Party Time

These were most likely taken last Fathers DayThis is Papa Gnomes favorite posture while visiting. Sleeping, or trying to.

Mum sleeping. I throw roaring parties yo!

The food. I think this was a build your own burger party.

Mums World Famous Salad. Really it is such a hit. Everybody loves it. I've eaten it my whole life and I'm rather meh about it. I suppose I'll have to make it when mom no longer can. I dread that day for more than one reason.

My favorite not-DIL folded up some paper towels as this chickie forgot to pick up cute color co-ordinated napkins.
These are marinated onions. Really really easy. So easy in fact that I'll give you the recipe right here and now. It's onions, duh, sliced ridiculously thin on my old rusty mandolin. Rice vinegar or the vinegar of your choice, a little olive oil or the tasty oil of your choosing, a bit of salt and pepper. DONE!! You can make this a few hours in advance, red onions are pretty but not necessary as you can see here. And they disappear. They really do. Try it. I love my Pyrex. I need some smaller serving tongs.

Miranda. Cbuds oldest daughter. I love her. She is a delightful young woman. I find her mature for 19 and emotionally put together and stable. Considering she was raised by her wacky mother (who I like very much even if she is a nut job)

Dad

I so love this man.

My dad brought these. He calls them Grandpa beers.

All of this reminds me of the upcoming Easter celebration. The Gnomes, ifin you've been following for awhile, always seem to give me grief during the holidays. No one else on BH's side of the family has ever hosted a holiday party. I didn't think this was strange at first as women usually co-ordinate family get togethers and I just assumed their mother, BH's 1st X, did this. Turns out she does not. Did not. Like ever. Now that I know her a little better I understand this. So I mistakenly thought everyone would just love the family get together celebration thing. When you're in a family that doesn't operate this way I understand it can take a little time to get everybody confortable. Still I thought that the brothers, BH's sons, would enjoy spending time together. Also 2 of them have kids about the same age and I believe the cousins would enjoy playing together and getting to know one another better. Turns out this is not exactly true. The brothers, while close growing up, don't interact much as they've grown and had families of their own. Many reasons for this but it's never to late to start I think. The cousins? Well, they don't care for each other much. It seems the parenting styles are so different that one set of cousins find the other set of cousins to be mean and rude. I'll let you form your own conclusions as to who the problem cousins are.

So, here it is, three weeks before Easter, and I'm planning the Easter get together. It's assumed by my family that I will do it. It's assumed by his family that I will do it. They never organize any holiday so they come for lack of any other family obligation. I send out an email to all parties. I've decided these things should have time lines. Logical yes? People want to know when they're going to eat (and what they're going to eat) and they want to know when they can go home (or have to go home) right?

I get an email gnome express, is it the 4th? (????) Really? It was easier to shoot me an email asking if Easter was on the 4th? Being a very religious family I'm thinking they should already know about the upcoming holiday. 'Yes, Sunday April 4' I respond. Knowing them I already know something is up. BH calls and is told that they already have plans for Easter, they'd accepted an invitation long before I invited them. (???) More than 3 weeks prior to Easter, they accepted an Easter invitation but somehow can't remember the date.

So, I guess they arn't coming.

I'm getting real excited about Easter now.

Happy Fathers Day!!

Hope you all had a great Fathers Day, celebrating with the fathers in your life that you love.

I did not take many pictures and the ones I did may not be worth posting but partying with the Gnomes is always a fun day.

First let me remind you that they are always late. ALWAYS! And not just gosh we got caught up in traffic, dropped the pickle jar and had to clean that up, or. . . whatever, late. It's at least 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours late. Many times they call us to let us know they are on their way just minutes before they should actually be HERE. (they live a good hour away) I've tried a number of tricks a number of times and nothing has gotten them any closer than 45 minutes late. (and I welcome your stories and suggestions)

I have taken the WHATEVER! approach. Because really there is no stopping them and their extremely weird behavior.

HER: What time are you having people over? Why does she ask this? Why?
me: We are having people over at 1:00 so she knows how late to be?
HER: Well we wont be there EXACTLY at one. We've got church and by the time it lets out and we get down there, you know, so I don't think we'll be there EXACTLY at one. (emphasis HERS) no? seriously? you wont be on time?
me: Well I understand you've got morning plans. We'll see you when you get here.

So, there you have it. I have decided not to give it another thought. I do of course. Think about it a lot. A lot.

BH's response? Whatever. He does not get worked up over such trivial things.

I had big plans for Fathers Day. BBQ, ice cream bar. I thought the kids would enjoy ice cream and all the toppings. I'd asked everyone to bring their favorite toppings.

12:45 pm
HER: We're here, we're here in LE, we've just stopped at the store to pick up the toppings and I thought I'd find out what you already had so we didn't double up on toppings.

I tell her all we have and that she doesn't really need to bring anything if she doesn't want to. We're just getting ready to start the BBQ so just come on over.

1:40 pm
They walk in.

They walk in! 50 minutes late! And they were here! They were already here!

We were just pulling the meat off (that's what he said) as we were having some trouble with the BBQ.

HE Gnome: Oh, I see you haven't started yet. We thought you'd be done eating by now.

me: ???????????????????????????????

I don't get it, really, someone explain this crazyness to me.

Happy Fathers Day BH

HAPPY FATHERS DAY SWEETIE!

BH had a great Fathers Day. His boys were terrific. They got him this awesome birdhouse. It is huge. First they hand him this huge post. Then they brought out the birdhouse. So funny. They also got him this very cool computer game for flight simulation where you can also engage in dog fights. (you know, airplane dog fights, not woof woof dog fights) They all came over on Sunday with all the grandkids. It was just so much fun. We BBQ hot dogs, sausages and a friend brought over these very tasty smoked sausages and ribs. Yum Yum.
This here is a ice water challenge. Stick your hand in the ice water and see how long you can hold it in the water.

Notice the faces

Little Bryson wins!

He was so cute, he did not give up.

Then it was time to give Tom some watermelon. I think he ate 7 pieces. What a pig!

He was covered in red sticky juice.

Bryson loved feeding the turtle by hand.