Food, Friends, Family, and Farewells

Farewell lunch with friends at Matty's

Farewell dinner with family at Erv's Mug

Scrapbook Page

St. John Vianney Festival

It was a wee bit chilly for June (mid 60's and not much sun)---but we had a fun cheerful day. My friend T made a great suggestion that we meet him out at this very popular church festival in Brookfield. Now, I grew up in a town that is notorius for its church fests, but I've NEVER seen one like this---it was a HUGE carnival. Normally I'm not a big fan of allowing my girls to go onto mobile carnival rides--they are transported around, not permanent--therefore they feel less safe to me. However, I decided to live on the edge a bit today, and the family had a great time! I was also glad to spend one last day with my good friend T and his youngest daughter, and some of their friends--and the girls had a blast!!!

More Band Moments and Memories

I'm going to miss these two guys---a LOT--we're not even gone yet and I'm all nostalgic and weepy-eyed:( I even have more plans with both tomorrow and next week, but I already really miss them:( They've really become very close friends, not just with me, but our families have gotten to know each other. We won't be losing touch though--and there will be visits with one-another!

Sniff Sniff

Ok, so last night was my last "official" rehearsal with the Brookfield Civic Band--I made a few VERY close life-long friend ships in this group; and I can honestly say, this is probably my only regret with us leaving. Pictured above is my wonderful friend and band director and myself--and a couple of more friends. Coincidentally, my band director (K) and I actually went to college together--though I was a senior when he was a freshman; but we have a lot of the same friends through the music fraternity; and we played in Wind Ensemble together. However, we didn't know each other directly back then. As more coincidence, K played tuba in a brass quintet at my wedding--though we still didn't know each other. And as a further coincidence, he teaches in the home-town in which I grew up--the whole school district and band program where I was trained in my early days of music; and he's the current director for the Band of the Black Watch---of which I'm an alumni (we were a field show band who competed across the country during the summer---if you aren't familiar--this is a you-tube from when I was in Black Watch in its very early years in the mid 80's--cool stuff (obviously this is VHS converted to digital:D) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CxuEpT7q2Y&feature=related

So, yes, we're moving--if you don't know the details and would like to know (and you know me, send me your email address and I'll fill you in!)

A Fairy Girl Princess

Bubbles!!!

Bubbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Can I Say?

This is a re-enactment. The first time I saw this, I was standing at the kitchen sink, when I literally saw J drive by on Angel's pink Barbie ATV; he sported a goofy grin and waved to me. I literally was about to swallow some water, but instead I couldn't control the fact that I spit it out of my mouth, it was so funny! (especially if you knew my relatively straight-laced husband!)

Peanut Butter Cookie Cup Temptations

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
48-60 Reece's Peanut Butter Cup (minis), wrappers removed

Cream together butter, both sugars and peanut butter, beat in egg and extract.

Add remaining ingredients, EXCEPT peanut butter cups; mix well.

Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray; drop dough with small cookie dropper into mini muffin tins.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, til just lightly browned.

Remove tins from oven and push a peanut butter cup into the center of each ball; bake 1 more minute.

Cool completely before storing in a covered container.