like a child

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks. 4th of July used to be my favorite holiday (before becoming a sentimental mom and latching on to Thanksgiving). There's just something wonderful about fireworks. I didn't used to think so. I still remember my childhood Independence Day celebrations spent hiding under the seat of our van to escape death by fireworks!

I wondered how Noah would respond to his first real fireworks show. I thought I better prep him before dumping him on a blanket in a dark field way past his bedtime with explosions and fire and brimstone showering down upon him. So I sat him down and told him we were going to watch fireworks. This was a new word for him. He paused and thought for a minute, and then his eyes lit up and he puckered up his lips and blew (as if blowing out a candle). I said, yes it was fire in the sky, with loud noises. Boom Boom, I said, and moved my hands like I would during "Popcorn Popping". We drew pictures of fireworks, all different colors against the black night sky and made sound effects to go with the drawings. For the rest of the evening, he kept running to the window, looking outside saying: "Boom Boom! Sky!" Finally it got dark and we loaded into the truck and drove up the road on the red cliffs. We found a good parking place and climbed into the bed of the truck. The fireworks show started, and it was hands down the best fireworks I've seen. Not because they were spectacular (it is St. George, after all...) or because we had the best spot (we were pretty far away). But because we were with a child. I won't forget the look on his face when he saw the first firework. And since we were far enough away, the look on his face was not one of terror. I think you'd call it "wonder". I watched him more than I watched the fireworks. On the drive home I told Kyle the reason I love fireworks is that it makes me feel like a child (a child without the firework phobia, of course).

Noah woke up this morning still talking about the fireworks in his crib. And he hasn't stopped. He keeps saying: "Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Pleeeeese??" in the context of "Mommy please please take me to see more fireworks!!" and I've been trying to come up to appropriate responses. "Fireworks went bye-bye." "Fireworks are all gone." "Fireworks will come back later."

The good thing is that we are Mormons living in Utah in July. So until Pioneer day, we will be drawing a lot of Boom Booms and counting down the days until the fireworks come back!