the Fourth

Finishing up our 4th of July  - our children have spent so few of these in the U.S. .... actually, only one (2010).  Watching them navigate this world of "we live here, but we are from there, except we aren't actually from there, and in reality we've spent very few months of our lives there, yet our passports are blue and we speak English at home and, well, it's complicated, isn't it?" 

A person's passport identity, their country of residence, their genetic make-up and their heart language.  For a huge chunk of the world's all four line up just as you might expect.  Looks American, lives in America, carries American passport, speaks English.... check.   But for our family, and many of our friends, there are some pretty big disconnects.  No, being born in Beijing does not make you Chinese.  Speaking English does not make you American.  And if it isn't already confusing enough for these four, imagine what it will be like as John Paul negotiates these waters :) 

So a day like this is especially fun to celebrate.  It's one of the holidays that I actually enjoy feeling set apart from the local culture.  Let's get together and just be American, won't that be fun?

Thanks to plenty of hand-me-downs from our favorite 2nd cousins (and their Army Daddy) we always seem to have plenty of red white and blue in the wardrobe!  

 

Late afternoon we joined some other families for a cookout (and trampoline fun).

 

Burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of desserts.

Somehow I missed a photo of our littlest American.  Sorry buddy.  I'll get you next year :)

Happy 4th of July!