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.

The Cincinnati Reds Room

Last week my first cousin's wife emailed me to ask if my uncle and her family could stay at my house when my cousin's grandmother on the other side of the family passed away. She had cancer and the time was near. So, of course I didn't mind if they stayed here since all of their family would be in and every bed would be taken on that side of the family. I emailed her back and planned to clean upstairs to prepare the rooms.

Well, the time was the next day. So, I had a couple of days to whip Seth's (the Cincinnati Reds) room into shape. I washed linens and made beds. I moved some of Seth's furniture around and brought the recliner from the playroom into his room. I had been planning to do this anyway so I would have somewhere to sit if I went upstairs when Tim worked in his home office which happens to be in the Cincinnati Reds room.

My uncle ended up not coming so I just had my first cousin, his wife and their three year old little boy. They came Saturday and left Tuesday. They stayed in Sarah's room. They weren't here most of the time since they were spending it with the other side of the family but it was very handy since it's just a few minutes drive to his Papaw's house, especially with a little one. Melanie was able to come back to the house with Jadon when need be. I enjoyed having them here.

When Tim and I went to the visitation we learned that Kit's other two first cousins had gotten a motel room so we offered they could stay at our house. Now, these cousins were born and raised in San Fransisco, California. How shall I put this...they were a little "different." :) So, my aunt told them we had extra room if they wanted to stay with us and I chimed in, "you can stay in the Cincinnati Reds room." They looked a little bewildered. I mean, they had just met me that evening so technically we were strangers. It ended up they had already checked into their motel but one of them did ask if the Cincinnati Reds was a football team. He really had no idea!

Guess that is why he wasn't impressed when I offered my Cincinnati Reds room.

Now, who wouldn't want to stay in here surrounded by photos of current and past Reds?

Plenty of memorabilia.

And a little Virginia stuff thrown in for good measure. ;)

I guess it doesn't have quite the appeal to others as it does us. Anyway, the Cincinnati Reds room is ready next time someone needs a place to stay. Hope it's Seth and he comes to spend the night. ;)

A Sense of Humor

This post is totally for me to remember a couple of "funnies."

I always think things are funny. Luckily I have a funny husband and a very funny son. When Seth comes up for lunch or after work he always has a funny story to tell. Sometimes I don't know if I am easily amused because he is my son or whether I just have a good sense of humor. Tim said a couple of things this weekend that cracked me up and I would just like to remember them. I had to write a little background on the first one.

A few years ago Seth and three friends, Brent, Rookie and Joe went to Cincinnati for the weekend to watch the Reds. They stayed at a La Quinta Inn and Suites and went to Friday, Saturday and Sunday's games. I don't remember who they saw play but when they saw who was coming to town on Monday they scraped their money together to stay one more night and attend Monday's game too. They couldn't afford to stay at the La Quinta another night so found a room at a budget motel. Seth said they carried their stuff into the room and sat down on the bed. He said they probably sat there a full minute in silence when Joe said, "I miss La Quinta." To which they died laughing.

Of course every time Seth retells the story Tim and I die laughing too.

So, I had been wanting to make some of my own cleaning products, detergent, etc. for awhile and just hadn't. Since I had pinning recipes I finally decided to try some. I have made a liquid detergent and recently a powdered laundry detergent which I am pretty pleased with. I haven't bought detergent for a few months. I also made liquid soap which I like fine but Tim hates because it doesn't foam. I tried to explain that the chemicals in soap is what makes it foam but he's not too fond of the homemade version.

The only picture I could find to go with the post.

So, getting around to the funny part...last night Tim said his shirt smelled good. He wanted me to smell it. It was a tee shirt he hadn't worn in awhile. I asked what it smelled like. He said, "I guess detergent." Then he was silent for a minute and said, "I miss detergent." We both cracked up because it was just like Seth's friend  Joe saying he missed La Quinta.

The other "funny" will be lost on everyone but but me and my children but I couldn't stop laughing over it. We used to have a cat named Leon. He was the type who chased dogs and could send you to the emergency room for stitches if he scratched you. But we loved him. So, now we have Pokey. Pokey is, hmmm, how can I say this nicely? Well, I can't. He's annoying as heck. He meows and wants food, then he won't eat. He goes out, he comes in, he goes out he comes in...He scratches on the door and it sounds like fingernails on the chalkboard. Seriously, he drives us crazy. Yesterday he was scratching on the door. We ignored him for awhile but Tim was getting up anyway so he let him in.

Pokey

I said, "What did Leon used to do when he wanted in?" Tim made a knocking gesture and said, "boom boom boom." We both died laughing. It was so Leon.

And it was so us...laughing about everything.

Chinese Christmas

Chinese Christmas is a family tradition at our annual get together. We set a five dollar limit and have a mix of gag and good gifts. The Dollar Wise is always a popular shopping spot and Josh did his shopping at Goodwill this year. What treasures he found! The most popular item this year though was this sock monkey hat Erin brought. Josh opened it and made the mistake of wearing it so everyone could remember it. It didn't take long before Jordan took it.

It didn't last long on his head before Lauren took it. She barely had enough time to pose for this picture before Tim took it from her.

Four heads so far...I hope everyone was clean. Tim thought he had really scored but twasn't to be because Heather still had her turn and she asked Elijah if he wanted it.

And he did. It looks cutest on him anyway. ;)

The revolving photo cube was quite popular too. I think it changed hands a couple of times.

And then there was this. Shannon was able to keep it. Good thing since she is an assistant principal at a school. She might need it.

As always our Chinese Christmas gift exchange was full of laughs, loud but oh so fun! I am already thinking I will shop at Goodwill for next years gifts.