Independence Day Weekend Tradition

We were back up at Lake Oswego for our friend's annual 4th of July BBQ (on the 3rd). The weather was PERFECT, and the boys enjoyed a little swimming after eating BBQ ribs. (I think Luke out-ate us all. That boy loves his meat.)

We topped off the wonderful afternoon with a boat ride around the lake. There is something about boat rides that makes me deliriously happy. Last year, I braved the ride while 6 months pregnant. This year, Lola got her first boat ride. She was absolutely calm and still the whole time. The lake was extremely rough, so the ride was adventurous. The boys had huge grins on their faces. We tried not to drop the point-and-shoot while bumping all over the place. (And we’ll make do with blurry pictures…)

  

Lola thought it was so exciting, she fell asleep.

Since I’m not likely to share another Independence Day post, I’ll close with a couple favorite quotes. Familiar, but worth repeating.

The first by John Adams:

The science of government is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the art of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take [the] place of, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.

The second by Alexis de Tocqueville:

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

One other little thing. Tonight I am remembering twenty years ago, sitting on the capitol lawn in Washington D.C., listening to the concert and watching the fireworks with my family. It was an amazing experience not to be forgotten. Watching the annual concert on television still gives me goosebumps, and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture still brings tears to my eyes.