A new 4th of July experience

People find it strange that the 4th is my favorite holiday - but it is! My family has always celebrated the 4th, I don't think any bigger or better than any other family. We do the parade/5k in the morning, swimming/BBQ in the afternoon and then go watch fireworks in the evening. I love tradition and hate when it's tampered with. I always figured I'd grow up to marry a man and we could still do all of our family traditions because I feel like often times couples end up going to the wife's family functions more than the husband's. (It's an assumption.)

Yesterday Sam's family all got together and were doing the same type of thing my family does. Sam said, "We can do your family this year and mine next year if you want, or I'll do my family and you do yours?" First, I thought the world stopped turning...my favorite holiday would be ruined! I felt so selfish, had a little pity party and quickly got over it. I was going to make both families work. I wanted to spend it with Sam and I absolutely adore her family so how bad could it be?

We skipped out on the parade and the beginning of my family BBQ. We drove down to her sister's, talked, had a little lunch and went to a little water park. I had such a good time. I got to play with her nieces and nephews, talk with the adults and be a kid myself while teaching Sam's oldest niece some tricks and games in the pool. When it came time to leave I was actually disappointed it was already time to go. We took off mid-afternoon and made it to the swimming party and fireworks at my sister's. Sam even got a few games of basketball in with my siblings.

This was a great 4th of July. I felt like I spent it with 2 of my families. It felt complete and was one of the best 4th of July's I've had in my 24 years. I got to spend it with twice as many people and I loved every second of it.