Category: Family and Friends

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A Night of Fun and Relaxation

Karen and her husband Joe were over tonight for dinner. We had the best steaks, baked potatoes, pasta salad, and lots of yummy treats for dessert.  I’m not the biggest meat eater but that steak was delicious!!! We got the steaks as a gift from my in-laws.   They ordered them online and had them sent directly to us.

I told Karen we should have dinner together more often because we had so much fun.  After dinner we played a few games and then decided we should all go over to their house to go swimming.  I love their pool.  It doesn’t make me nervous to bring the kids either because they have one of those really nice pool covers.  If they didn’t have the cover I’d be really worried every time I bring my kids over there.

We swam for a bit and then hung out in the jacuzzi.  It really was a great night. I can’t wait until we can do it again.  I told Karen I wouldn’t mind hosting dinner again if she would host dessert and swimming in her pool.  We set a date for next weekend, just in time for Memorial Day.

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Go West for the Best Candy

Until I started reading about chocolate and learning about candies, I did not realize that candy making was such a regional specialty.  People who live out West have always had See’s candies to enjoy, while those of us on the East Coast have not had the pleasure. The only reason I was ever introduced to See’s candies was when my Dad went on a business trip to California and he bought a box of See’s chocolates to bring home for my mom.  She opened the box right away and shared her special chocolates with everyone. They were so so good!

I’ll always be glad that my dad went on business trips once in a while. Although my mom was not happy to have him gone, sometimes for up to a week, we were always so happy to have him come home. He always brought us back something for a treat, and we always celebrated with a special dinner, including dessert!

Dad would tell us stories about the cities where he had traveled and about the people he met. Most of the time he would take the train, but when he had to go out West he would have to fly. I remember standing at the big glass window watching his plane taxi away from the gate. We were all standing there waving goodbye, jumping up and down, and we would always be there to meet his plane when he got back. But with security like it is now, no one is allowed to do that anymore. I miss those days.

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Easter is around the corner

Easter is almost here.  I haven’t had one free moment to get anything done.  I wanted to get the kids a few things and clean the house.  This year we are having a big neighborhood barbeque with everyone on the block.  It’s Saturday so we can all still do our own thing with family on Sunday.

Every family is bringing two dozen decorated eggs for their kids and putting them in the collective hunt.  All of the kids get to go home with the same number of eggs but not necessarily the same ones they came with.  It was a hit last year and I’m sure it will be this year too.

In addition to the egg hunt we’re barbequing simple things like hamburgers and hot dogs.  This year I want to bring something extra yummy for dessert.  I’m thinking about looking up something easy on allrecipes.com.  I don’t have a lot of time left to plan for it so hopefully I can find something that doesn’t need much for time, ingredients, or effort and can still impress.

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Yay! It’s Friday!

I love Friday afternoons. It means the beginning of my weekend and time to relax.  I can hang out with my family, go shopping, read, catch up on missed episodes of tv programs I enjoy, and of course blog.  I’m thinking we should have a family game night tonight.  A few board games, an easy dinner, and maybe if the kids are good banana splits!  Now that I think about it… even if the kids aren’t good I want that banana split.  I deserve a little treat for all of my hard work and effort this week.  Thank goodness it’s Friday!

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Christmas Jitters!

Well, it’s two days before Christmas.  I’m getting ready to leave out of town and I am not dreading the family time this holiday around.  I can’t wait to walk into my mother’s house and to be welcomed by Christmas music and the smell of holiday treats!  The family time on this in particular holiday is splendid.  It’s time to be cozy warm by the fireplace, watch Christmas movies, and drink hot chocolate!

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Getting Closer…

I have almost finished my Christmas shopping!  I’m sure my credit card companies love me, along with my family.  They have all gotten some pretty sweet gifts this year.  My family and I have decided for me not to cook. I love to cook but this year I get a break.  So as long as I bring the gifts and the cookies I will be a hero!  Bring it on, Christmas!

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Thanksgiving Dinner

Here it is again… Thanksgiving.  I love all of the cooking and preparation and traveling  when it comes to Thanksgiving.  Every Thanksgiving that comes around I  travel home to be with friends and family.  There’s always traffic, family, and a bunch of food.  I’m not sure just yet what I am going to bring but I’m sure it will be tasty.  I’m thankful for my family wanting me around for turkey day!  So I guess it’s time to start cooking and then hit the road again!

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Gave up the keys

Yesterday we finished loading the moving truck and we are ready to head south. This morning I gave the house keys to a trusted friend who can work with the real estate agent on our behalf.  It’s a sad day for my family.

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New day

Today my baby sister turned 25 and I am very proud of how she has handled getting older.  It seems like just yesterday I was braiding her hair.  It’s hard to believe we are growing up soo fast.  Just the thought of getting older and not being able to do everything how I would like anymore is driving me crazy.  I will keep plugging along and keep as busy as I can and try not to turn old if I can help it.  I think you’re as young as you feel and today I am 103+.  Maybe tomorrow I will be 18 again, let’s hope for that.

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Play in the water

My daughter loves to play in the water.  Some days it is very hard to get away to the pool or to the lake, so she has to make do with playing in the water sprinkler in the yard.  This I do not mind at all.  She gets to play in the water and my yard gets some much needed water on it at the same time.  The pool is only about a mile away.  Call me old fashioned but I think the parents need to be at the pool with their kids. It is not a handy dandy baby sitter for the summer.  You need to be with your kids, it there so everyone can have fun at the pool.