[Summer is for...]

friends. the good ones and the loved ones. the kind who are always up to talk and down to play. and above all, available for late night pie.

frolicking. this beautiful city. the buildings, the monuments, the flags, everywhere. everything. soaking these sights in, in case they aren't always there, or in case you aren't always here.

fireworks. sparkly and glittery times a thousand. who needs stars with these beauties lighting up the sky?

scooters. because they make people happy and they make people giggle.

dancing. in the rain above the city lights. hands in the air. unaware of the camera until later, really, just goofing for the pure joy and ridiculousness of it all.

...among other things.

[Independence Day.]

This is how we spent our Fourth of July, melting at Chad's Little League tournament. Mostly melting from the heat (high 80s + 45% humidity), but also melting at how CUTE "Coach Chad" was with his little players.

Meanwhile, super fans Kelsey and I alternated between cheering, giggling, whining, dozing, and eating. And you KNOW I waved that American flag the entire game.

::::

[This is where she gets mushy.]

This holiday was a particularly special day for me and Chad, because we met on the Fourth of July last year. We consider it an anniversary of sorts, because even though we didn't start dating "officially" until late October, we were inseparable from that day forward. If you had told me on July 4, 2010 that the random boy who kissed me within five seconds of being introduced on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial {true story} would soon become the most important person in my life, I would have called you crazy. And yet, here we are a year later, best friends and loves, completely wrapped up in our own little world together. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you (for now...), and simply say: I love him.

[Told you.]