Happy Belated Birthday to Daddy from Jorden...

Blowing out the candles.

Singing Happy Birthday to Daddy

Kaine was home over his birthday a couple of weeks ago, but daughter Jorden wasn't able to be here, so before they left today, Jorden helped her Daddy celebrate a belated birthday with a cookie cake and ice cream....  Someone loves her Daddy, I can tell! *S*

Happy Birthday (((((Kaine)))), Love YOU!

Sunday School Practices Hospitality ... Entertaining Angels Unaware, Perhaps?

Our Sunday School kids today had fun learning about ways we can be a welcoming presence, and practice the gift of hospitality.  They helped organize the coffee and fellowship time... first taste testing the milk and juice bar selections, then the cookies and apples, and then helping pour into carafes, plating cookies and making coffee.  

After Church they greeted and helped serve our guests too. 

Well done kids!

Entertaining Angels Unaware perhaps?

The kids get to enjoy the snacks too!

Wizard of Oz - Kid's Dinner & Movie Nite at Christ Church

Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz, and Munchkin

Me and Fr. Bill in character.



Thankful for all our adults who
helped and added fun with their
costumes.  Mark, Fr. Bill, Kasey,
Pat and Teresa.



The kids following the Yellow
Brick Road into the Chapel Labyrinth.

Beware of the flying monkeys!

Lollipops from the Lollipop Guild
were enjoyed by all!

Yummy dinner baskets!

Somewhere under the rainbow
is grandson Jake.

Another flying monkey grandson
Josh.

Walking the yellow brick road
in the labyrinth with the Wizard
of Oz (Fr. Bill), and being careful
of the dangers...the melted wicked
witch for one!

Wicked Witch Head balloon games after the movie.

Last night (Friday) was our Free Parent's Nite Out and Dinner & Movie Nite for Kids ... what fun it was!  Wizard of Oz theme that had adults and kids enjoying all of it!  Check out some of the fun we had in photos!

Glinda (Jorden) and me as a munchkin flower..*L*

Afterward we had all four grandkids overnight at home... a fun, tiring, yet great time with everyone!  Thank you Lord!

Fall Family Fun....

Fun day with Kasey, John, Janel and Jake, Josh and Jeff out at Pearce's Farm Stand (John is off moose hunting in Canada and missing all our fun! *lol*)  We had hoped to go on the helicopter rides again like last year... but, sadly, their prices more than doubled since last year, so we didn't get a ride... sorry to disappoint the grandsons, but we still had fun there this afternoon.

Hay Fort with the grandsons

Janel, Kasey & John

Jeff as a child of the corn!

Kasey loved the free sweetcorn!

Photobombed by Josh..*L*

More Hay Fort Fun.

Every tractor driver needs kettle corn!

Free sweet corn and good food for lunch, hay forts, corn maze, live music and pumpkins and gourds to pick out ... good times, great day!

Wizard of Oz Dinner and Movie Nite for Kids ... more props from Goodwill finds!

On my way back from Madison today, of COURSE I had to stop off at a couple of Goodwill Stores!

I found some more things to make props for the upcoming youth event at Christ Church next Friday night (9/28) ... Kid's Dinner and Movie Nite, featuring the classic "The Wizard of Oz".

I had this chimp already, and decided to try to make it into one of those flying monkeys ... I found some used wings, that were lady bug wings, red with black dots, which I spray painted black.  Found a cheap blue kids t-shirt, cut off the bottom of it and slit it up the front to make a vest jacket, added the leftover fabric to a cut down solo cup to make the hat, and "taaahhh daahhh!", I have a flying monkey!

I had the hourglass already, which makes a good prop with the monkey as well.

For the witches legs, I took a yellow pool noodle and slipped the stripped tights, I found at Goodwill, on it, added the ruby slippers, another find today!  So now I have legs to slip under a bench or chair as a prop too!

It's been fun making all these things lately... check out a previous post where I made other props here.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

SCORE AT THE DELAVAN GOODWILL STORE TOO!!

