Red, White, and Blue.

For as long as I can remember, I've been enamored with Independence Day. I'm a summer girl through and through and to me there's nothing better than a day spent in the sun, with family and friends, grilling, lounging, eating, and drinking a few cold beers.

Of course as a kid there was a bit more splashing in the pool and a little less drinking of the beers but the fundamental parts of the day remained the same - people gathered together on a lazy summer afternoon in honor of our country. And the fireworks. Oh, how I never tire of the fireworks that blaze up the evening sky on the 4th. As we get older, we all tend to grow a bit more cynical and jaded. Things, places, and events that left us in awe as kids don't always hold the same weight when we become adults. So perhaps what I love the most about this holiday is that for a few brief minutes, once a year, we all turn into little children again - oohing and aahing, heads turned up to the sky, marveling at the colorful explosions above with the best of them.

I love this country, I love this holiday weekend. Here's hoping you all enjoy it as much as I do. Happy 4th.