Jul 10, 2010 | Holidays, It's all relative |
Monday the 5th was hot,hot,hot. We had the boys and their respective wives, Grandma, and our friend Blake over for a cookout. {Technically it was a cook-in because the grill was broken, but that’s just a small detail.}
The two pictures below are my attempt at making up for not taking a picture of Andrew and Debbie together. I hardly think two side-by-side picture would qualify as a “picture of them” to two newly-weds, but I did the best I could.
Andrew really is a fashion icon, don’t you think?
The only way to truly beat the heat was to walk across the yard to our uncle’s pool. After all, somebody has to use it. The most popular method of entry was jumping/flipping/belly-flopping from the trampoline right next to the pool into the water. I’ve done this before, but since I value my life{also my dignity}I went in the way normal people do. And I was mocked for it. Once the mockery ended, we started a game of Sharks and Fishes. It’s like Marco Polo in that one person closes their eyes and tries to tag another person. Once they’re tagged, they also become a shark and so on and so forth. Eventually, there is only one poor, unfortunate soul who hasn’t been tagged being chased by six maniacs. I should know…it happened to me and I barely made it out alive. It really is a delightful game. đ
Erika the Shark makes her way towards the three little fishies who she now shares a last name with. Aaron seems to be the only one with any chance of survival.
You know things are getting serious when the purple noodle comes out.
Daniel came up with a “sweep the pool” plan he tried teaching to his fellow sharks while they all have their eyes closed.
Daniel: “Ok, everybody. Take the hand of the person to the left of you.”
*everyone starts waving their arms everywhere*
Erika: “That’s my face you just hit!”
Blake: “Who keeps hitting me? I’m trying to find your hand! Wait. What’s this?”
Erika: “That’s my bathing suit!”
Erika: “I have two hands now.”
Blake: “Somebody’s holding both my hands!”
*Blake and Erika do more maneuvering and finally, everyone is connected*
Daniel: “Ok, ok everybody. Now that we’re holding onto each other, the person all the way to the left is going to hold onto the side of the pool and we’ll all move forward in an orderly fashion.”
*more chaos ensues as none of the three actually knows who’s all the way to the left*
It was so funny to watch. What made it even funnier was Daniel trying to do the whole thing over each time a new shark was tagged!
Andrew and Aaron. Aaron and Andrew. Brothers and former room-mates.
I hardly think these two need an introduction.
Monday was one of those days{actually the whole week was one of those weeks}. I was so excited to be making a cake like this and everything was going wrong. I woke up too late, there were bugs in the sugar, we didn’t have milk, the batter was really lumpy, and on and on. I was sooo close to just giving up but I didn’t want to waste the ingredients and batter I already had. I decided to cut out the layer of stars and just make it a red, white, and blue cake. It was much simpler that way even if it wasn’t quite as fancy. After the morning I had, I wasn’t going to attempt decorating the top much, so I used a flag and some of Aaron’s Army men to re-create the famous Iwa Jima picture. It wasn’t perfect, but I ended up being happy with the results!
This Independence Day celebration was given to us courtesy of the greatest country in the world. This flag is its trademark.
Jul 4, 2010 | Holidays |
I just have one quick thing to say about the military: you may not like the war we’re fighting right now, you may think that we should never fight wars at all{I hate to break it to you but I don’t think that’s going to happen on this earth},but whatever you do…don’t degrade and disrespect the soldiers. They’re fighting{and dying}so you can have the freedom to disagree with them. You may not agree with what they’re doing, but we should all thank them.
Jul 2, 2010 | Holidays |
The 4th of July is only two days away and that means one thing: our red, white, and blue preparations are in full swing.
1. Today I’m going over Katie’s in preparation for our big trip tomorrow. Along with various members of her family, we’re going to see the Boston Pops rehearsal. Given the opportunity, I’d be there Sunday in a flash for the Real Thing, but alas, I had no such opportunity this year. Instead, I will take the train with some of my favorite people and see the same show{minus fireworks, cannon shots, and a couple hundred crazy people}the day before. Katie and I are almost as excited about the train ride as we are for the show. Almost, but not quite. When we were around 15, she came with me to my doctor’s appointment in Boston and we had the extreme joy of riding the subway together. We vowed we’d return one day for a day trip that involved nothing but riding the subway. The train is not exactly the same as the subway, but it’s quite close. The fact that I just shared this with you probably proves once and for all that we don’t require much and are very easy to please. It may also mean that we don’t get out much. {No affirmation is needed about that statement, thankyouverymuch}.
