Fireworks

Tonight was a lot of fun.  Here in Utah, we have a random state holiday (I realize the significance, so please do not think I am ignorant), and it is annually celebrated with fireworks.  This evening, the kids and I headed over to a friend's house, where we were able to sit and share their firework display.  It was a great evening, and a lot of fun. 

I do not know how much of my background you know, but I was born and raised in Southern California.  Where I grew up, you absolutely did NOT do your own fireworks.  It was against the law, and probably for a good reason.  Knowing some of the people I grew up around, there would probably be even more fires there than there is now, and that is saying a lot.  There, you go to the local park and watch some really magnificent firework displays, all choreographed to music.  And it only happened once a year on the Fourth of July. 

Here it is totally different.  Everyone does their own displays.  In addition, you can do them three times a year, for a few days each holiday!  It is crazy!  ;)  The first holiday is New Year's, then the Fourth of July, and finally on July 24.  Watching your own displays are a lot more exciting than I ever expected them to be, although they can be very dangerous too!  Last night we were at a BBQ, and one of the kids got hit on the leg by the fireworks and was burned pretty badly. 

It is interesting to see my children grow up in a totally different culture than the one I grew up in.  I love watching fireworks here, but I still do miss the huge displays back home too.  I suppose I should just start a tradition of going back for the fourth, and then being home for the 24th.  I bet my parents would love to see us on a more scheduled basis!  Although, now that I have been away for a while, I can not stand the California summers!  Last time we were there I was dieing!  It was hot and super muggy compared to anything we get here.  Oh well! 

So, the moral of today's lesson, I LOVE FIREWORKS!