Traditions

The 4th of July is my dad's favorite holiday. It celebrates something "real" and doesn't involve presents. It celebrates freedom and hope and sacrifice. Because of his passion for this red-white-and-blue day my dad is willing to exit his hermit-like habits and throw an annual Bob-e-Cue (his name is Bob) Which was held on the 3rd this year. This is no ordinary BBQ. He begins preparation at least two weeks in advance. It begins by pulling out and washing about 100 old (for bottles not people) 1970's brown beer bottles, experimenting with flavor extracts and then making the base for homemade yeasty root beer. Then he bottles the solution, seals on the caps and let's it sit for two weeks to brew. This is a testy process and very time sensitive because if he let's it rest too long then it becomes root beer flavored beer. Not long enough and it's just a flat root beer. He also concocts a few new flavors like gingerale made with real ginger juice, and cream and orange sodas.
He also smokes a huge amount of meat in his smokers out back for sandwiches. This year; pulled pork loin, beef brisket and turkey. Whoa. It was crazy. To top it off he makes his own amazing Bob-a-cue sauces, one regular, one hot. I have to tell you, this is the BBQ sauce I grew up on. Because I was spoiled with such amazingness I am very picky now about BBQ sauces...it is SO great. He makes his own coleslaw and Sumgullian Pasta (both original recipes) and a tropical pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Every year we all invite a few friends and then contribute or own sides. This year, Mickey added a Christoffersen tradition: homemade ice cream. We found my grandparents old hand-cranking ice cream maker covered in dirt and spider webs that morning. So he hunted down the family recipe, ingredients, and cleaned up that old ice-cream bucket and went to work. Some of our guests took turns turning the handle throughout the party and at the end, it was the perfect topping for the cake. Absolutely fantastic!
All in all the party was so fun. There were a few unfortunate swing-set accidents but both parties came out with minimal blood loss and all teeth in tact.
The biggest downside to the evening: hardly any pictures. How unfortunate really. Seems like all of my siblings and I have "roles" we play in the family and for events (Beth is activity chair, I am sui chief...) But we don't have a photographer. (Alisa- it is officially your job now that you have that fancy-pancy camera so you guys can no longer miss said event!!!) So the few pictures at the top are what my measly BB took. The little girls- Miah and Addy (Ben's daughter). The dogs- Mater and Maddi begging scraps off my dad. And PJ playing on the slide. We had so much fun. We did need all day yesterday to recover from the party hangover but it was so worth it!
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