Summer Party

Summer Party

Saturday we had a summer party for our friends from church.  This is our third year hosting a summer party for our friends. We did our first one to celebrate the adoptions being finalized. Now, we just do it for the fun of it.  We are so blessed to live in this great house with a large yard.  We love to share it with others.  We open it up to anyone who wants to come and don't ask for an RSVP so we're never sure how many to expect.  One of our worries every party is having enough seating.  We have plenty of tables but not enough chairs.  On Craigslist a few weeks ago we found a set of 40 folding chairs with a wheeled cart to store them, so Dode and I (and our chaperon William) drove to Issaquah (an hour away) to get them.  The cart makes a fun toy for our kids once it is empty.  Of course, once we put them out we found out we'd only gotten 34 chairs.  I don't think the seller was trying to be dishonest, they were probably around there somewhere but not worth driving back for.

Another worry is having enough buns for the burgers and dogs.  Since we never know how many are coming we have to buy more than we'll need.  We freeze the uncooked hamburgers and hot dogs, but we don't really care for frozen buns.  It's never been a problem to get rid of them. We bring the extras to church and leave them by the door with a free sign.  I like to imagine some tired mom walking by that table and thinking, "Well, now I know what we'll have for dinner tonight, hamburgers!"

This year, we had 65 people. We provide the hamburgers, hot dogs and the playing, everyone else brings the side dishes.  This year nearly EVERYONE brought chips!  I'd been looking forward to some interesting salads but it was not to be.  Since this is a Mormon gathering, the first family showed up 20 minutes after our official start time, the next family was not there until 20 minutes after that, most people came an hour late, and the last family came 3 hours later as we were taking chairs down. 

We weren't sure if the water toys were even going to be used because it took the kids a while to get up the nerve to go down Dode's creation.  Our poor tree house that Dode spent hundreds of hours building sat neglected due to the unfortunate fact that it sits on the other side of  the house from everything else.  I know if it was on the hill, it would get heavy use but we had to build it where the stumps were. 

The weather had been cold and rainy for a few days but Saturday arrived with sunshine.  Saturday morning Sharon called me to get a weather report and when I told her it was sunny, she said she'd been praying we'd have good weather.  So had I!  The sunny weather lasted until the party was over and now we're back in the cold clouds.  Once Sharon got the weather report, she got off the phone and was off to Carthage.  Dode and I had a giggle about how much Sharon knows about what's going on with our lives even when she's all the way away in Nauvoo.  We know where her heart is!

Dode had spent lots of time before the party getting the pool perfectly clear and free of grass (every time a child climbs out and then gets back in he brings two feet covered in grass clippings into the pool).  It didn't take long for the kids to fill it back up with grass and leave us with cloudy water!  Miriam is always so excited for us to have a party and each day leading up to it asks if it's the day of the party.  Then, once the party arrives she spends the party out of sorts and crying.  This party was no different.  Her feelings were hurt because the friend she really wanted to come took a while to get there.  Then, when her friend came she didn't want to do what Miriam wanted and Miriam just couldn't handle it.  So, she spent the party pouting in the house or cuddled up in my lap.  I really enjoyed the party even though I wasn't feeling well from the flu.  I went to bed last night and absolutely crashed.  When I woke up, I was stiff from not even moving all night.

It's fun to see our friends visiting.

See Elizabeth?  She's cold after playing in the water!  A smiling photo of Dode?  Hooray!

William after a dip in the pool

two down the slide at once

Kids having fun everywhere!

It's hard to believe it took over an hour for the first kid to try the slide.

popcorn is always a big hit, with the adults and the kids

my porch swing is always popular too

Seth enjoying our one pedal trike

flying with the aid of the zip line

 As I said, this is our third year hosting the party.  So far, we've added fun things each time.  What for next year, we are out of ideas, any suggestions?  I'd love to host a family reunion for Dode's Dearinger cousins here.  We've got the space and the fun, who's interested?!

Produce Co-Op

I haven't given any photos of our produce lately but this week's baskets were so great, I couldn't pass it up.

organic basket, $25

broccoli, cauliflower, pears, lettuce, cantaloupe, bananas, green beans,

oranges, nectarines, mangoes, figs, grapefruit

conventional basket, $15

lettuce, plums, cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, onions, green bell pepper

grapefruit, zucchini, oranges, tomatoes, pears, bananas

At the co-op this week, we also got lots of bruised plums.  After setting them out for anyone who wanted to take them, I was still left with a lot.  Sister Wilmont was at the party and she overheard me say that I needed a steam juicer to make jelly.  (We really like plum jelly but aren't too fond of plum jam.)  She had one in her garage and I used it to make three batches of plum jelly.