Happy 233rd America!

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays and in my opinion best celebrated with the masses. I love the food, the fireworks, the feeling, the festivities, everything and have been disappointed the last few years not to be able to share all of that with our children. Summer in the foreign service is transfer season so it is rare that US embassies will celebrate the 4th of July, claiming, erroneously, that most families are on vacation or have left the country for good. Sure there is the formal diplomatic reception, but unfortunately families are not invited to this event.

A former US ambassador to Venezuela decided a few years ago that as long as Hugo Chavez was anti-America anyway, the embassy should pull out all the stops and celebrate Independence Day American style. In particular, he wanted a fireworks display that was visible all over Caracas, especially from the President's official residence. Luckily for us, his decision started a tradition of a 4th of July extravaganza just like those back home. We had our very own county fair on the embassy grounds complete with all-we-could-eat food and drink, live entertainment, characters in costume, a petting zoo, bouncy houses, red, white and blue bunting and festoons and culminating in a fireworks display as grand as any we have ever seen.

the embassy all dressed up for the occasion

Isaac getting close enough to touch without actually making contact

playing with the giant pinwheels

waiting for the fireworks to start

finally the wait was over

BOOM!

our lone patriotic decoration (Isaac's hands and Caleb's feet)
we got the idea here

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!