Memorial Day Weekend, part two

On Sunday morning we had our usual early start with our 8:15 service at Fillmore.  The choir sang for the last time until we start up again in the fall.  They deserve a break!  We've been hard at work ever since the end of August.  

Sammy came to church with us and as usual caused a few laughs, especially when he practically hijacked the children's story.  We're just hoping that his kindergarten teacher finds his creativity as funny as everyone else does.  Probably not, though. 

We did not go to Calvary afterward like we usually do, because Jenn and I had food to make for Lori's party.  While we worked on that, Sam took the kids to the little playground behind our house, and I sent Dick after them with my camera. 

Jenn spent a long time preparing her bacon-wrapped brussel sprouts.  They were so delicious even though they sent my smoke alarm into fits a few times while they roasted, haha!

I made Buffalo chicken dip.  Yum!  

Later in the afternoon we went over to Anthony and Lori's.  Bella was delighted once again to be able to jump into the pond to chase balls, and the children that were there for the party were very entertained by her. 

Unfortunately, it started to rain soon after the party started.  I mean really rain!  The big doors to the barn had to be closed, so it was pretty loud in there as the drummers did their thing!

But it was informal and fun.  Rhonda, the one for whom the farewell party was held, is a very artful dancer (foreground).

Hunter enjoyed it all and entertained everyone with his new walking skills.

We handed him a wooded maraca, but he tried to eat it.

After we went home Sam and Jenn went out, and Bianca wanted to watch Toy Story 3.  She was so into it!  I tried to take a selfie with her, but she was not about to stop watching.  She also insisted on sitting in that corner of the couch, and she did not need to be cuddled!

 She felt so bad for those toys!

Sammy was listening to the movie from our toy corner where he spent a long time working on a very intricate Lego creation.  Aren't Legos the best?  These were our children's when they young and are still a favorite activity of our grandchildren.

On Monday morning I made French toast and Canadian bacon.  I also made a delicious blueberry sauce and we topped it all with whipped cream.  What a hit!

After breakfast the kids wanted to draw and color.  They had the greatest time. 

Sammy said he was making a picture cookbook.  This was one of the pages - a dessert with a cherry on top!

It was another perfectly beautiful day, so we decided to go to Tudek Park where there is also a dog park and a farm where we have often enjoyed horses.  

We didn't stay at the dog park very long.  Bella was intimidated by all the other dogs that came rushing over to her.  She normally loves to play fetch, but it seemed like she was almost afraid to leave Sam's side. 

So we walked past the farm, and were disappointed that there were no horses in the pasture this time.  It was a lovely walk anyway.

The playground was a huge hit. 

We drove to nearby Dairy Queen to get our take-out lunch and brought it back to the park.  

The pavilion in which we ate was near a different and newer play set, so the kids were eager to try it out. 

Look at that sky!

Of course, the boy is pretty good looking too!

Bianca loved this part of the play set.  She was taking our food orders, and no matter what we ordered, she always asked,  "Do you want chicken nuggets?"  She would type our orders into her computer, swipe our cards, and then hand us our food.  Imagination is such a great thing!

Before we left the park I just had to take these pictures.  The weather was so perfect, and the park is in such a lovely setting.  We really are blessed with beautiful parks in this area. 

We went back to our place so Sam and Jenn could load up all their stuff, then we went over to Anthony and Lori's.  There was a bed frame and some night stands from Jeremy that they were taking home.  They had Jenn's dad's truck to load the things into.   This picture looks like they loaded up some rhododendron bushes, hahaha!!

While the guys did that, Bianca was enjoying the flowers.  She is such a flower lover.

I don't know why this picture got so overexposed, but I think it's kind of cool, right?

And then they were on their way.  What wonderful memories we made this weekend.  

I forgot to say that I started showing Sammy some pictures on my computer on Sunday evening after Bianca was asleep.  He wanted to see more on Monday.  He just couldn't get enough of looking at them and exclaiming over them.  And he didn't get to see even a 100th of the pictures I have!  That is why I just can't stop snapping them.  The memories bring such delight - to me and now even my grandchildren!