Mother's Day

We celebrated Mother's Day by inviting my family and Rich's family over to our house for a cookout. I enjoy having people over to our house, probably for the wrong reasons, but it forces us to actually clean areas that typically get left out in the day to day cleaning and because we don't have to drive anywhere

So, just as planned we spent all day Saturday cleaning so that we could enjoy Sunday. Hailey spent the weekend with us and helped contribute to the mess as much as help us clean:) While Rich was picking up the basement he sprayed off Hailey's bike, cozy coupe, and Hummer so that she could play in the yard. She loves her "big truck", otherwise known as the Hummer, that she is now big enough to drive around the yard.

Sunday morning I made homemade potato salad, baked beans, and baked some brownies with Hailey, while Rich got all of the burgers and toppings ready. He made our usual apple turkey burgers as well as onion ranch burgers and plain hamburgers. The ranch burgers were a hit with everyone. He added a 1/2 packet of ranch dressing and 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions to 1.25 lbs of ground beef.

We had a really nice cookout although Mike, Matt, and Angela weren't able to make it. The weather was beautiful, although a bit chilly. I finally got to meet Rich's half-sister, Michelle, for the first time. She is great with kids and is much more low-key than other members of Rich's family; that's a compliment:) Rich had not seen Michelle in 12 years!

Bill looked good, loved the dessert that I made, and enjoyed himself until he got worn out and ready to take a nap. I have a feeling he slept the entire way home because he elected to sit in the back seat:) Hailey loved being able to get attention from every single person in the room at any time. She loved it so much that she did not want to go home last night, so we ended up keeping her an extra night! I gave my mom the Storybook Creator from Creative Memories so that she can continue scrapbooking, but with digital photos. I can't wait to see what she does next.

(Bill, Dana, Carol and Rich)

(Hay Hay checking out all of the new faces.)

(Bill and Rich working the grill.)

(Watch out, Hay Hay in her "big truck"!)

(Papa helping Hailey to get the steering down.)

(Tank, Dixie and Maddie keeping an eye on everyone from the shady spot in the yard, even though it was a cool 65 degrees.)

(Hailey reading If you Give a Moose a Muffin to Shannon.)

(Michelle and Rich)

(Bill and Michelle)

(Carol and Bill quickly made friends will ALL of the dogs. However, Jack was the biggest hit!)

(Michelle teaching Hailey how to write "H". She has had good practice because her daughter, who is 3 years old, is named Hannah.)

(Am I sensing that Jack may have a new home in the near future? Or is that just wishful thinking?)

(Mimi trying to catch the robber who stole her hat!)

(Dad with his Mom on Mother's Day)

(Mimi and Becky)

(3 generations- Mimi, Becky and Shannon)

(Dana and Mimi)

(Should have gotten Dad in this photo and we would have 4 generations in one picture.)

(Like mother, like daughter...we both stink at taking good pictures! HA)