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Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! Oh, it’s been a busy, busy summer and I’ve been struggling to find time to say “Hi!” But here I am. So “Hi!” I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday, complete with lots of sunscreen. And I’m not even going to mention fireworks safety because I’m just going to assume you are all smart enough to realize that every year a few kids sustain serious burns or eye injuries or worse.  And did you know that sparklers actually burn at 2000 degrees? That’s a touch hotter than the 120F needed to cause a serious burn in 3 seconds in a child, isn’t it? So I don’t really have to say anything, do I?

Anyway, there are no fireworks for us this year, living in London, but we did spend yesterday at the annual Demcrats Abroad 4th of July picnic. Last year, if you remember, it was highlighted by Eva’s very first cupcake. 8 months old and I thought it was high time she learned about frosting.

But this year was a little different. The girls can actually run. So rather than sit on a picnic blanket and listen to the band, their father and I took turns sprinting around the event, pulling them out of the way of swings, off playground equipment, out of other people’s picnic hampers and generally just out of harm’s way. They had a ball. Us? Not so much. It was Independence Day in so many ways this year. They just have places to go and people to see.

One thing that did keep their attention for a long while, however, was the music. At the risk of looking like an utter buffoon, I got them moving and grooving to the beat by twirling and clapping in front of the band. It turns out that Zoe dances a bit like a crazy chicken. I think she gets it from her aunt.  But never mind. The point is that they are really into clapping and stomping and it’s great for their development.

But back to the food, Zoe had 2 cupcakes. Eva threw hers on the ground. And then she stole an entire pulled pork sandwich and a slab of ribs from her father. Done with that, she quite literally ate 25% of the free watermelon at the Costco display. Party over, we headed off for an all American sushi dinner where the little monkeys ate an order of vegetable tempura, 6 beef gyoza, a bowl of edamame, an avocado roll and two servings of sorbet. Where do they put it? Eva is still just barely the size of a one year old. With the palate and appetite of a food critic. She actually stabbed much of her meal with chopsticks and somehow got it to get mouth. Talented little toddler she is.

Anyway, we had a wonderful family day and did our best to celebrate Independence Day from Across the Pond. May your family enjoy an equally fun (and safe!) Fourth.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Jul 04, 2011

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