Happy Feast of July!

This year we decided to celebrate the 4th of July the way the Pilgrims intended us to--by having an overwhelming feast. I guess technically the Pilgrims didn't celebrate the 4th of July, but I think the Founding Fathers probably would have had a celebratory feast if they hadn't just committed high treason by signing the Declaration, and if the British weren't already attacking.


Anyway, rather than go downtown to some of the many wonderful celebrations taking place here in our nation's capital (I was particularly sad that I missed the made-for-day pyrotechnic display at Mt. Vernon which was scheduled from 12:45 -12:50. It sounds amazing, but the thought of walking around through huge crowds at 8 1/2 months pregnant was, well, exhausting...), we stayed home and smoked an 8 lb pork butt and made all the appropriate side dishes--potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and corn-on-the-cob. Top that off with some IBC Root Beer, and our celebration was complete. In hind sight, we probably should have invited some people to join our feast because it turns out that we had a little more than we could eat. Either way, we love America and all the delicious food you can eat here!

Justin decided to cook the turkey in pieces this year in order to avoid the over-cooked dried out turkey breast, which involved him hacking apart a 20 pound bird. (When you go grocery shopping the night before Thanksgiving, you can't expect there to be a lot of selection left...) Once he got the legs cut off, he realized that the remaining carcass bore an amazing resemblance to an alien's head...

Happy Birthday America

So, these pictures probably won't look super patriotic (we have no pinwheels, tiaras or sparklers), but this was probably my favorite 4th of July in memory. Here's why:

1. We got to spend time with Ali and Jim
2. We did not capsize into the Charles despite the fact that Jim (though he be a certified helmsman) had never had anyone else in his boat, or sailed on a red wind day. I did get soaked with river splash, hoewever.
   
3. We got to break a Happy Birthday America pinata made by Jim. It turns out that Jim has been making a plethora of pinatas. (Although technically Will was the one to actually break it, we all benefited from the spoils.)
4. I was reminded how much I enjoy playing frisbee.
5. We wandered around Boston's Freedom Trail, felt the spirit of '76 and were filled with patriotism from the cradle of the revolution.
6. Watched the best failed western TV show pilot ever made.
7. Spent some time on a slightly chilly, uncrowded beach. (Although, it turns out that I did not get tan.)
8. The best fireworks show I have ever seen in my life...accompanied by the Boston Pops and Rascal Flats.
9. Besides one minor spot, we did not hit traffic the whole way home.
10. Did I mention hanging out with Ali and Jim?

It really was a fantastic weekend in Boston. Here are the pictures: