more GEMS

These GEMS activities are too cute.  Have to share a couple of our recent outings.  The first, back in May, was a Father/Daughter pottery painting night:

Then in June we learned all about raising chickens!  One of the families in GEMS raises their own chickens.

 We even went home with a half dozen gorgeous eggs.

 I would love to have fresh eggs like that, but I don't touch animals, so I guess that is out for us.

Hometown Saturday Night

As I mentioned, when I was in my hometown, the sisters + one future BIL went out on the town. Could my sisters and I look any more different? We actually do have some similarities. (notice the chins) My mom says we all look so different because we were all born in different decades.

Feel free to play this song for your listening pleasure while reading this.



Best line "Lucy's got her lipstick on a little too bright.  Bobby's gettin drunk and lookin for a fight."

Second best line "Lucy you know the world must be flat.  Cause people leave town and never some back."

The weather was great and after 24 kid free hours and a nice glass of wine, I do believe I felt 18 23 again! Here we are at The Pumphouse.

Later a little dancing:

Stopped here on the way home...

...for some crazy donuts. They have one with bacon on the top!

The next day we went to see THE dress:

While College Sister got into her dress, Chicago Sister and I may have messed around a little with the bride stuff:

She looks inocent here, but she was trying stuff on too.























We also ate a lot of "complimentary" ice cream at the ice cream store that College Sister manages:

College BIL is just awesome.  He is the perfect third for our husband trifecta! He is always saying things like, "I'll get that." and "What's next ladies?" Sunday afternoon before we had to leave, he was sleeping on the couch at my parent's house. College Sister says, "you can go home babe!" and he said, "NO...I'm not going home until your sisters leave."  He is also pretty funny though and takes all the teasing we dish out.  There was one little incident with a bouncer at one of the clubs that he may never live down. I won't go into it all here, but suffice it to say, if he needs to, he can go to the ATM.

After a loooong day of canceled flights etc....I was so glad to see my babies at the airport at 2 in the morning. Because of course now, my real home is this medium sized town where I am a home school mom and political wife who only dances at weddings and can't eat donuts because of the carbs.

Bridal Shower for College Sister

Back in June I went by myself for 48 hours to my hometown.  My reasons for going were twofold.  First, to go to a bridal shower for College Sister.  And second, to meet my soon to be College-BIL! Caveat, he is not in college anymore, but what am I supposed to call these two now? I absolutely cannot say how much Chicago Sister and I love the new BIL!  He fits in perfectly with our family and is TONS of fun.  He even took us out for a night on the town, but you will have to wait to see those pictures.

The shower was given by my mom's two best friends.  Chicago Sister and I were supposed to help, but they didn't really give us that much to do.  We provided some pastries and mimosas.  I think because they remember us as squirrely teenagers, they were afraid to give us too much responsibilty. This was fine by us though because back home we throw plenty of big parties and have to do ALL the work (shhhh..don't tell anyone back home about this). There are some advantages to working with people who knew you as kids!  We had such a nice time at the beautiful shower. Check out some of this lovely food and decor.

Look at these gorgeous sugar cookies!  I got to bring home a few of these for the PKs.

Opening TONS of gifts:

Look Baby Cousin showed up halfway through.  Grandad got her up from a nap, put on her dress and bloomers and dropped her off to join the grown up ladies.

The Sisters. In one month we will all be old married ladies...one considerably older than the other two!