Later today I stopped in at the local Goodwill and scored big time with this!!  A "dental chest" full of dental sample teeth!  There are HUNDREDS of them!  These look very real, but they are actually a plastic-like material.  They were like FREE to me, since I had a discount coupon and gift cards I had received for my birthday ... but even without that, these were a GREAT deal!  Whooo hooo! 

I've used teeth like this in several other assemblages I've made before, and I'm excited to think up ideas to use these too!

Got Art? Silent Art Auction to support Haiti...

Artists and crafts people are coming together to support "Got Art?" at St. Marc's, Jeanette, Haiti, through donations of their works of art for a Silent Art Auction. The opening will be at a reception for Pere Wisnel Dejardin, the rector of St. Marc's Parish. Please join us at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Madison, WI following the Diocese of Milwaukee’s Annual Convention on October 13, 2012, from 2:00 -5:00 p.m.   The on-line auction will then run until October 30th.

These are my items I dropped off at St. Dunstan's this morning.  Check out the online auction when it's up with all the art in the next week or so ... your bids and donations are greatly appreciated and needed!

My Bones Factory ... bwha-ha-haaa!

The Bones Factory

I know it's a bit early for this, but I wanted to try out this idea for a Halloween treat I'll be giving away at our Church's "Trunk or Treat" event on Oct. 31st.  So, I gathered the ingredients... small pretzel sticks, mini marshmallows, and white chocolate to melt.  After assembling the "bones", I dipped them in the melted chocolate (not too hot or the marshmallows melt and fall off), put them on wax paper to dry... and "tahhh dahhh!"... I have skeleton bones!  I'm going to add 3 - 4 bones to a gift bag with a little crushed oreo "dirt" and a gummy worm or two... Yumm! *lol*

I'll be adding a tag to it as well ... not sure exactly what it will say, but want to incorporate a scripture passage and/or Christian message to it.... probably something about not being "dry bones", but instead be "Living Stones"... or something along that line.

Anyway ... my first try at making these turned out pretty good... I managed to make about 130 of them.... we are figuring on at least 100 costumed creatures to come thru the "Trunk or Treat", so I'll need another 300 or so bones... for now, I've wrapped up the ones I've made so far to be used for the gift bags of goodies.... More to come in later weeks on these gift bags and how we'll decorate my husband's skidloader (with dirt in the bucket and blow up skeletons hanging on it), to be used as one of the "vehicles" in the Trunk or Treat Event.

Unbelievable Surprise from My Church Family!!

I am just so thankful for my Christ Church family who were so kind to honor me this morning at Church for the ministry to youth I have been involved in for over 28 years, and as a paid employee for the last 18 years doing various ministry things.



Fr. Bill, Me and Deb



Me and Fr. Bill

I was/and still am, totally clueless to this awesome surprise that everyone pulled off.

I am so honored and thankful to all who came,  for the kinds words, the show of support, the cards and gifts (wow! what a gift too!!) .. What blessings God has bestowed on me with this Body of Christ the last 28+ years, who I love, have loved to work for and minister with (and continue to do so), and who I am forever grateful for!

Thank you's do not say enough, please know how much I love each and every person! Thank You, Lord, for them all!

Delicious and unique cake!

LOTS of ballons!!



Special thanks to Father Bill Myrick, to my sister, and fellow staff person, Chellie Pelnar (and BIL Deacon Bill Pelnar), and to friend and co-worker, Deb Weber, for all they did to honor me and throw a totally suprise Surprise Party!

Some of my side of the family at Church
who came for the party too.

Adam's Rib BBQ Cook-Off - WHATTA DAY and NIGHT!




1st batch of ribs done

 

Roasted potatoes, brussel sprouts ready
to go in the oven.

ALL day today (and last night even!), I was making, baking, preparing and getting food and other things ready for this 2nd Annual Event at Church.  I made chocolate, banana, raisin/craisin, pecan cookies, apple crisp, cold pea/tomato/cheese/black olive salad, 12 racks of ribs (fixed in various ways), roasted potatoes/brussel sprouts/sweet peppers with bacon, and set up tables, signs and more.  Thankfully Chellie and Bill did a WHOLE lot too for this event!  We had about 10 - 11 people who made ribs, and made MORE than usual, since last year we ran out before the end... this year, we had MORE than enough, and left overs even!  But they were DEEEELICIOUS!  Everything was so good!



