Harrison/Bernard Invitational Cook-Off

Every year the Bernards and Harrisons have a cook-off on Memorial Day. This year’s theme was poultry and we were invited! Yay! Andy asked if I wanted to enter and bring something, but I knew with the busy week I really couldn’t. So I said I’d bring a side dish and decided to do a strawberry spinach salad about an hour and a half before going. I quickly threw one together, made some lemonade in the cooler and headed out the door.

There were TONS of different poultry dishes to choose from and Andy’s smoked turkey was especially delicious, both plain and on the flat bread pizza (which by the way, was the best dish there)!

Andy’s fantastic smoked turkey flat bread pizza

  

Andy, the chef

 

But after all the ballots were cast, there was one entry that was mentioned almost every time: my strawberry spinach salad! LOL  So I was graciously declared the unofficial winner and even given the prize: a fully-equipped, self-contained BBQ apron! Andy also gave me the Betty Crocker Cooky Book that my mom had when I was a kid! I can’t wait to start making cookies out of it!

this was my favorite page when I was a kid 

It was a lot of fun, even if I hadn’t won! I wonder what I’ll bring next year??? :o)

Sunday School Picnic

Every year on the last day of Sunday School, we hold an all-church picnic at Riverside Park. This year I wasn’t sure the weather was going to cooperate for us, but the rain held back (for the most part) and we had a very nice time! We all enjoyed the good food, the fellowship and the bigger kids (and some of the really big kids) had a blast playing soccer!

 just visitin’…

the chow line

playing ring toss (Ben is good!)

Alex likes having his picture taken (can you tell??? LOL)

CHEESE!!!

Lily gets to pull the first string to see which one opens the piñata

 

Alex pulled the winning string!

  

but the candy needed a little help getting out…

Lily decided she couldn’t wait until it was unwrapped

Camping Out Class Party

While the guys were gone at the men’s retreat camping in the cold and rain, I went to the Wards’ house for a warm and cozy Camping Out party.

Betsy and Cassia were lovely hostesses and everyone who came had lots of fun eating delicious food, making camp necklaces, doing camping Mad Libs, playing the a tent, visiting and roasting homemade marshmallows on the front porch!

Cassia is all ready!

the Camping Out gang

making necklaces

coloring their medallions

Camping Out moms

story time in the tent

reading the kids’ Mad Lib stories

S’mores are the BEST!!!

Thanks for such a fun time to the Ward family and all the Camping Out families, too!

Mt Men’s Retreat 2010

Unfortunately the weather at this year’s Mt Men’s Retreat was less than ideal. It poured most of the time they were there! Not to mention the fact that it was also cold… But they had a great speaker (Chris did it), fantastic food (Bob and Brent did it), wonderful fellowship and GUNS!

the new stove

Some of the guys are still talking about shooting the AK-47…

 

It Finally Arrived

After months of dreaming, researching, saving, waiting and anticipation Zack’s new guitar finally arrived today in the mail! To say that he is happy to have it is a gross understatement. He LOVES it already! Now he just has to choose a name…

they started getting into the box before I could even get back with the camera

Geez! How many boxes are there? It’s like a present at a teen group gift exchange… LOL

It’s a transparent cherry Ibanez ART100. I have to admit that it’s a very pretty guitar and it sounds pretty SWEET, too!

Have fun Zack and I hope you enjoy many more years of a rockin’ good time playin’ her!