summertime on the deck

Brian is at a tournament.  I'm mentally and physically preparing for a cabin camping trip this weekend.  Kids are getting hungry.  Hmmmm, what's for dinner?  Open freezer.  Well that was uninspiring.  Sigh.  Okay, veggie corn dogs it is....I'm about to turn on the oven when something wonderful happened.

Ava:  Mom!  Come out here [to the deck], the neighbors are giving us food!
Me:  What?
Ava:  Just come quick!!!

Sure enough, one of my beautiful neighbor ladies had a piping hot plate of chicken drumsticks for me.  Manna from heaven.  This was the most delicious chicken!!!!  Doesn't everything taste better when generously prepared and given to you by someone else?  Yum!
After devouring the chicken, the kids decided it was time to stick their heads in a barrel of water. Sure, that seems like a great idea since you JUST ate...at least their heads were already in a bucket. I finally asked. and was told they were bobbing for ping pong balls. Of course you are.

grandfather turns 97

My Grandfather is turning 97 this week!  To celebrate the family, via Auntie Jeannie, had a bbq to celebrate. She is really good about organizing and hosting, thank you AJ!  Thank you to Katie as well for the amazing pictures.  Girl is pregnant and siiiiiiick but still managed to capture some wonderful moments from the bbq.

There were some familiar and unfamiliar faces, but that's what I find amazing about a large family.  Somehow, when we have these gatherings, there's someone I didn't know!  Among the faces, however, I saw some familiar and treasured people.  My uncle Paul and aunt Lu, auntie Dori, George and Austrid, Nicole, and uncle Bruce.
The usual suspects...my auntie/uncle/cousins the Arnolds. Isn't she a beauty!
This one of Lael makes me smile. She heard Grammy had arrived and went running to the fence trying to sneak a peak.
This is Gideon. He is the cutest thing I've seen. Too much cuteness. Couldn't get enough of his sweetness. His cry isn't even a cry! He was getting hungry but his little "cry" was more of a squeak. It sounded like "oh dear, I think I may be getting a little hungry here."
Pool Time!
Caleb warming up to uncle Paul...
Cousins in the sandbox...I was treated to some delicious pies that seemed to be made mostly of "eggs". Listening to G and Lael talk to each other was awesome. They would go from SUPER polite to...mmm....less polite. Good times!

Ahem...if anyone is reading this and notices that my own children are missing from the event, well, that's because they are. My mind finally reached the point of too full and in that state of mind I double booked for the day. It was Mike's birthday and he wanted to take the steam train up Mt. Rainier. Brian and the kids went with him to do that and I attended the bbq. It was a sad moment for me, mostly because I'm losing my marbles, but everyone had a good day.

backyard bbq

When the sun shines in Seattle....you bbq.  The kids talked Daddy into hot dogs and s'mores on the fire pit.  It was a beautiful evening, with a slight breeze.  This posed a small issue for Ava, she didn't like the smoke getting in her eyes.  She headed inside, and shortly thereafter my little problem solver returned with a solution.


Love it!  She gets it.  Only Daddy would could pull this together on short notice and end the day with s'mores.  Y.U.M.



This girl takes her marshmallow roasting seriously.  This is intense.


Then there's this guy.  He loves watermelon...


...and I love him!