Wow, What a Weekend!

I downloaded 580-some pictures of my memory card today, and by rigid self-control, managed to winnow the essential pictures down to 169. Ergo, I don't think I'm going to be able to put them into one blog post. The number of pictures speaks to the fact that it was one awesome long weekend we just enjoyed. Lindsey flew in Friday morning, we went up to Mary Bregg's for a surprise baby shower for Bethaney, watched the parade in Moira for Heritage Day on Saturday, I cooked all Saturday afternoon (with mucho help from Ashley) for Saturday supper, we played baseball Saturday night... then on to Sunday, with a wonderful meeting, another yummy meal (and four cakes for the birthday people this time of year!), swimming, relaxing, a hymn sing late at night. Monday we crammed in more visiting with old friends, then drove home late. So, it was a weekend to remember.

Tonight, I'm just going to put up pictures of Bethaney's baby shower. Since the Earl girls, childhood (and current!) friends of Bet's, hadn't been close enough to do anything for Bethaney's first two kids, they decided to throw a shower for Bet this time around! It was to be a surprise. Remember that there are 6 kids in the Earl family and 8 kids in the Vaughan family-- so lots of people had to keep quiet to make the surprise work! But it all came together. Nina, Verity and Mary did LOTS of work to get ready.

The beautiful centerpiece (those are real lemons!) and Yankee Candle party favors.

There was a ginormous sub...

And lots of vegetables! Nothing looks prettier than fresh vegetables, and they were super yummy with the dip Nina made.

Punch, continuing the citrus-y theme. I loved the colors!

Now since it was a surprise, we couldn't tell Bethaney get there at a specific time. She thought she was coming to Mary's for a playdate with Mary's kids and my kids. So, we had a while to wait. Cheyenne kept patient watch at the front door while the rest of us chatted.

Cristin and Mary.

Tori and the Owen girls.

Lucy, Connie, Tori, Cheyenne and Lindsey.

Verity, Cristin, Mary, Hayden and Holly. Note the amazing number of windows Mary's apartment has-- it's a really neat place!

Alice, Nina, Tatiana, and Bonnie.

And Bet finally arrived!

First she looks confused-- "Why is Mom here for my playdate with Clover and Mary?"

Then slightly teary with surprise!

Yup, it was a surprise!

We started off with eating-- always a good scheme! Cheyenne and Tatiana helped themselves to some of the delicious fruit.

Then on to presents! This is an afghan Verity knitted for Baby Boy Cotten.

Dad even contributed some presents-- onesies full of pictures of trucks, motorcycles-- lots of "boy" things.

That's quite the pile of goodies! I'm thinking I should plan on having a baby boy soon so we can cash in on the hand-me-downs.

It was awesome having Lindsey home again. We're lucky she makes time to come home fairly frequently (well, "frequently" considering she lives 5000 miles away and her flight time home Tuesday was over 20 hours. That's not something you do lightly!)

Checking out some pictures.

Nina explaining something with great vigor.

Bet using Nature's Shelf for Pregnant Ladies.

Lily quite enjoyed the "Birthday Cake" icecream. Lily believes that one closes one's eyes in a charming squint for all pictures-- it's rather cute, even if you don't see her eyes!

Lots of ice cream kiddos!

Cool girly toys and ice cream-- Cheyenne thoroughly enjoyed her time there.


No, Evan wasn't there for the whole shower (though Mary's poor husband was-- he wisely stayed upstairs, napping!) He stopped by to pick up some kids on his way through. He was sucked into our coolness, though, and stayed a while to visit.

They lined up for a picture, then I made them move-- still joined at the hip.

They all look much the same as they used to-- only Bet's a teeny bit larger in the tummy than she was back in the day.

Gorgeous ladies!

And ditto. Rilla loved climbing this railing, under Grandma Jill's supervision.

Elliott on Hayden's Big Wheel. We were considering buying him one of these for his birthday, but despite the fact that he loved playing with it here, he is still too little to really be able to ride it. Maybe next year!

Lots of kids playing!

Then we got very Jane Austen-ish. Here Lindsey and Verity go for a stroll around the lawn...

And we inspected Mary's garden! Very pretty flowers...

and lots of ripening tomatoes! Cheyenne loved this garden, especially when Nina and Mary found some fresh peas and green beans for her to munch on.

Lindsey with her matching nieces.

