Our Family Fondue

Last week Dick took his last two paid vacation days of 2024 on Thursday and Friday.  That was so helpful in getting ready for the family fondue. 

We have been doing this fondue for probably 36 years! The location has changed from time to time, and the last few years we held it at our home church in Lancaster County because it was closer for some of the family. 

But this year that was not available, and we considered having it at our new church. But we weren’t sure how many would come, so we decided to have it here at our house.

 Dick and I pushed furniture here and there and everywhere, put the six boards into my mom‘s dining room table (which has been mine for many years,) and added a plastic table at one end. And we had a long table!  Our open floor plan is such a blessing at times like this. 

On Friday afternoon we went food shopping for hours!  We weren't providing all the food.  Sam was bringing the chicken nuggets and Li'l Smokies.  Anthony was bringing the beef.  Frank was bringing the sodas. 

We had a great day on Saturday. We had a total of 18 people!  

I felt like I didn't know how to organize the cafeteria line.  It was so much easier at Grace Community Fellowship.   

So on one side we had the food for the oil and the drinks.

The beef had not yet arrived when Dick took this picture. 

On the other side we had the chocolate station.

And on the kitchen table we had the cheese station. 

UNO!!

The kids had so much fun playing and hiding from each other and running around and playing the piano.   Hunter was so excited to get to play with cousins he seldom sees.  

I took pictures when people were ready to leave.

Frank's son J'von and his girlfriend Lesley. Aren't they adorable???

Time for Sam's family picture, but these two had to be silly first!  They're SO much fun!!

Sam and Steph with Sammy and Bianca.

Oops! Hunter got into the wrong family photo!  He was feeling so upset that people were leaving.

Here Hunter is with the right family, but in a sad mood. Austin was not here, preferring to stay home by himself. I was disappointed because I wanted everybody to hear him play piano. But really, the noise level would have been overwhelming to him.  The kids kind of had the run of the house, including the two bedrooms, and I don't know where Austin would have gone to get away from it all.  

Anthony, Lori, and Hunter.

Frank's daughter RaeLynn with her mommy (Lisa) and sister Lani.

Frank with his daughters, RaeLynn, V'anni, Alaya, and Jada.

Of course Destiny, Ozzy and Elizer weren't able to come since they had just made the trip from Indianapolis the weekend before.  Bjorn, Jess, and their adorable little boys weren't able to come because her parents had given her a ticket to a show at Fulton Opera House for her Christmas present, and it was that day!  We were all disappointed about that.  And Miki and Katrina are too far away in Sweden.  And Ray... the last I heard from him was on his birthday on December 4, and he did not respond to any of my messages about the fondue.  I'm not sure what's up with him.  

By the way, if anyone can't figure out who all these people in our family are, I have them pictured and named on my side bar.  

On Sunday afternoon Dick and I put everything back in place. Like I said, our open floor plan is really a blessing because we can be so flexible.

On Monday evening we drove the 5 miles to Bellefonte to see this amazing house before the season is over. It is my absolute favorite!

I stayed up till midnight on New Year’s Eve. It felt sad to not go to the New Year’s Eve festivities and ice sculptures in downtown State College. But it was a damp rainy evening, and it would have been miserable anyway. I am REALLY missing Elizer and Destiny. 

I’ve got pork in the oven.  We'll be having our traditional pork and sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for dinner.  We LOVE it!!

Happy New Year!