let’s start with a little pun…
Well, after much nudging by my family, I am finally catching up on this blog. Where to begin? Well, the summer. Our highlights were (in no particular order) are detailed a bit below:
We had some great food this summer. Above is a picture of a FANTASTIC burger that Emily and I made. It’s a rip-off of Red Robin’s Whiskey River BBQ hamburger, complete with the little onion sticks you see sticking out. It was, as my Grandma Vi would have said, “De-Lish!”
This summer included some really hot weather. Can you say, “Thank you God for AC”? While the girls were off to AWANA camp, Thomas had us (mom and dad) all to himself. Is there any better time than a hot day with no sisters to bother you to figure out if a person really can cook an egg outside in a hot pan? Look below…
After a few hours it was determined that the egg cannot cook in this manner. It ended up being put onto Annie’s dog food.
The garden was another fun thing this summer. We grew a lot of veggies. The corn didn’t do so well. I think it’s because I planted them next to the sunflowers. I read up on planting with sunflowers and learned that they are nutrient leeches. Shouldn’t plant anything too close to them. Next year, we’ll do it differently!
Ask the kids, and they’ll tell you one of their favorite surprises of the summer was a visit from my old high school buddy, Michael Hagan. They had met him once or twice before, but their memory of him was vague. Mike sent several emails before his arrival from the Oakland to tell us of the games he was bringing and how he looked forward to playing these with the kids at all hours. THAT was enough to send the kids to the peak of excitement and anticipation! There are few things they love more than playing games. Any game. All games. Especially new games.
After a snack and a little leg stretching (Michael drove straight from the bay area to our house that day), the games came out and Michael delivered! The kids were thrilled! The only thing they may have liked better is when he told stories of when he and I were in high school. From Glenn Beck losing the ASB presidency to Rudy Chapin, to character traits of our orchestra teacher, the kids were enthralled with the stories.
- All four playing Mille Bornes card game. Thomas was the point magnet! Notice Michael was Thomas’s partner…
Michael stayed here two nights, but before leaving, the girls danced for him. He said they were the best (only?) Irish dancers he had ever seen and insisted on a lesson. A total photo op…
cut 2, 3….
step, hop back…
Michael, Thomas and of course, Sandy the crazy poodle
What a fun visit! We can’t wait to take a turn and drive down to California and stay with him for a few days!
More to come… back to school, a visiting chef, and waiting for new shoes. Stay tuned!
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