It’s not very often I get to celebrate Fourth of July in Japan (for obvious reasons).
Growing up in rural Michigan though, it was one of my favorite holidays. Independence Day meant an afternoon at the beach or a picnic by the river, unless you were in the local town parade, followed by fireworks at night.
The fireworks show was fantastic! (Well, I hadn’t seen Japanese fireworks yet.) Most of the townfolk would be there. Kids running around with glow sticks, teenagers hanging out in groups (way too cool to sit with their parents), and adults chatting away with neighbors while passing out food and drinks. It was always truley a blast! 😉
I wasn’t planning on doing anything special this year, until my friends decided to get together on the 4th. Then I could not help myself. I had to make a patriotic pie (technically a cheesecake) to celebrate! (I made a fruit stick side dish, too…but whatever, in my head it goes with the pie.)
Let me tell you, I was not the only one excited for Fourth of July. Our lovely hosts E and M just had a darling daughter two months ago and she was totally on top of things. Look at her awesome stars and stripes tshirt! She is just the cutest. I’m sure you can tell from the pictures, this girl has got spunk. We were completely charmed by her the entire day!
And how can you not be when she smiles even in her sleep? So sweet!
I love that we all got to celebrate Independence Day together. We got to catch up on what everyone has been up to, all the while eating delicious homemade pizza, macaroni & cheese, and pie (i.e. cheesecake). It doesn’t get much more American than that, right?
Hope you all had an amazing weekend, too! x
The night ended with a big ole yawn! 😀
Kaori Square Feet 
Oh, wow! That cheesecake is brilliant! Slices of strawberries for the stripes! And blueberries for the blue! When I got up and was coming back to my chair I noticed from a little distance that the white space between the blueberries were the stars! Perfect!
And the red, white, and blue flower arrangement!
The fruit sticks are amazing too. Cherries and miniature marshmallows along with the blueberries?
The reiterated hearts on both the sweetie pie and the pizza pie.
Eric (?) or someone sure must have a thing for Kraft® Macaroni & Cheese from the looks of the top of the refrigerator.
The mother/mother in law looks really cool. Of course she doesn’t live in this but I can imagine it as one of her vacation spots.
If you are not going to get married and have a baby yourself soon might I suggest adopting and then talking (forcing) your company into putting in a child-care corner at work. You could demand that by pointing out the declining birth rate in Japan and how it is both your and their patriotic duty to do so. Absolutely and imperatively!
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what a beautiful baby! 🙂
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Thank you, Gary! I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course) ;D
The macaroni & cheese were in fact from E's parents in the US, they had come to see their granddaughter a couple weeks before. It's still rare to find mac 'n cheese in Japan, especially kraft.
Although I am not yet ready to take on a child on my own, I agree completely about child-care at work! Maybe not inside the office (how can you concentrate on work when a sweet baby is looking your way???) but at least more of them in the same/a near building!
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Isn't she, Babzy? I melt every time I see her! 😀
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