My favorite Japanese word

My favorite word in Japanese is "hanabi", the word for "fireworks".  Literally, it means "fire flower", which, if you think about it, is a great description of what fireworks look like.

Playing with the manual setting 
on my camera without a tripod.

Fireworks define summer for me.  They are just like watermelon.  And peaches.  And skin that is just a little too warm from a long day in the sun.  Without them, summer wouldn't be the same. 

I especially love when you are driving somewhere and suddenly you see fireworks in the distance.  Those unplanned fireworks displays are like a little unexpected present that just makes you pause to enjoy the moment.  But, since you can't count on those moments, I always try to plan at least one time to see summer fireworks.  

Tonight we took Grace to the Akron Aeros baseball game (SFJ #11) because they had a fireworks display afterward (SFJ #12).  

It was a very long game, but they had many things to occupy our time like an inflatable slide, and artist doing portraits, Orbit the mascot, and Spiderman!

We had a really fun night and Grace stayed up well past her bedtime...but that is what summer vacation is for!