Happy Monday Peeps!
How are you doing this lovely August summer day? The sun is shining and it's been clearer weather here, which has been lovely.
We had such a fun weekend. I sure hope you did too!
Ours was very eventful. Friday some relatives on my Dad's side were in town and Matt and Annie & I went out to dinner with them. Then later in the evening my son came into town and we all hung out and played some games Friday night. Saturday his Jill was busy, but Aaron and Annie came with Matt & I to run errands for the surprise 80th birthday party we threw for my Dad. 😊🎉 We also went out to breakfast Saturday morning and saw some old besties of my former in-laws. It was so nice to visit with them and for them to see me so happy with Matt and how much my kiddos just love him too. Then Saturday night was my Dad's big party. He was so surprised and it couldn't have been better!!
Then Sunday morning Matt & I went to church. That afternoon we hung out with the kids. Then all of us went to a favorite local pizza place for dinner and met some of my cousins there (from my Mom's side of the family actually). Then they came back to our place and we played games, had dessert and sat out and had a fire on the deck until late into the night. Such a full and very fun weekend!!
This morning I went out to brunch with my cousin and her hubby before they headed back home. I'm so grateful for the amazing family I have and getting so much time with my kiddos. Squeezing every minute out of these wonderful summer days while we have them.
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
Just some iced protein coffee before I went to restaurant to meet my cousin
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
brunch with cousin, my Mom's MD appts, groceries later in the week, projects, hospice work
THINKING ABOUT:
my grateful heart to be born to the family I have and how very much I love my relatives and our bonds
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:
summer nights by a fire with the wind in the trees and the peepers and summer sounds all around - visiting with loved ones and laughing lots
CURRENTLY READING
I've been terrible about reading and have been outside a lot lately and active and too tired to read at night. Lol
ON THE TV TODAY:
Americas Got Talent, And Just Like That, The Gilded Age, The Office, Big Brother,The Last Kingdom, American Pickers, The Pitt
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - Annie will be out tonight so not sure what Matt & I will do?
TUESDAY - going to make Annie's faves this week - this night veggie lasagna and bruschetta, melon
WEDNESDAY - blueberry french toast bake, breakfast potatoes, fruit
THURSDAY - lemon pasta, caesar salad, garlic bread
FRIDAY - maybe out to a favorite of Annie's choice
*I'm also going to bake zucchini bread this week - another Annie fave ;) And going out for a sushi lunch with my Dad one day this week too (she loves sushi like we do)
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
go for walks, hang with my girl, maybe golf? play games
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
FROM THE CAMERA:
It's so crazy to me that my Dad is 80 already! Especially when I'm only 38 (wink wink) Lol But it was so fun to cook up this idea with my step Mom months ago. I told her I wanted to do something extra special and then that got us talking about a surprise party. I took the reigns, per her request, and handled the venue, decorations and dessert. She handled the plan to get him there. Lol We held it at a local steak house that they often go to with friends (so that wasn't weird to him). My step Mom and my Dad come from big families, so we needed a bigger venue than my house. We had about 30 to 35 people there.
My step Mom and I always tease my Dad that gnomes remind us of him. He has a gray mustache and beard and kind of a "not small" nose. 😂
So we went with a gnome theme. I found gnomes that reminded me of him (a GB Packers one, a bird watching one, and a golfer). I got wood bases and put a gnome on each as a centerpiece and embellished with fairy lights, moss, mushrooms, acorns, pinecones etc. On the tables we put funny gnome props for photo ops. We also had lots of "80" themed decorations. Matt, Annie, and my Aunt Mary Jo helped me get it all set up and it turned out really cute. He came into the room and was so puzzled and then so surprised and got overwhelmed and emotional. It was really sweet. There was lots of fun joking and teasing, lovely toasts to him, we sang to him, and of course lots of visiting and family photo ops. A lovely milestone in the books. 💗
The venue kept the cupcakes in their fridge for us until after dinner and I forgot to get a pic. So I took a pic of the leftovers when I had them home. They were so yummy and made by a local pro. The flavors were: gluten free white chocolate strawberry (as we have several gf folks in the crew), lemon cupcakes with lemon filling & fresh blueberry frosting, white almond, and hostess cupcakes dupes that were awesome!
And it was so fun to have my cousin Susie and her hubby, Steve, in town visiting yesterday. We went out to dinner with them and with another cousin of mine and his wife. And that cousin had to leave but Susie and Steve came over to our house and we all hung out (my kiddos too) and played several games. And then when it got dark Matt put on a fire outside and I took this pic from the house while I was putting dessert together. I made this dessert that I've made before and it's so yummy. It's a Pioneer Woman recipe and so good for summer because it's a frozen pie. And who doesn't love chocolate and raspberry? 😋 It was so fun gabbing late into the night just enjoying each others' company around a cozy fire.
PRAYER LIST:
For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence. For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For my Dad's 80th year to be such a blessing to him. For all my relatives traveling today.
For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way. 🙏🏻