Mom's Birthday Dinner/Family Dinner

Every month that we can..we try to have a family dinner with the kids Great-Grandma, my mom (Gramma Carol), my brothers...and whoever else can make it.  Most of my family lives in South Bend...except for a certain sister and brother-in-law who choose to live in some sunny big city in Florida (the traitors)!...

Not only do we have a family dinner...but if a holiday or birthday is around the same time, we celebrate that too.  Last month was my Mom's birthday (Gramma Carol's).,.so that was the general theme...

When I have the time, I love to cook...and we LOVE comfort food around here...so we use this time to make really not so "healthy" for you foods...delicious...but not helping anyone's cholesterol levels. (It's only once a month...)  Please note..the fancy china.....made from the finest paper china has to offer.

So anyway...here was the menu;

Appetizers;

Spicy cheese dip with celery, carrots and chips for dipping

Homemade (with stuff from OUR garden) salsa with chips

and 

Gramma's request--Spinach dip in Hawaiian bread

 

For Dinner we had;

Hotdogs (fancy I know...) with 9 different toppings to choose from, everything from ketchup to spicy peppers to coney island chili!

Cantaloupe 

Potato Chips with dip

Ranch BLT pasta salad and

Pineapple Baked Beans (which were a new recipe and were awesome..I will so make it again)!

Everyone enjoying the food!

For dessert:

Homemade peach pie (that looks pretty good...but read on...oh well)

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (don't knock it till you try it...awesome)

and Homemade Chocolate Chip/Pecan Cookies

Happy Birthday Mom/Gramma!!

 I don't seem to have a picture of the cookies...

Here's the thing about the Peach Pie....I've never made one before...I may never try again...it basically NEVER stopped making juice!!!  We cut into that crust and almost all had to evacuate the house!!!  I believe Andrew asked why were having Peach soup for dessert......nice, the thanks I get....:-P

Add to that...the crust tasted like something from a home-ec class from 1976 and the whole thing was NOT GOOD!!....although strangely...great-grandma loved it.....hmmm.

Here are just some other random pictures....

Usually about 45 mins before the family is due to arrive...Madalyne begins to LOSE HER MIND!!...every single time.  Not sure if she is just soooo excited or what happens although I have an inkling it could have to do with Gramma bringing "prizes" each time!!...Here's a glimpse of what I have to deal with while I am getting last minute straightening/cooking/apps out/  opening a beer..or second beer...or by this time...3rd....

You'd need a beer too....keep in mind...this goes on for at least 45 mins. straight!!!

Then...when you think it all is starting to calm down.....

Andy arrives...leading to...

Jack arriving!!!...

Jack may be the worlds largest German Shepard...and Murphy is his chew toy...although Murph totally deserves it!!

We tried like crazy to get a good pic of all 3 of them....not going to happen!

So...after dinner and dessert and Mom opening her gifts...we got the kids in bed (yeah...so simple a statement...so mission impossible to execute) and then we set up two tables of Euchre!!  This dinner Austin joined us...so we had enough for two games.  We had a great time...I love that the kids get to spend this special time with their Great-Grandma (who's 90) and the rest of the family!

Happy Birthday Mom/Gramma!!  We love you!!

This month---we decided on a BIG SALAD....aren't you proud??  Don't be...I plan on making homemade blue cheese dressing along with about 9 other carb/fat filled items.....it's just the way it's gotta be.

Now...we need to figure out how we can do this with Brian's family each month....

Today's another busy day...I'm writing this at 7:30 in the morning after a 12 hour shift...the kids are missing school this morning for Dr.'s appts and then I have PT at 3p and Madalyne has soccer practice at 6pm...not sure where sleep fits in...but I'll figure it out!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Love,

W

Little Miss Soccer :-)

Madalyne is playing soccer for Middlebury Magic this year...as most of you know.  She's LOVING it!


I promised to post some pics of her in her uniform..so here they are:

She's #1 !! :-)

She is playing a scrimmage against the Jr. Irish tomorrow and then she has a double header for her first real games this coming Sunday...she's super excited!!
Brian goes to most of her practices and says she is doing really well and somehow manages to keep up with the 9 and 10 year old girls.  We are so proud of her and so happy that she has found something that truly brings her joy!


I'm going to post a bunch of smaller posts over the next few days....this week is crazed for us..starting tomorrow with Brian working in Cromwell, I'm working a 15 1/2 hour day (groan), Madalyne has her first soccer scrimmage and Zach will no doubt be busy controlling the "big" t.v.'s remote...he feels that this is his job...and he even does it while he's sleeping...he's just that good...(there is the tightest grip on that you can imagine...all to prevent ever, ever having to watch "a girl show"...oh the horror)

Hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing Labor Day...Madalyne and I had a very nice "Girl's Day Out" with lunch at Panera and then Target and Michael's where we bought her some new charms for her backpack.  Next week I get a day out with Zach :-)
Love,
Wendy