Mary's property backs up onto the Grasse River. We all went down to skip some stones. (Evan got the most number of skips, despite Mary's impressive mastery of the art.)

Evan with Marilla and Lillian.

Bet with Orianna. It was a little bit slippery heading down this hill, so we were all glad Bet didn't go tumbling down on her belly.

I love this picture of Lindsey and Verity observing the proceedings from the top of the hill. (They had already been down to the river, so they just watched for this leg of the trip.)

The back of Mary's apartment. What awesome windows!

Well, if I didn't have to go fold laundry so we could actually sleep in our bed tonight, I could post some more pictures! Hope you enjoy tonight's installment of pictures as much as I enjoyed being there while these events were happening! Tomorrow night I will post the pictures of Moira's fascinating parade!

Ice Cream and Swimming

We've been doing more than eating ice cream and swimming lately, but I've been only getting my camera out lately when we've been doing those lovely summer activities!

Like today, when this little monkey was enjoying licks off Mommy's Orange and Vanilla twist.

Elliott and Cheyenne were getting into their Chocolate and Vanilla Twists.

She's getting so adept at this-- no drips today!

Tori delicately licking her Orange and Vanilla twist.

While we had been waiting in line, I had told the kids they could ride the horses. I had even ponied up (get it?) quarters for them so the horses actually moved!

Cheyenne got on and said, "I feel like I'm too big for this." I'm not sure if she meant physically or emotionally, but it made me realize what a long-legged girl I have!

Hmm, doesn't want to work. At that point, I was waiting in a loooong, hot line and holding a wiggly toddler, and I REALLY didn't know why the horses weren't working, and I was deeply regretting my decision to bring the kids to the Ice Cream Place. Cheyenne had only been asking to go here for three years (literally), why did I cave in today? Thankfully, when I got to the front of the line, the guy apologized and said he hadn't had time to put to "Out of Order" sign out on the horses yet.

So, with our refunded quarters, we had rides on the carousel horses.




Since it was moving, Rilla, felt obligated to make motor noises.


Elliott liked it!

Tori and her neice. All in all, I think the kids enjoyed our $7 outing. If you're a mean mommy most of the time and don't take them places or spend money, they react like they're going to Disneyland on a chartered jet when you tell them "We're going to get ice cream!"

Now for the swimming portion...

We went out to Dana and Marilyn's Thursday, and the kids enjoyed swimming in their cousins' pool. These pictures are from Saturday night, when we cooled off from workday.

Evan and Elliott enjoying swimming together.

This was the scene most of the time, though-- Elliott swimming by himself. Of course, he has three inflatable objects keeping him up, but he was pretty proud of himself! He actually was quite impressive, kicking his legs to get him in the right direction, and taking water in the mouth in stride.

Marilla hanging out with Auntie.

The Red Head with Aunt Tori.

Elliott kicking towards Grandma.

The little ham, pajama-ed, but still wanting to jump in. She was putting on the most hilarious show, with dance moves and facial expressions.

(Did anyone ever notice how she looks like singing sensation Susan Boyle?)

Other new things in our lives as of late...

A whole chunk of the house, FINISHED! Well, probably there's some soffit, or J-channel or F-channel or some such thing I've never heard of that still needs to be finished, but it sure looks good.

New summer sandals on EDIBLE feet!

Daddy finally got the wagon out for the tricycle.

Elliott had first turn being proud chaffeur.

Then Cheyenne took a turn.

Wahoo!

Rilla enjoying company. Cody, Owen, Ashley and Philip were here last week for a few hours.

Rilla feeding herself cereal for the first time. Well, the first sanctioned time. I've got up from the breakfast table before for a brief minute, and come back to find cereal everywhere.

Okay, Cheyenne's weird.

Remember back in January, when I packed the new Little People away and brought the old style out, and the kids were ecstatic and engrossed for hours on end? Well, I did it in reverse last week.

Yup, I had to fight with Elliott to get him to eat that day, he was so excited about having a "new" toy.

This is a little photographer's request-- "Take a picture of my eye, Mommy!" So I did. And I love it. And him. And summer.

Oh, and since I haven't been busy at all, I've started a new blog-- Clover's Recipe Box, at http://cloversrecipebox.blogspot.com/. I started it because I'm sick of being somewhere, and not having my favorite recipes with me. Now, they'll always be available on the internet. I only put up recipes I've actually cooked. Feel free to click over for your chance at indigestion!