A Busy Weekend!

WARNING: Photo heavy post!

Our weekend started off Friday night by picking up two grandsons.  They go to school in a neighboring school district and can ride the bus to Tasha's so Bud picked them up there.  Payton had asked to come and spend some time so we asked Cael to come too.  Ice cream is always on the menu.

Clara stopped by to have some too!

Grandpa is known for feeding all of the grandkids their first ice cream.  They expect it when they come.

Saturday Grayson wanted to stay, so we met them in IC and brought him home with us. It was nice enough to swing on the porch and show us how he can walk now!

And Clara stopped by to play on the porch too.

Spaghetti was on the menu this weekend.

At one point Payton was lose with the camera!

And a good time was had by all!  

Some big kids were here too.  Find out why soon.

Gratitudes

Gratitudes---I am grateful for food!  Yes, I'm sure you're thinking, "Duh, looks like it!"  But, I am grateful for the abundance of food and choices we have in the United States.  I know as we read about other countries and their lack of food or their lack of money to even buy food, I take ours for granted.  For the most part we have good quality food.  Now, if I could just learn to only eat the healthy stuff!  Thank you God for never really knowing hunger.

Crazy Christmas!

We began celebrating Christmas Wednesday afternoon as some of my colleagues came out after school to socialize.  As the evening progressed I knew my throat was sore and my voice was getting crackly, but we visited until 11:00 p.m.  I awoke Christmas Eve morning hardly able to talk and with a very sore throat, so we spent the morning at the doctor and then the pharmacy instead of wrapping presents and finishing up last minute gifts!  Luckily Trina and Tanner came down and helped me finish wrapping. 

We went to Mass at seven and then home to eat.  I always make several kinds of soup and snacks, but this year I just made clam chowder along with meat/cheese, shrimp, bbq meatballs, cheeseball/crackers, and cookies.  After making breakfast casserole and french toast casserole I was in bed.

Christmas Day Tasha and Kyle joined the four of us for breakfast.

Travis, Kerry, and Chance showed up about noon.

Trilby, Mike, and boys arrived about an hour later. 

We enjoyed a meal of beef brisket, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli salad, and homemade bread.  Later we had a pumpkin dessert and an ice cream dessert.

A house full of  ten adults and four little boys can be crazy!  But it was crazy good.  The best part of our day was that we were all together enjoying each other's company.

Travis, Kerry, and Chance, and Trina and Tanner spent the night.  By noon yesterday our house was messy and quiet.  After cleaning up the top layer we napped, watched a movie, and napped some more.

Stay tuned for photos of some of the things I made for gifts.  You've seen some of the fabric and it will soon be time to show you what I made!  I also have a big announcement to post tomorrow.

I hope you enjoyed Christmas as much as we did!

Cool Camping and Great Food!

We had a great weekend of camping this past weekend at Rock Creek State Park. Bud and I arrived at the campground on Thursday evening. Trilby, Mike, and boys and Tasha and Kyle joined us Friday evening. Friday evening was spent getting them set up and then supper and sitting around the campfire. (Listen to the great crackling fire!) The boys insisted on S'Mores and we introduced them to Jiffy Pop. There were some full tummies before they went to bed! Luckily warm clothing was packed as we set record lows Friday night--49 degrees. We were toasty with the furnace in our camper running, Trilby's family was warm, but Tasha and Kyle got a little chilled in their tent. Saturday was beautiful even though we were in pants and sweatshirts. Sunday was gorgeous too!

Breakfast on Saturday morning was a family favorite---Bigfoots! Now, you may know it as "fry bread" similar to what Native Americans would have eaten. We got started making these when my kids were little. We had a restaurant in town that make them in the shape of a "big foot". Well, being the frugal person that I was, I knew I could make them cheaper at home, so I set out to try. We then began to make them for breakfast one of the mornings each time we camped. I have made these things for a large camping group and the kids just keep coming back for more! Cael enjoyed his bigfoot!

Nate enjoyed his bigfoot also as you can tell by the chocolate on his face! (Every time I tried to take his picture this weekend he turned his head and said, "No, Nanny!")

Cael and Nate each caught a fish, but Nate was afraid of his once it was on the ground!

We played Rummikub, sat around the campfire,visited, read, went for walks, napped, canoed(Tasha, Kyle, Payton), and of course we ate! We all cooked our own thing and shared. Throughout the weekend we had ribs, catfish, hot dogs, burgers, chicken breasts, bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, fried potatoes, potato packets, cabbage casserole, baked beans, lettuce salad, watermelon, cantaloupe, peanut butter brownies, and homemade ice cream! Kyle and Cael were in charge of freezing the ice cream. It was so yummy I forgot to take a picture.

We were parked right next to the playground, so the two little boys spent their time over there.

They were the "suppliers of toys" for the group! Two big trucks and two containers of toys made their way over to the sand for two days. Payton spent his time on his bike, and they all made new friends. I had such a hard time getting Payton to stand still for a photo, but finally got one just before they left!

Everyone had a great time!

(I had so much trouble getting this to post correctly! The first paragraph just won't behave!)