Like sands through the hourglass...

Yup, I'm quoting from Days of Our Lives. 

I can hardly believe it is July 2011.  Or how things have changed over the years.  Having a bit of a tough weekend.  My 'babies' have turned 4.  It seems like both a lifetime ago - and just yesterday - they looked like this.

Four years ago yesterday I brought two babies home to my 18 month old ... and at the time as much as I loved everyone to pieces I could not fathom a time where things wouldn't be so ... hard ... anymore.  But time passes and here we are.  Big boys I have now.  Definitely no more babies.

These big boys don't want to get out of the water.  And the one on the right?  He doesn't like to pose for photos anymore (even though he used to be my biggest ham).

And today is the 4th of July.  I am really missing the 4th's I grew up with...the tradition, the family.  As is always the way when I am last minute on something I spent over an hour this morning looking for old 4th photos and while I have tons, I could not find the ones I was looking for.

When I was young, the 4th of July came in 2nd only to Christmas.  Up early, to the PV House in Misquamicut to see my great Uncle Stanton and the rest of the family.  Something to eat, meet everyone out on the beach.  I should tell you my mom had a really big family.  3 siblings, I think there are 9 cousins?  Add that to the aunts, uncles, children... and any family friends who might swing by... and there certainly were a lot of us. 

We would spend the whole morning and part of the afternoon there.  Then we would all head over to my great grandmother's house in Westerly and have a huge cookout.  Croquet games, riding the ancient scooter down the driveway, sparklers, Ted's clear clam chowder...everyone ooooohhhh'ing loudly when someone dropped or spilled something... smores and fireworks. 

I don't even need to close my eyes and I can put myself there again.  I want to be able to go back there again, sit on the rock in the middle of the yard with my kids and my husband... show them what the 4th of July was like.  I know it's time to make my own traditions, but a piece of me feels like nothing could ever compare to that. 

Seriously.  Where does the time go.