Big Ones--40 and 60!

This past week my mom hit a milestone and I think she makes 60 look fantastic!

She planned a weekend get together with the ladies on both sides of the family that were local and I got the privilege of cooking dinner for all of us on Saturday night.  Knowing some of my mom's favorites I made Creamy Chicken Marsala and Chicken Parmesan w/Sauteed Mushrooms, both with Angel Hair pasta, Salad Greens, and Creme Brulee for dessert.  Yum. 

After dinner we got good and silly playing "Spoons"--a card game where everyone simultaneously tries to collect 4 of-a-kind. 

As soon as one person succeeds, they grab a spoon from the middle of the table and everyone follows their lead.  With one less spoon than number of players, the last person is empty-handed and gets a letter in the order of P-I-G.  When you've lost 3 rounds and have "PIG", you're out of the game and another spoon is removed from the table.

(Seated around the table starting at the bottom left: Aunt Carolyn, Cousin Heather, Cousin-in-law Krystal, Cousin Laura, Cousin Lindsey, Sis-in-law Kim, Aunt Deb, Grandma Arlene, Nana Ruth, Aunt Glynnette, Aunt Jean, and mom.  Missing from this pic: Aunt Joyce, Aunt Jeanie, and myself.) 

A totally non-staged picture, believe it or not!

                   

And with all of life's busyness, I realized recently that I hadn't posted pictures from Pete's 40th at the end of August!  He wasn't real thrilled about this birthday, and wanted things low-key, so we had a picnic at my parents:  BBQed chicken, mac-n-cheese, veggies, deviled eggs, and homemade raspberry ice cream for dessert.  It was super muggy but we still had fun. 

Of course he got a few "old man" gifts to keep him feeling young: one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish boxers, Scooby Doo bandaids, etc. :-) 

So, here are a few pictures...3 months late!

Weekend Respite

It is a tremendous blessing to have a family cabin--a place to get away from the daily grind, the noise of the modern world, and enjoy uninterrupted time with loved ones.  A few weekends ago we loaded up the car and headed west to Juniata County.

Even as a little girl, I loved the mountains.  The rich loamy dirt, velvety moss, spicy woodsmoke and pine trees...the crunch of leaves under foot and the quiet gurgle of the stream.  A playground with endless possibilities.

Most of the leaves had already fallen, but there were a few pretty ones left.

  

The weather was really mild, only in the 50's, so we didn't even keep the woodstove going.  It was semi-rainy the whole weekend but no matter.  The kids enjoyed stomping around in the woods all the same.

My girlie, making a sketch of the forest in her notebook.

Inside, the bunks made for fun play, especially for Adam our mountain climber.  Coloring pages, stencils, books, and games filled the inbetween times.  Pete now knows how it feels to have a 3 yr. old beat him at MEMORY!       :-)



       

We all helped to collect some leaves to press for a school project Natalia had brought home.  Families were encouraged to work together to decorate a turkey for the 1st grade's hallway bulletin board. 

I just love that my husband and kiddos enjoy the mountains as much as I do!  Till next time...