July 4th

..I only took one picture of this fabulous event!?  I guess I was having too much food and fun.  We ended up with a bit larger crowd then anticipated which is always a treat.  I got an email from someone asking what our menu would be.  Sorry I didn't respond earlier, but perhaps you can use this menu for next year.  Mom By Marriage ( she'll laugh when she reads that) and I just sort of made what we thought best and that ended up working very well.

So... on the grill were Italian sausages , cheddar wurst and hotdogs... we cooked sooooo many but only had 5 left which Chris and I devoured finished up for lunch today.

MIL brought a wonderful dried beef dip.  as soon as I get the recipe I'll post it. with crackers it is delicious! she also brought fresh cucumbers , deviled eggs ( we enjoy hers the best...not sure she has a recipe though)  Calico beans, fresh green beans and peanut butter pie ( did I forget anything)

I made pasta salad, veggie tray, chips and dip and apple dumplings.

Emily made Cherries Jubilee crockpot style. 

  Jeremy made a bottle rocket launcher and we already had the launch tube from a couple of years ago... the guys actually reached a saturation point with shooting off the fireworks! We have a bag left over for New Years.  After the fun was over they all gathered up their wrappers and sticks and stowed them away in trash bags.  Only one semi serious burn and a couple of light burns but a whole lot of guy fun.

 

Jimmy  stopped by and was able to visit with Josh a bit ..and our dear Alan, one of  Jamie's friends that we consider our own stopped by with his mom and gf. I have great memories of Alan as a teen, wanting to go to college with his dad in the Marines and his mother in the midst of a kidney transplant.  We were the ones to drive him to school  and get him settled as if he were our own. How wonderful it is to get a nice visit from one we have prayed for and know they are doing well.

 Including firework watchers , family and friends we had about 26 folks. ( and two extra dogs)... a blessing... a total blessing.

  ..and one of the most patriotic moments? My soldier son giving his dad a big Amen as we prayed for this great nation... while with fault.. we are still the greatest nation... and we still have great men willing to step up to the plate and protect it!

  I'll close with a link to Chris's blog and his thoughts on our Declaration...and with the only picture I took...3 of the 4 most wonderful boys  on the planet!  ( notice the new deck.. crafted and completed by my dearest hubby)