The Rest of Sarah's Visit

I'll tell you, coming up with a title for posts is hard. For me, anyway.

So, on Saturday I got up and baked my oatmeal raisin cookies and mixed up some slaw dressing to take to Roger's cookout. We drove to Kingsport and arrived a little after one. Of course we were almost the first ones to get there. I bet that was foreign to Sarah. ;) It was already HOT.

Roger grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought something. I took this picture of Tim's plate minus his hamburger to remember that he ate Kim's broccoli/cauliflower salad. In the thirty some years I have known him I have NEVER known him to eat broccoli. And he liked it...the salad that is.

The crowd was a bit smaller this year. It seems as though it ebbs and flows. Sarah hadn't been to one of Roger's cookouts in years since she moved to Northern Virginia. I couldn't tell you the last time Seth went either. Bum. ;) Jen and Michael were there with Addy. Jen is due with a boy in August and she looked fabulous. Addy isn't familiar with us so she never has warmed up to us yet. It's hard when we only see them a couple of times a year. Mammy had been in the hospital a week ago because she fell. She is home recuperating but didn't feel well on Saturday (she had overdone it the day before) so Jane brought she and Pappy over for just a little while. I'm glad Sarah was able to sit inside (with air conditioning) to visit with Mammy and Pappy.

Roger and Pat had their first 4th of July cookout in 1990, the year they moved back from Pennsylvania. Their screened in back porch inspired us to build one too. I'm glad Roger continued having it after Pat passed away. It has become one of my favorite family traditions. The kids used to love to go and swim every year. We haven't taken our swimsuits in years. I guess you just kinda grow out of swimming. Sarah sat poolside for a few minutes before we left. It was just too hot to be in the sun.

Even though the car had been parked in shade this was the temperature when we got in the car to leave.  The air conditioning felt so good on our drive home.

On to the next party we went. Andrew's 5th birthday party at Jen's "Flat Gap" house. Thank goodness we got there late and just in time to miss the birthday boy getting pushed into the pool by Ean (payback) and splitting his chin open. So thankful we missed the drama! He survived though and partied like a trooper. Erin took him to the emergency room later and he got seven stitches.

We always get such a kick out of the funny things Andrew says. And the way he says it. After he cut his chin he was crying and said, "Just my luck, now I'm gonna be four and won't get to turn five." Also, when Erin told him they would have to ride over to the hospital to let a doctor look at it he said, "but you are a doctor and you already looked at it." You can't get anything past him. Seth told us later that he saw Andrew pass Ean and heard him say, "thanks a lot" and of course Ean was oblivious. Oh, just the thought of it now cracks me up. Never a dull moment!

Like I said the party went on. Andrew enjoyed playing an swimming with his friends and cousins. He even made up with Ean.

Ean, Cayden and Bailee

Fortunately, the sun went behind some clouds about the time we got to Jen's so it wasn't too hot. Gary Dee, Colma, Gary, Peggy, Pete, and Tammy's crew were there too so we mostly visited. After Erin and Jen left to take Andrew to the ER we helped Fred clean up and then headed for home. After being gone most of the day it was nice to be back home for the evening. We watched some of the reds game but didn't stay up as late. Sarah needed to leave by nine the next morning to pick up Dan in Roanoke and we had church so crashed at a reasonable time.