Oh weekend

So it has been a perfectly wonderful Saturday--farmer's market, Bee's dance class, a clean house, a quick run, grocery shopping and a visit to Penzey's, finished off with a fantastic bbq (beer can chicken on the grill, my mom's special potato salad, romaine with ranch dressing, and grilled corn).

For dessert, I finally got to try out my new maryann cake pan, and filled it with vanilla pudding and fresh berries.

Unfortunately my Saturday is lasting a little bit longer than I would prefer, because Cheeks McGoo is wide awake and declining to go back to bed. She has been sent downstairs to read the newspaper with her father until she is good and bored--and tired.

The beautiful

I had the privilege of celebrating the 4th of July this year at the National Archives: a fancy breakfast, special viewing of the Constitution before the Archives opened to the public, and VIP seating for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. We, the crowd, booed King James as Thomas Jefferson read the Declaration's lists of grievances.

Afterward, we trekked down to Capitol hill to meet friends of ours from Latvia for Mexican food. Which, now, looking back, seems vaguely unpatriotic. We should have gone for burgers and apple pie. Regardless, it was great to catch up. As we metroed home, I felt very virtuous watching the hoards of tourists head toward the mall. No fireworks for us this year, just a laid back barbecue at my sister in law's house.

Having spent almost every Independence Day overseas these past six years, being at home for this one was a real treat. Although my schedule seems impossible right now--juggling work, working frantically, and coming home to equally frantic children, there is just so much to love about being home.