9 Course Meal

My friend, Amy, has told me about how she has served a multi-course meal for special occasions.  At first it seemed like WAY too much work, but then she told me that she likes it because her family sits around the table for a long time enjoying each other's company.  She had me.  So I decided that I wanted to do one before Cache left.  While it was a lot of work, it was fun!  My pictures aren't great, and my presentation is never grand (way too busy to fuss for much perfection) but they are just for a memory for my kids for our fun meal.  The time around the table wasn't quite what I was hoping for (little girlies got a little bored), but I did keep my family captive around the table for a longer time than usual.

We started with a sorbet to cleanse the palette.

Fruit and Cheese Platter. 

Oven Roasted Shrimp (a lovely Ina Garten recipe) I served it with her homemade cocktail sauce.  Yum.

Garlic Herb Ciabatta

This photo doesn't look very appetizing, but we all LOVE this balsamic vinegar asparagus.

BBQ ribs (Caleb's personal favorite)

Also that night we all gave Cache small gifts for his mission:  shoe laces, stamps & envelopes, small notebook and index cards, one more tie, a new towel, SD cards for his camera, a calling card so he can call me from the airport etc.  Opening gifts between the final courses was welcome since we were all very full!

French Apple Tart (also from Ina Garten)

We finished things off with a mint & chocolate cup.

After the meal and gifts, Tom gave everyone blessings who wanted them.  It was such a great night.  I definitely will repeat for future missionaries.

Chandler's Birthday

We have an odd tradition of putting some kind of toy on the kids' birthday cakes.  He really wanted a soccer ball and so I figured out a way to get it on there....  (plastic wrap)

Poor Chandler had his birthday smashed into the busy-ness of preparing Cache for his mission and getting the house/yard ready for a family reunion and mission farewell.  I think we still managed to make him happy--even though not much was wrapped and his 'big' present not even purchased (golf clubs--which finally arrived in July that he has LOVED).  He chose pork chops, roasted broccoli, rice, fruit salad and a strawberry shortcake.  

However badly mom flopped with birthday plans, the best thing about his birthday was that he was ordained a deacon!  I wanted the boys to get a few temple trips in together before Cache left, but with Chandler's week-long camp out the week before Cache left, there would not have been time for them to go.  So a few accommodations had to be made.  Chandler was presented to be ordained a deacon before he turned 12, then a bishopric member came over on his birthday (a Monday) and officiated in the ordination.  The next day the three were able to go and do a few baptisms.  They were able to get in a few more trips.  Such a great experience for brothers--one that at least Chandler will remember!            

A little four square (on lines being painted that day by Cache) while waiting for Brother Mefford to arrive for the ordination.  

Happy birthday, wonderful young man!

Cache's Birthday

Nineteen?  How did that happen?

He had such an exciting {boring} birthday filled with mission necessities. Glad to share it with him.  That won't be the case on the next two.  He wanted a Thai Chicken Curry and an Oatmeal cake with broiled frosting, both from recipes he had saved from America's Test Kitchen.  They were yummy! (I was going to post the recipes, but he hid computer his files so well that I can't find them.)

Family Pictures

When it comes to family pictures sometimes I think we are the motley crew.  Someone is inevitably sick (this year, Greta), someone is usually grumpy and the rest just put up with the fact that Mom makes them do it.  Frankly, it isn't a very pleasant experience.  But I'm always glad to get the pictures back.  I love that although the subjects are not perfect, we do love each other and that personalities shine through!