All in All...

Doesn't this look good? It is my friends, it is. Stephanie and John's pool is pretty much a little paradise, especially because whenever I am there they are such wonderful and gracious hosts that I feel like a queen. Lucky me has been able to enjoy the pool and the hosts (or at least one host) a lot lately and that's just fine by me. Sprinkle a little Kim in there, and it's all good.

July 4th was a blast, as I knew it would be. It's been our tradition to spend it with Steph and John for a few years now, and this year it turned out to be a bonafide party with Stu (yes, the Wine Genius) and his wife Debbie, Debbie's sister Michelle, Harry, Stacey, Coop-a-Doop, and Digby, Margo and Levi. Yes, doggies were invited too and darn it all, I did not get a photo of those guys. It was quite hilarious, all of them running around and sometimes in the pool. Poor Margo was just trying to get away from these crazy boys. She took refuge in anyone's arms, and that made for one happy Sullivan. Everyone contributed to the meal, and the food was delish. After some swim and some vittles, we all went out onto the golf course for the show. We all agreed that this year seemed to be the best one yet, amazing! Pretty darn satisfying, even if the fireworks are over very quickly--as Sullivan would say, "Just like a good sneeze." :-)

Stephanie, Kim and I took advantage of a last-minute free evening and went out for dinner to a restaurant called Luci Ancora in Saint Paul, of course on Steph's suggestion. YUM with a capital Y, it was positively delicious. And you just can't go wrong with a cozy dinner out with your peeps anyways. It was lovely!!

Then again with my fine friends, and again by the pool. It was a Mom/Kid affair, bringing the Trio together again. (sorry, but for certain annoying reasons only 2 of our children are shown in this photo...!) Btw, the kids are the only people you will see on this blog in their bathing suits, in case you are wondering...!!!

All in all, I'd say summer is going pretty darn well. Other than the fact that every time we have a storm lately it's a violent one, and in our woody lot it's causing many branches to be broken. Not fun because each time it happens they are left hanging over power lines or something and we have to pay to have someone come out and saw them down. This is getting expensive! I guess to be expected when you live in Cakeville...!

Celebrating

The thing I love most about Christmas is the endless celebrating. I guess in this the Mommy out-does the Metal, as my celebrating these days consists of pleasant days or evenings with friends instead of heading out the door to some rocker party armed with black eyeliner and a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Wine. And Hallelujah to that, is what I say. Can't say I miss much about those days...well, except maybe being able to get away with that black eyeliner.

Some of the best celebrating comes at impromptu times, like hanging out with Steph and John as Nathan and Vivian hung downstairs and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, newly acquired on DVD. A jug of wine, (decent wine that is, not Boone's Farm...) Marcona almonds and thou--it rocks.

And of course it wouldn't be the holidays without the church Christmas Play. No matter what they do with it each year, it always brings to mind the Peanuts and A Charlie Brown Christmas. (especially when you have a narrator that sounds very much like Linus, which we actually do) And it never fails to bring a tear to a parent's eye, I can tell you that. What is it about adorable kids in these hokey costumes up there picking their noses and belting out about the Baby Jesus so horribly out of tune that itjust warms the heart?? Then in true Minnesotan-style it's time for the church buffet. Plenty of meatballs and ambrosia salad for everyone.
Speaking of buffet, I'm still trying to plan out what I'll do for the Christmas meal around here. I don't know exactly how many I'll have yet, but I guess that's kind of the fun. How many of you do turkey for Christmas? Or ham? Or neither? Inquiring minds want to know. I have a hankerin' for some deviled eggs, I think I'll have to make some of those. Deviled Eggs on the Lord's birthday. Now that's metal.