John and Ron helped serve up
and cut up ribs, while enjoying
liquid libations!



 Here are some photos from the event... it was fun having all three of our kids, daughter in law and the three grandsons here for it too!   Kasey brought her new BF, Kaine brought 5 of his hungry friends too!  Son, John, DIL Janel and grandson Josh even entered some of the competitions!  And ALL three won prizes! YAY!

John-John received 3rd place for his ribs.  Josh placed first in the desserts and Janel 2nd in the desserts!

Unfortunately, after all my smack talk to last year's winner, Ron (who placed 2nd this year for his ribs), I had to eat crow since I didn't get a prize! *L*  But many DID get some pretty good ribs from my slabs, if I do say so myself!

Wait till next year!

Kasey and her BF Loren in line.



Winners! 





I think we served over 125 meals, with lots of carry outs as well.  Not sure what we made for a profit, but it was a fun event, and everyone had a great meal too!

Very thankful to all who helped, brought food, and tickets!


Judge Chip taste testing

Bill and Chellie did a great job!

Special thanks to our expert rib judge Chip and to Bill and Chellie who did so much too!



Another Year Older ...

Look at the yummy birthday dinner our daughter fixed for me tonite... yummmy! 
Acorn squash roasted with butter, brown sugar, pecans and dried cranberries inside...also shrimp and seafood dumplings with cabbage, scallions and ginger... pork and leek dumplings with cabbage and scallions....chicken spring rolls with broccoli and cabbage, and various dipping sauces...it was deeeelicious!


Thanks Kasey!!  xoxox

Remembering 9/11 * Peace Walk on the Labyrinth

All are welcome to come to reflect, meditate, pray, and remember those who died, who gave their lives, and for peace for all on Tues., Sept. 11, 2012.  Come and experience a prayer walk on the Labyrinth, anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

The Headache...

Ever experience this kind of crushing pain after a night out? ...*lol*...I was messing around with some odd junk I had in the basement and put a few things together for this piece, "The Headache".

 

"Bring me the broom of the wicked witch of the west..."

So, we are planning another event for kids at Christ Church (a Free Parents Nite Out as well)... this one will be a dinner and movie night for kids featuring the classic, "The Wizard of Oz", but with audience participation involved.  The kids will be singing along to the songs, and saying the familiar lines while the movie happens.

First they will be in a photo booth with some costumes of some of the characters from the movie, then head to the labyrinth in the Chapel (following the "yellow brick road" labyrinth), and may encounter a man behind the curtain (The Wizard ) and some flying monkeys and more!

They'll then come back to watch the movie, and have a picnic dinner with various parts of the dinner handed out while the movie progresses.... examples: lollipops when the Lollipop munchins sing their song.... apples when the trees start throwing their apples at Dorothy and the Scarecrow... some melted witch treats, and more!



I've been looking around for props I can use for the night and found a broom that looked like the broom of the wicked witch, so I set it on fire to burn it like the one in the movie when the wicked witch melted....*L*

I also found a bolt of yellow fabric at Good Will for only $2.99, I used up some old black spray paint to make it into the yellow brick road ... Kasey and John had to try it out..*L* .

Can't wait to make more props for this Youth Event!






UPDATE:  More things added for this coming event!
Thanks to the Dollar Store I've made more fun things for the kids to enjoy for their dinner while watching the movie... check them out!

Celebrating John-John's Birthday....

Grandsons helping me in the kitchen

Son John was gone with his family over his birthday, but we were able to get together today for a fun birthday celebration!  Happy 38th Birthday to our oldest son!  I can't believe we have a son THAT old... especially since I'm still only 39!  *heh-heh*

Bringing the birthday boy his cake
"Happy birthday dear John-John.."

Only 2 candles??

Happy Birthday John, we love you!!