I always look forward to the Fourth of July and watching the fireworks. There is something about the colorful bursts that I still find breathtaking, even though after all these years, they all look pretty much the same. The past two years, I had to receive videos of fireworks from my loved ones, but this year it was finally a little different. For the first time in two years, I was able to spend the Fourth of July with my family and friends. I always had to work on the holiday (who does that?) so I was very happy for the change this year.

We celebrated as we always had previously, by spending the entire day on the lake. We went out on the boat, went tubing (reallllly feeling that today) and then ate our hearts out (also reallly feeling that today.) After spending the whole day on Chapman Lake, we went back home, grabbed an ice cream cone, and then parked at my dad’s car lot an hour in advance to guarantee good seats for the fireworks. This may sound pretty routine, because it really is, and I am all for change, but this is exactly what I missed when I couldn’t be home with my family for the Fourth of July.

Watching my nephews faces light up was such a special experience. Our friend’s four-year-old also commentated the entire evening, which was also something I’ll always remember. She sat in my lap, and at one point described the fireworks as “pixie dust, God and America.” I don’t think there is a better description than that. Once the firework show was over, it took us about an hour to make the 2 mile trip home. Traffic was crazy. We arrived home, lit some sparklers and then I was ready to go to bed because a whole day in the sun is pretty draining.

As I was laying there, all I could hear and feel was the pounding of fireworks our neighbors were setting off. My dog sat up next to me and kept moving the entire night in reaction to the loud noises. In the past, I always found this incredibly annoying, but it really takes you missing out on something, to learn how much you truly loved it. Instead of being annoyed about not being able to sleep, I just laid there and realized that at least for this weekend, I was truly living the American Dream.

Steal my look: BDG shorts: Urban Outfitters, BDG Tank Top: Urban Outfitters, Headband: DIY