4th

Of course our Independence Day celebrations have to include good food. It's always been a bit of a low-key holiday, and the last 2 years we've gone to the Gilers, but  but we were on our own this year. I was depressed because usually we would have the Smiths over, but alas... We invited some other friends over but they declined. Sigh.

Anyway, we still ate well. We kept it simple with feta-stuffed hamburgers topped with avocado, pineapple, onion, tomato, lettuce- all atop homemade buns. We had watermelon on the side.

Fiona saw me snap the picture of the burger and she was immediately ready for the camera.

She tried to maintain her poses even while eating.

Bella kept giving me these cheesy fake smiles, so in an effort to get a genuine expression I said, 'Pretend like I just said we're going to Disneyland!' Creee-py.

Outside. That's better.

Timm prepared the grill for s'mores. That, or a visit from the fire department.

I like my marshmallows charred- like on fire, baby.

Requisite fireworks- the first we've done on our own. The girls both did well- Timm lit them on the driveway and we watched from the grass. Even though some of them were screeching and loud the girls never got too freaked out.

Until it was time to go in and then Fiona threw her usual tantrum, so the other 3 of us took this:

I like us. Even though I was bummed out that Molly refused to drive back for the holiday, and our other friends couldn't make it, and the Gilers were otherwise engaged, we had a good time. I like our little unit. Even when Fiona refuses to be a part of the photo documentation of said unit.