2. Sunday night at 8:00 will find us attending our annual 4th of July Boston Pops watching party with Grandma. Are you getting the impression I’m a big Boston Pops fan? It’s become our yearly tradition. I was so sad this year because another tradition of mine was broken. I NEVER,EVER find out who the B.P. guest stars will be until right before the show starts{around 7:55}. Even the year we went to see them I refused to look at the program because I didn’t want to know. You know what happened this year? I found out who’s starring. I’ve known for almost a whole week and I almost have a guilty conscience over it. I almost cried but then decided to save my tears for something more worthwhile. I don’t know who the “little stars” are so something will be a surprise tomorrow.
3. I hope you have a wonderful, blessed, patriotic, thankful-for-all-you-have weekend!
{The editor of this blog told me she has something to say. “It brings me great sadness to bring to your attention that in the process of moderating comments this week, I accidentally deleted two comments instead of publishing them. They were such nice comments too. I’m sorry. So very sorry. Maybe if I was getting paid more to do this job I would be more careful and—” Thank you,editor. That’s enough. }
Jun 22, 2010 | Holidays, It's all relative |
We celebrated Fathers Day over two days this year- Saturday with The CCE{The Cutest Couple Ever, aka Daniel and Erika}and then again on Sunday. More correctly it should be called Fathers Weekend.
Saturday
To start off the festivities we played Ladderball. Here we have Mom and Dad practicing together. I asked them to look really into the game and this is the result. Mom did a good job but Dad, well, I have no idea what his face is all about.
Our competition was pretty relaxed. Maybe that’s why they lost.
At least they were cheerful.
Look for the rockin’ team of Barbara{also known as Mom}, Erika and Sarah coming to a Ladderball game near you. On second thought, don’t look very hard for me. I didn’t come in as one of the top two scorers for our team.
After supper, we all{along with Grandma}drove to the building Dad’s renting for his new business so Daniel and Erika could see it. The twins got slightly bored listening to the talking, talking, talking{who can blame them, really. They’ve heard the business plan 312 times already.}so of their own initiative, they started peeling the unwanted border off the wall. Mom and I have has trained them so well.
Upon our return home, we did what any heath-conscience people would do: sit down to eat sugar-laden ice cream and blueberry pie{blueberries are good for you!}. I have to add that the coffee ice cream Elizabeth made was a huge hit. I think she should start marketing it. As we ate we looked at pictures of Daniel and Erika’s recent vacation to South Carolina and Colorado. Those people really get around. Here they are in Colorado:
I can’t go without mentioning the three beautiful birthday gifts Daniel and Erika bought me in S.C. ~a lovely green wallet with a butterfly clasp, a blue, green and gold glass necklace, and one of those light blue flowered Popcorn shirts. Once when I unexpectedly slept over there house I needed a shirt so Erika let me borrow her black popcorn shirt{we’re totally different sizes so this was the only “one size fits all” shirts she had}. The only requirement was that I had to sew a tear in it before I could wear it. She decided to buy me my own to make up for her actions! ; )
Sunday
For Dad’s special dinner I made Chicken with Olives. Despite the multiple flying-butter burns I received for my labors, it turned out well. I wanted to make a special dessert but I ran out of time. Besides, I was so tired you’d honestly think I chased, killed, and plucked that chicken.
The father with his three remaining children that live under his roof.
Inside:“And we do brag about you…
especially to all the other people in the world you have fathers.
Which is everybody.”
And it’s true…every word.
Apr 6, 2010 | Holidays, It's all relative |
Sherry Lane. The home of our Easter Extravaganza hosted by the newly wedded Daniel and Erika.
I went joined the CCE{Cutest Couple Ever}Saturday afternoon so I could help them prepare for Easter. For 6 1/2 hours Erika and I washed, scrubbed, cleaned, moved furniture,unpacked China, hung the table clothes held by skirt hangers from rafters to steam them{necessity is the mother of invention}, and baked. We felt like maids and had a fabulous time together.
All the hard work was worth it when everything was sparkling and decorated. I think the table almost looks like it could be featured in the best home and garden magazines.
We found these pretty eggs on our last minute run to Michaels. They added the perfect touch.
When the guests, aka our family, arrived after church, Daniel took us on a walk to the beaver dam. He may have built it up just a little too much as no beavers have lived there in years, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
The beaver-less dam. It looks so cozy, I don’t know how those beavers could have left. Did they know we were coming?
