4th of July Weekend 2008

Dad was bogged down with completing an order for signs and so was stuck at the shop for many hours during the week.

I drove to Newberg to pick Grandma up because she had an appointment at Montevilla Sewing Center for 6:00. We stopped off at Costco on the way and then went to JoAnn Fabrics to get some fabric for another of her quilts and I got some fabric for some Humanitarian projects for Church.

After 1 1/2 hours in the store we headed for Montevilla which was only about 10 minutes away. Except for the terrible traffic and the fact that I drove passed the street I needed to turn on we would have been on time.

Dad had left the shop early and changed into his suit so that he could leave the Sewing Center and go straight to his Stake meetings. We left the store with the new machine in the trunk at about 7:15. Grandma and I went to dinner at Izzy's and didn't get home until 9:15 just 15 minutes before Dad got home. Grandma and I had enjoyed slowly taste testing the chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, pizza, pineapple, applesauce and whatever fit on our plates. Then, of course, we had to have a Cinnamon Roll.

Of course, you can't get a doggy bag from a buffet so when Dad called and I told him I didn't have his dinner ready I suggested that he stop and get something at one of the fast food restaurants. He was following a big Dominos Pizza Truck and just called the number printed on the side of the truck. Then he followed the truck to the shop. He chatted with Grandma for a couple of minutes before coming upstairs with his pizza.

Early Saturday morning we headed across the street for the annual Flag Raising Ceremony and Pancake breakfast.

Our Scouts did a nice job as usual.

Bishop Dullum spoke and we sang some patriotic songs. I noticed that there weren't as many people as usual and that was too bad.

Still I guess that there were more than 100 of us.

The food was delicious.

After breakfast we headed home and Grandma began decorating the flag cake which has been a tradition in her family for a very long time. She told us about how Aunt Nellie used to decorate the stars with icing but Grandma always uses blue berries.

Dad and I were the only ones who didn't get dressed in Red, White, and Blue.

They all looked so cute. My flags are all packed but Grandma had one that she brought.

Our berry bushes had plenty of berries for everyone who wanted them.

This cute picture of Emma shows her taking a berry break.

I got this nice picture of Don, Gaylynne, and Grandma.

Courtney and Great Grandma search for more berries in the next photo.

After dinner and dessert Don and Gaylynne headed for their home leaving their babies with us.

The kids and I walked to the park while Dad and Grandma followed in the car.

We played on the playground equipment until it became too dark and then walked the neighborhood looking at all the different displays.

A family invited us to join them. Apparently, the boy had worked in the firework stand. It was for a youth group that his mother works for.

There had been a raffle and the prize was a $300.00 pack of various fireworks. The man who won the prize said that he wouldn't be able to use it and so gave it to our neighbor. They were excited and eager to share their prize.

They offered to give up their chairs and invited us to sit. Dad got a blanket from the car and we sat on their lawn with the children and Grandma took one of the chairs.

We had a good time oooing and awwwing and clapping for the best fireworks.

The pounding of the show at Water Front Park made us curious about what was happening down there.

Emma and Dayton were both pretty tired so we thanked our neighbors and headed for home long before they had gotten through their box of fireworks.

The kids had all brought their sleeping bags and sprawled out on the floor downstairs. I stretched out on the futon.

We watched cartoons until everyone was fast asleep. Of course that didn't happen until after midnight.

Emma was the first one to fall asleep. It wasn't too long after that when I noticed that Courtney was asleep too.

Dayton stayed in this positon you see in the photo until about midnight. He then grabbed his little blanket and covered himself and fell asleep.

I waited for Mel to fall asleep but she was wide awake. One minute awake and the next very soundly asleep. I lowered the sound on the televison and she didn't budge. I turned on the news and soon after also fell asleep.

Surprisingly, I slept pretty well.

Dad headed for the shop at about 5:15 and I awoke at 5:45 and went upstairs. Grandma was already up when I came downstairs. She and I had breakfast together and enjoyed our visit very much.

Breakfast means that I get to be the house chef. I took orders. Dayton wanted Cheerios and a glass of milk. Melanie wanted sausage, bacon, toast, and eggs over easy with pepper. Emma wanted scrambled eggs and sausage, hot chocolate, and toast with cinnamon. Courtney wanted sausage, bacon, over-easy egg and no toast.

I fried up about 2 pounds of bacon and 8 sausages. I called Dad on the phone "Are you achin' for some bacon?" His answer was swift, "I'll be right there". He was able to come home and have breakfast with us.

When he first got home he saw Emma and called to her, "Good morning, Emma". No response. "Hey, Emma". No response. "Emma". Did she come running to hug her Grandpa? No. "Emma!" he called. Her answer? A loud and almost indignant, "WHAT???"

So funny!!!!!

One of the traditions we enjoy during sleepovers is a tea party. Dayton in the first photo is thinking about taking a cookie. Notice the expression on his face as he knows he shouldn't take one without asking.

After getting permission, see the smile on his face.

Very cute.

We took the tea party outside. Each of us had a pretend name. I was Mrs. Nesbitt (not very imaginative but Emma liked it). Emma was Mrs. M&M. Great Grandma was Mrs. Mikey. And Mel couldn't think of a name.

Great Grandma and I had fun dodging the actual sipping of the tea which was more than 1/2 sugar. Dayton and Emma were licking their cups clean. What a hoot!

Courtney transformed herself into a rhinoseros. And then helped Emma to do the same.

Gaylynne got held up in traffic and we looked at that as a blessing for us because Melanie wanted to make lunch for everyone. She made her wonderful "Crunch Soup". Chicken stock, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, salt, pepper, whoa lots of garlic, and parsley. Deeeeeeeeelicious.

Gaylynne joined us for lunch and we packed some of the soup up for "Daddy".

What a wonderful weekend this was. Thank you Don and Gaylynne for letting us have the sleep-over. Thank you Courtney, Melanie, Emma, and Dayton for being such great kids. And thank you Great Grandma for coming and enjoying the holiday with us.

As for the rest of you...Lori, Matthew, and baby ----Teresa, Stuart, and Audrey ---- Brian and Kristin... we missed you.