Memorial Day was Three Weeks Ago.

We have been in New Jersey for two Memorial Days now, and I feel like the fact that we did some things two years in a row means that we have some traditions. Dan and I have talked a lot lately about how we have no hometown. We are a family without really strong roots in any certain place because we've moved so much. So doing something two years in a row feels good. My "fresh start heart", used to lots of change, will probably feel stifled if we do the same thing three years in a row, but two years felt good.

So we again went to our little town's little parade. I love living in a little town next to a bunch of bigger towns. There are a few things I don't like about it. Namely, we always incur 293847 dollars in Red Box fees because the nearest Red Box is 10 minutes away. 10 minutes. I know. We are pathetic. But that seems like quite the distance to us. We're just regular pioneers out here.

But I love that we have a little parade that we walk to every Memorial Day, and it only lasts about 20ish minutes, and everyone in the town seems to know everyone else.

We got dressed in our reds, whites and blues and sat in our usual spot in front of the old post office that is no longer a post office because it flooded several years back, and they never reopened.

We cheered on our neighbors who were marching in the marching band, and as per usual I cried when the veterans came by, as I also did when the firefighters and police walked by. And the scouts. And the local dance studio.

I cry a lot. I love America.

Also, this was the cutest mini-photo shoot of all time.

After the parade and a quick lunch, we headed to West Point Military Academy for a bus tour.

The stars aligned and even though the tours are typically jam packed, especially on holiday weekends, there was only one other family in our tour. So Dan and I asked the tour guide 239847239874 questions. It was dreamy.

Gwen made a friend on the tour, and these darlings held hands the whole time.

The "million dollar view" at West Point. Sigh. It was SO beautiful. Also, they had graduation the weekend before, so there were tons of cadets getting married in the chapel. So we also saw a bunch of wedding parties. Fun!

I think West Point is cool. I love hearing about all of the strict rules the students must follow and how they are required to be mentally and physically sharp at all times. Then I start to think about how I can prepare my own kids to go there. And then I walk into the girls' bedroom where June and Gwen are supposed to be getting dressed for the day, and I find Gwen wearing three skirts and June completely naked except for tennis shoes and socks, and I think maybe we just need to make the goal to survive today.

I love Memorial Day, and I love the men and women who have served our country, often sacrificing their own lives for the freedoms we enjoy every. single. day.

The End.