MN family Bachelor party part #1

So the Bridal Shower weekend was also Darrin's Bachelor party weekend.  We all wanted to see him too, so we did a little gathering at Mom and Dad's before the 'adult' gathering later at the bars.

Dad prepared the 

"GT PICKLE BAR"

He started pouring shots for the men.

Dad and his son's.

So while the big boys and girls were socializing in the adult fashion the kids enjoyed a movie.

Little Jared even had a hug for Auntie Mandy.

Then we had a surprise visit from a new friend of Dad's "Paydro".  This guy has some 'inside' stories circulating about him.  I think you need to be a Sohre to really understand it all.

Momma and her son.

Bridal Shower Gift

My Little Brother is getting married, so back in the beginning May him and his fiance, Mandy, came home to MN for a good 'ol fashioned MN bridal shower.  It was very nice.

For the last several months I have been working on crocheting this afghan blanket for them as a gift.

My soon-to-be sister-in-law opening the gift.

SwingSet Fun

These pics are more from the beginning of May when we were first able to get outside to play, I am a little late on my postings, but I thought they were still cute to share.

Look at how big our Marley has gotten over the Winter?  He is over a year old now and still sooo full of energy!

Jared's first time in the sandbox and he fell in Love. I think he sat there for an hour shoveling sand from one spot to the next. He was having so much fun.

Gracelyn is getting pretty good on the trapeze swing. She can get her legs up there almost all by herself.

We are trying to get Zach to "pump" on the swing himself, he isn't quite there yet, but I think by the end of the summer he'll get it.

 Jared LOVES LOVES LOVES his sandbox!!

Barbie Dolls

Gracelyn has quite the collection of Barbie Dolls already.  I think I only had 3 my whole life... and look at how many she has in just 6 years of life!!!!  Well, it brings get enjoyment to her and sometimes to her brother's too (if they are deciding to all get along and play so nicely together).  Usually it is Mom's bedroom that the Barbie Doll playing occurs and sometimes on Mom's bed!  It think they were all sitting watching a concert or something.

 So before I make them pick them up before bed we snap a few pics. 

Boy they are a cute crew huh??

Making Angel Food Cake with my Nephew

A couple of months ago my Mom and Dad came over for a visit on for a Sunday afternoon.  They surprised us and brought my 2 nieces and nephew along - the Hodgkin clan.

Well it has kinda become a tradition when Mom comes visit that her and I make an angel food cake.  I try to make them on my own, but they always turn out fluffier when Mom is around to help.  

This is "THE GRANDMA SUMMERS ANGEL FOOD CAKE" recipe, so it makes sense that my Mom needs to be present for them to get the extra fluff.

Well the girls must have been off playing Barbies or something and Zach is usually my little kitchen helper with baking, so somehow we got Spenser convinced to help us too.  According to him he has never mixed up a cake or baked a cake.  Well I thought this was something his Auntie could not allow.  Everyone needs to know how to bake, no matter if you are a girl or a boy.  

So we insisted Spenser do most of the work.  Grandpa even helped out... cause you know he has made so many cakes in his life (ha ha, not really).  But Grandpa did seem to know what he was talking about and guided Spenser in the right direction.

Again it must have been a boy cooking day, cause my Jared was involved as well.

I have to say it turned out very well and I think Spenser has a new calling in life... Angel food cake making!

He was very proud. I think he had fun too!

Jared and his shoes!

This guy loves his shoes. Doesn't matter if they fit or if they are boots or if they are girl shoes or if they are daddy's shoes. If there are a pair of shoes lying around and he can fit his little feet in them... they are sure to be warn around the house. He are just a few I was able to get pics of!

Jared bye-bye

It is hard to capture on video, but here is an attempt to video Jared's "Bye-Bye"