Give Thanks!

From our house to yours...

TACOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49930236

A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, vegetables and cheese, allowing for great versatility and variety. A taco is generally eaten without utensils and is often accompanied by garnishes such as salsa or chili pepper, avocado or guacamole, cilantro (coriander), tomatoes, onions and lettuce.

Tomorrow afternoon, we're hosting 30+ people for a taco party at the river.

 

Lots of people means lots of tacos.

 

Lots of tacos means lots of chopping, slicing and dicing...

 

Sooooo, I'm outta here! 

Remembering the 4th!

As usual...the fourth of July is a big celebration in the RedSock family...

We've always celebrated, even when we didn't have the river as a background...

As far back as 2007, we had about 60 people chowing out on our patio at the House on the Hill...

So this year's 35 guests could be considered a small, intimate gathering!

But first, we needed to do a few things to get ready...

Remember when I told you the end of the dock was under water???

It still was high when Andy and Tony went to build new steps down the hill to the river...

I wasn't there the first night, when Andy and Tony started the work...

The next night, I met Tony out there, to watch him work...

Hard to believe, how quickly things went together...

And how great they look!

All that is left to do is connect the end of the dock (still underwater)

and the stairs...

But we were ready enough!

This year, we had a taco party.

I was tickled to see how many people came.

Most of Mark's family came...

 

 

We had my kids and their friends...

Their friend's kids...

 

This is Caleb, who was so much fun...even when he threatened to

jump off the deck (and give Ashley a heart attack).

 

Our Star Guest, of course, was...

 

 

Locklan!

 

Who slept through the first hours of the party...

 

And soon woke...

 

And captured the hearts (and laps) of his family...

 

And then let Daddy carry him around!

 

 

And of course, our four legged family members...

The water was too high and moving too quickly for the pedal boat...

But Andy had the kayaks ready...

 

 

Some people decided to float around...

 

 

Andy's friend, Cody, made us home made ice cream!

 

 

 

 

Andy and Locklan enjoyed the dock!

 

 

 

And the wonderful sunset!

 

 

 

 

As soon as the sun went down...

 

A camp fire and...

 

BooM!

 

Fireworks!

 

 

 Over the river!

 

 

We loved them, but the dogs...

 

Not so much...

 

We hated to see the day end, but luckily it was only Saturday.

 

On Sunday, the guys decided to take the kayaks out...

 

Andy walked down the stairs, dragging his...

 

 

 

 

Tony, on the other hand...

 

 

Decided the easiest way was to ride his down the hill...

 

 

 

It worked!

 

 

We had a blast...

 

And to think, we didn't even put the real boat in the water!

 

The weather has been so bad, the river so fast and full of junk...

 

But Shirley is ready...

 

 

With her life jacket!

 

Maybe next weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

You're a card?

A few weeks ago, we invited ourselves to my mom's house for a round of card playing...

 

Michael and Catherine, Tony and Noelle, me and the mister

 as well as Mom and her friend from high school

gathered around Mom's dining room table to play, but first...

 

My mother usually has a puzzle going on the card table in the family room. 

My parents did that when I was a kid. 

 I HATE puzzles and can barely resist throwing a few pieces in my pocket to take home...

 

I didn't realize that Catherine is a puzzilist too.

 

 

Tony and Noelle tried to help!

 

 

I think they did manage to place a few pieces...

 

 

But I came to play cards! 

 

My mom, on the right, and Frannie on the left taught us to play a game called 9-hole.

 

 

 

 

 Of course, these innocent looking ladies play for money...

 

 

 

Michael acted as our waiter...

 

 

How did we do?

 

I think it was a conspiracy!

 

I lost $1.10!

 

Noelle...well, let's just say she went home with more than she had when she came in the door....

 

 

 I'd still rather play cards than put those darn puzzles together...

 

Family time...yes!

 

 

Snowed in and lovin' it!

How would you like to wake to this out your front window...

And this out the back door...

I did yesterday and hours and hours later, I'm still smiling about it!

I told you Sunday day that it was Taco Sunday at our house...and we had a house full.  Between my kids and their partners/spouses, Ron's daughter-in-law and grand kids, and even  church friends, the ping pong table got a work out, the kitchen was temporarily full of food (we put a hurting on that), and the house was full of laughter, love and friendship.

What it wasn't full of was Ron...who had to leave to catch his plane to Texas before the first guests arrived...and Ron's son, who also had a plane to catch (although he was going to Orlando instead).

They did manage to meet for a late lunch at Pittsburgh airport, though,

 so they did have their own little party.

Ironically, Ron called on Monday morning to tell me he forgot to pack enough dress pants for his meetings...

since he's known for spilling things on himself at the most opportune moment, this could be disasterous...

 

Yesterday I was telling Ron's daughter-in-law about his dilemma and she said that her husband arrived in Orlando, but his luggage did not.

 

Imagine that...the two Mr. Ks, out there, potentially pantless!

 

I was working on (yet) another secret project yesterday when I heard the snow plow out front...

 

 

 

Along with the neighborhood kids!

 

They were having a ball. 

By afternoon, we had six inches of snow on the ground...

and on the driveway! That was enough to keep them busy for hours!

 

 

 

I will admit, I was concerned when we learned that the cul-de-sac was filled with kids under the age of 7, but they are a hoot!

 

 

Not too sure about the hat, but it seems to work for her!

 

 

We have the most adorable twin boys next door. 

One of them announced they were going to take all the snow off my driveway...

 

 

And two minutes later, he said they were going to leave it on the drive...

 

Last night my 'handy man' came to eat leftovers and I put him to work!

 

 

 

 

Even though the snow was still falling, he got my driveway cleared...

 

And came in to get warm!

 

 

This morning, it was pretty quiet out there.

 

We did have a few visitors...

 

 

 

I really do love the snow...

but Andy posted on Facebook yesterday

that said he's more than ready for this...

 

And this...

~sigh~

 

I want it all!

 

But for now, I have things to do...

 

God bless you!

Jan