We spent several 4th of Julys in Ladera Ranch with our son's Uncle Jason. I'm an only child, but Jason was the best uncle ever to our son through friendship. During the day, my son, my husband, and I would go with Jason to the Ladera water park. For dinner, we'd BBQ. Then, it was off to the Ladera park for a fireworks spectacular. Our son particularly loved the water park. In this picture is our son, then age 2 (now 6), being comforted by my husband, because he hated having to get out of the water to dry off. He wanted to stay there forever. This picture is 4th of July, 2007. We went again with Jason to the water park, then BBQ and fireworks, for 4th of July 2009. That time, our son was 4, Jason's oldest nephew was 3, and Jason's sister Ronit was very pregnant with Jason's 2nd nephew very much on the way. Jason was so patient with his older 3 year old nephew, and our 4 year old son. They tore through his gorgeous home like hellfire. At one point, we were BBQ-ing outside, but they snuck up to Jason's bedroom. They were jumping from his bed, to the bench by his bed, and back, manhandling Jason's treasures from around the world, including a 2000 year old vase. At one point, Jason said, "Hey guys?" and they came to the window, peering from the 2nd story window screen, smiling up a storm. I think Jason was going to say, "Hey, take it down a notch" or something like that, but they were just so cute looking at us and trying to look innocent, that we adults couldn't help but do anything other than laugh. And then there were the fireworks. The spectacular fireworks. I still remember the boys tired afterwards, with Jason carrying his nephew, my husband carrying our son, and me walking with Ronit and thinking, "Please God, don't let Ronit go into labor quite yet." Ronit's husband, Craig, had not yet been able to join Ronit in the U.S. from Cambodia. At one point, back in Jason's kitchen, we were cleaning up, and Ronit accidentally dropped I forget what on the floor. She looked like she considered bending down to pick it up herself, but Jason swooped in, grabbed whatever it was, and saved the day. Jason always looked out for his little sisters, even though he knew they were tough and could probably take care of themselves. Jason was a nurturer, and a great brother, and uncle. This year's 4th of July, without Jason, I started to tear up while watching fireworks with our son, who is now six. "What's wrong, Mom?" my son asked. My husband said, "Mommy misses her friend, son." I think from now on July 4th will be dedicated to our son's uncle Jason. We will think of him in the excitement of the day, eventually with fond smiles, rather than with tears of sadness. I couldn't quite pull it off this year, but I'm going to keep trying in future years, because Jason would have wanted it that way. <3.