A weekend to remember

We were decorated for the patriotic holidays

I reckon that, before June gets away from me and Fourth of July firecrackers are exploding all around, i should tell you about what we did to celebrate Memorial Day.

It was an extended weekend with lots of activities for everyone.

Everything was kicked off on the Thursday before the holiday, when Audrey met Andrew halfway (more or less; I think Andrew did the heavy lifting driving-wise) between Columbia and Knoxville, to pick up Ember and Guy and take them to her house.

The five cousins hanging out at Erica's house

Andrew had to fly (he pilots a charter jet) on Friday but would arrive in Columbia on Saturday and spend the remainder of the holiday weekend with us.

Brittany was on a trip with her sister and would not be among us, and we would miss her.

That night TG and I went out to supper at Texas Roadhouse and then to Erica's, where Audrey had brought Ember and Guy to hang out with their cousins.

I captured Guy but he wanted to get away

The next day, Friday, I went back to Erica's to spend the day with the girls and the five children. Mostly we watched them play -- first outside in the back yard sprinklers, then inside to work over all of the toys).

I'm pretty sure we all ate together that night at Erica's but I cannot recall what we had.

On Saturday, in anticipation of Andrew's arrival, I planned a spaghetti supper. 

This pot-sized pasta is pirate approved

Since you asked, here's how I make my spaghetti. I use Hunt's Traditional Pasta Sauce, which comes in a can.

It's cheap and delicious. I will say no more.

Except, I'll tell you how I zhuzh it up.

Erica took the children to a local Memorial Day event on Saturday

To the three cans of sauce that I dump into my crock pot, I add three pounds of lean ground beef that has been browned to perfection, meaning it is crumbles. Small crumbles; no big pieces.

Once that merger is accomplished, I add to the sauce/meat mixture a packet of spaghetti sauce seasoning. 

Then I add a jar or can (drained) of mushroom pieces and stems, and a packet of pepperoni slices.

All geared up for the summer months

Before throwing the pepperoni into the sauce, I arrange the slices on a paper towel (on a plate), and give them about one minute in the microwave.

Y'all! That makes the tastiest spaghetti sauce! Everyone loves it. The only thing I serve with it is spicy toast.

No that's not garlic toast; this is different. You want to use a thick bread that lends itself to toasting -- not the kind of bread you'd use for a sandwich, or morning toast.

I can't resist cute salt and pepper shakers

I used a Panera Bread Tomato Basil Loaf because that's what I had in the freezer.

On the thick slices of bread you slather real butter and a sprinkle of creole seasoning like Zatarain's or Tony Chachere's (I use Tony Chachere's). Then pop it under the broiler until it's golden brown.

There won't be any left over. It is a lovely complement to the spaghetti. And I don't make anyone eat salad. They don't want it anyway. They just want their spaghetti.

Deviled eggs are standard at most of our gatherings

BTW I used pot-sized angel hair pasta this time, and I'm sold on that concept too.

When everyone was full we visited for a while longer before the families went home. Andrew and his littles were staying at Audrey's house because when Stephanie's family arrived the next night, they'd stay with me.

On Sunday morning we all met up again at church. After services we went to East Bay Deli for lunch.

The Pretzel Salad that Andrew finds irresistible

That night around eleven, Stephanie and her family arrived. Joel is a pastor and they could not set out on the three-hour trip until after their evening service.

After one sleep it was Memorial Day, and we'd planned a big meal and -- because it's us -- a birthday party.

This would be to honor Erica, whose birthday was several days later. We always have her party on Memorial Day.

We serve it up in style

The weather was not sunny but rather gray and rainy-ish, but the kids still jumped in the pool and spent several hours out there.

For our meal we had barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, cole slaw, chips, and pretzel salad.

Which is not a salad at all, but a dessert-type side involving strawberries and Jello on top and a mixture of cream cheese and Cool Whip and sugar in the middle, atop pretzels mixed with butter and sugar to form a crust. We eat it alongside our meal.

Guy got so attached to this police car of Rhett's that Erica gave it to him

It's my Andrew's favorite so I almost always make it when he is going to be there.

Upon arrival for the party, he checks the garage refrigerator to make sure it's in there before he even comes into the house.

We were having a marvelous time but eventually I made my four children come outside (hoping we would not get rained on) so that I could get some pictures of them. 

My babies

Then each of them summoned their children and eventually I had some shots of all four of our kids plus all eight of their kids.

One must do these things or regret that one did not. We've all been there.

I think some more swimming took place at that point, but eventually we assembled again for cake and coffee and Erica's birthday party.

My babies and their babies

Our cakes were store-bought but we had not bought them. They were free. Someday soon I will tell you all about that.

One of the cakes was a cinnamon confection and the other was a bundt-style cake with cream cheese frosting roses on top.

They were both excellent and we all but destroyed both of them. There was ice cream too.

Two cakes and both free

Erica, who would be turning thirty-nine in a few days, got lots of nice gifts and we made over her and did it up right.

At some point our Joel left for home -- they'd come in two cars -- because he had pastoral duties the next morning. Stephanie and the children would stay another night.

On Tuesday everyone came back and we visited for a while before the out-of-towners started heading home.

Our Erica is Thirty Fine

Stephanie and her three would be back in a few weeks for Dagny's birthday, which was June fourteenth.

But even before that, she met up with Erica at the halfway point so that Rhett could go to Uncle Joel and Aunt Stephanie's house, and spend a few days with them and his North Carolina cousins, and attend their church's Vacation Bible School.

The theme was the Wild West, and the sessions met in the evenings rather than the mornings. The kids, workers, and parents all seem to prefer that schedule.

It's not a birthday party without balloons

Rhett had a great time and Stephanie got so many cute pictures of him.

But he was glad to get back home when Stephanie returned here for Dagny's party.

Skippy and Rhett after a swim

So it has been a busy summer so far, and I say summer realizing that it only turned summer three days ago, but it's so hot here that it has been summer for several weeks already.

And in case you're wondering, yes we extend summer into fall too. It gets interesting. 

Our Rhett-man had a great time at Wild West VBS

Next time I'll tell you about Dagny's birthday celebrations, and about her first-ever trip to summer camp, and what all else we have been up to.

Meanwhile, tell me what has been occupying your warm-weather season. I hope it's all good.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Monday :: Happy Summer