Dressed in a fine Italian suit with a glass of fancy wine in hand, the Father relaxes in a posh recliner. He takes time from his busy schedule to photograph the following:
The newer newly-weds, Andrew and Debbie. Having two newly-wedded couples in the family has presented some difficulties. We have learned to differentiate the two couples as “newly” and “newer” weds. What will happen when I get married? Will we have the “newly”, “newer”, and “newest”?
The 2010 edition of the annual Sarah and Molly Easter picture. She is such a little doll!
By some Easter miracle we were able to take a group picture before everyone went home. Besides the minor detail of some people{ahem Aaron and Andrew}already being out of their Easter finery, it only took three tries before almost everyone looked perfect. We missed the family that couldn’t be there to celebrate with us, but we had a beautiful love and laughter filled day.
Jan 5, 2010 | Holidays |
The biggest party of the year{the CCEâs wedding excluded) happened on the very last day of the year: Daniel and Erika hosted a most fantastic New Years Eve party. Elizabeth wasnât up to going but as Aaron and I drove away, I thought âwhat a nice bonding moment for just the two of usâ. Then I looked over at Aaron and he was sleeping. I guess he didnât get the ânice bonding momentâ memo. Thankfully he woke up in time to direct me to the right exit, thereby saving us from wandering around lost for the next 35 minutes. Actually, it wasnât even the right exit after all, but he figured out how to get us back on track within 5 minutes. Maybe we did have our bonding moment after all!
We had intended to arrive early so weâd have time to help them get everything ready but because of the weather and the exit confusion, when we arrived it was more of a celebrity entrance. Maybe I was greeted like a celebrity because I had brought oreo balls and not because they were all glad to see me, but I like to think it was the latter. : )
So many times I wish that memories, like of all the fun we had at the party, could be put into words so you could just read it and feel like youâre there in the middle of it. They say pictures are worth a thousand words but sometimes that still just doesnât do it (especially when you only took TWO pictures the whole entire time). Even if I canât write about well, I can read this years from now and think about the pictures in my head.
We knew most of the other people there (Dani was there, oh the joy!) but by the time the party ended, it didnât matter that we hadnât known the others before; after talking, laughing, eating, and playing games for about 17 hours with people, you can start to have the âIâve known you foreverâ feelings! We played all Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase–I could write a whole essay on that game and all the team building strategies involvedâ-then split up for other games until just before 12:00. At midnight we all blow our little horns and watched the confetti falling New York City. We only watched a tiny bit of the âentertainmentâ afterward because it really wasnât worth spending time on.{as a side note, when you spend more time discussing why the performer should not be wearing the atrocious outfit then you do listening to the music, maybe its time to turn off the tv.} The most beautiful blue moon was shining in the sky so we all headed outside to take our first walk of the new year. We discovered upon returning from the walk that Al Gore would not have approved of our party because of the 17 people at the party there were approximately 12 cars parked outside the house. Talk about âcarbon waste or someothernonsense.â But quite frankly, weâre not really in the business of making Al Gore happy. As the night was still young, we talked and laughed more until around 2:30 when we all decided we should think about bed. Thinking was as far as we got as no one (except Mr. Bonding Moments and his friend Jeremy who were the early birds) went to bed until 4. We were all too busy having fun to think about stopping. Just possibly we were all over-tired and didnât want to think about moving, too!
I think everyone there can attest to the fact that we were all much slower in the morning then we were the night before! Everyone was much quieter too until the coffee perked us up and we played Catch Phrase for the rest of the morning. A fly on the wall would have heard this from me whenever it was my turn: âok, itâs a….no, wait….you use it to…never mind, Iâm getting a new word…itâs the opposite of hungry….if you want to…I DONâT KNOW!!â At least my guessing abilities are better than my translating words abilities!
When we left the next morning, we had made new friends, great memories, and were much more sleep deprived than when we arrived. It was a party we didnât want to end and a wonderful way to start off a new year!
Grandma was so proud yesterday. Easter was the first-holiday celebration held at the home of one of her grandchildren.
We branched out into the traditions of Erika’s family by doing an outdoor egg hunt. We’ve also done them inside Grandma’s house. Daniel and Brian were dispatched to hide the 48 eggs while the rest of us talked and distracted Molly and Zachary from peeking out the windows.
The host, holding what appears to be a ball of sunshine caught in a plastic bowl.
Elizabeth bravely searches through the underbrush.
Andrew was mighty proud of his egg-finding accomplishments.
Grandma’s remake when seeing this picture: “Oh, I just look like such a happy little bunny with my Easter egg!!”.
The smallest members of the family counting their wares.
Here we behold one of the few action shots of our meal. Any and all photographers were too busy serving and eating to document much more.
