oh, and, I did not forget my remote shutter release!

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When you’re little, though, things are so different.

Growing up somehow allows you to see how things really are, and there’s this ugly truth that changes things.  Embracing the traditions merely isn’t enough.  The negativity surrounding  reveals the negativity of people and clouds perspective.   It’s sad and I wish it was different.

I can sit here and wish for things to be the way they were when I was in the age of innocence, but what good does that do?   Right now, it’s enough to simply remember the wonder of that time in life when I would get butterflies in my belly before the special day.   It’s got to be enough.  That’s what I will hold on to and that’s what I strive to figure out how to create again for myself and for my children.

So, what I’m left to do is mix the traditions I know while making new ones.

This Easter the new ones involved opening our home and hearts to friends.   I dyed the eggs on Holy Thursday and did “Crveno Belo”, too.   But, on Good Friday I enjoyed time with my friend, Angie.   I got to finally meet her husband, Patrick, and their beautiful daughters, Anna and Claire.  I got to share my family with them, got to feed them, laugh with them, tell stories with them, and was able to create a nice place for them to rest their heads when the time came.   This was definitely a blessing.

The time was short, but it was filled with moments of happiness.  And before they came, I had the butterflies in my belly.  With each text message that revealed how close they were to our house, my belly felt the excitement and anticipation.

That’s the magic of a holiday.  Even though it changes over time, or it isn’t what [you] are used to expecting, there’s beauty and wonder to behold.  Wishing for things to be different only hardens the heart.  It’s accepting that things change that opens it back up.

While I have mixed emotions about it all, I’m learning to accept it.  Learning.

In the meantime, just lying in the grass and connecting to innocence through my youngest son is helping to teach me more about life, and it’s true meaning.

On Christmas morning, decked in his fleece dino pajamas, David opened one of his gifts.  A Sprig Dino Rig, part of the Adventure Series of toys!

What are Sprig Toys*?

Only the coolest, battery-less, imagination-inspiring, non-noise making, eco-friendly toys ever made, that’s what!

I found out about Sprig Toys at Type-A Mom conference and I was so impressed by them.  I instantly knew that David would LOVE them.

So, on Christmas morning I was further impressed when, upon opening the box, I discovered that nothing was secured in place.  No metal twisty-tied torture in this box!   That, right there, is big.  HUGE.  GINORMOUS.

It’s been over a month since Davey got his Dino Adventure Rig and Dolphin Explorer Boat.    He plays with them a lot and the boat and dolphin have become a constant at bath time.  That’s especially awesome because Sprig Toys are hollow, so no water collects inside the bath toy(s), which means no icky mold.

Here’s what David has to say: