A Memorial Day

Sunday May 30th, the Kelly clan was fortunate to all gather at Gma's & Gpa's to celebrate Memorial Day. We decided to have our celebration on Sunday as Molly, Bryan, and Shawna had to travel on Monday.
Molly and Bryan got the prize for traveling the farthest, followed by Shawna, then Scott, Rachel and family.
Great grandPa Kelly and his friend Mary also attended, along with a few assorted friends of the kids.
All-in-all it was a great crowd. We really love having theses gatherings and having everyone together. Good thing Bryan and Molly can travel so easily or I'm sure we wouldn't see them at many of our gatherings.
There was much swimming, game playing, visiting, and, of course, food. I really think that's why everyone really comes!
Scott BBQ'ed ribs and chicken, and there were ton's of side dishes, drinks and desserts.

Molly, Shawna, Gma & Gpa start the day with a yummy breakfast.

CJ helps Molly make fruit salad

Skyler doing what he loves best


Bryan in the pool. Well halfway, anyway!

Ladderball - always fun!

Seems like there's more reading going on around here theses days.

Scott - master of the BBQ.

Then - master of the pool. Did you know James could fly?

Rachel & Olivia enjoy some quiet time.

Bonnie bought a volleyball that had a rope on it when it came out of the box, so we made a tether ball out of it.

Who invited Jack to the party?

The girls never miss a photo opp.

Always the teacher, Shawna helps Aubrey with a school project. Beter get an 'A'!

Then everyone helps.

Shawna (and Doogle) head home.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Good things (and bananas) come in bunches. GM's birthday comes very quickly after mothers day, in fact, when the stars are aligned just right, they actually occur on the same day!
Well not this year. We had a few days between mothers day and the birthday to prepare our traditional GM birthday celebration.
Know one remembers how it started, but for years now the tradition is to get TONS of Chinese food and then have presents and cake. It's weird because it is usually the only day of the year that we get take-out Chinese food. By the way - do you know what they call Chinese food in China? See the end of the blog for the answer.
The party actually started at CJ's little league game, where besides getting 3 hits, he started a triple play by catching a fly ball and throwing out the first of two base runners that couldn't get back to base.
We then went home and waited for Bonnie to show up with the food and cake.

The small box of Chinese food arrives.

Bonnie set a cute table.

What to eat first?

It's all so yummy!

Everyone digging in.

Into the family room for presents. Bonnie and the kids did a "beach theme" of gifts.

GM received a folding beach chair with a big pocket in the back for goodies. The whole thing folds up into a neat back pack. Which was also filled with beach related goodies (and some salad dressing from CJ - go figure).

Aubs and mom watch from the safety of the couch. CJ runs amuck.

Some of GM's goodies.

By the way, Grandpa is taking Grandma to see Elton John in concert. Of course, none of the kids know who he is.

Thanks and group hugs.

Yummy cake!

Answer to joke "food" - I'm a going to be a great custodian some day (ask GM about that one)

Mothers Day

Mothers day this year actually started on Friday when GM received 2 dozen Sherry's Berries.

Yum!

This year GP decided to give GM breakfast, not in bed (kinda hard on a waterbed), but on the little balcony outside the bedroom. Last summer GM hauled a little table and chair set her friend Kyle was getting rid of up to the balcony.

So GP got up early and made breakfast for GM and took it out to the balcony

GM munched on eggs, Bagel, strawberries (from the garden, of course), and orange juice.

She declared it yummy and ate most of it.

After Church, Bonnie and the kids came for an early dinner. We enjoyed BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and other assorted yummies.

While dinner finished cooking, we retired to the family room for presents. It's always especially fun to see the things the kids made for their mom.

GM and Bonnie got some nifty things. GM was especially thankful for the neat picture that required each of the kids to submit their portion of it to Bonnie, who assembled it here.

Good job guys!

GM also received flowers from the kiddos, which she also really liked.

GM shares her Berries with Aubs & CJ.

GP prepares GM's breakfast.

GM enjoying breakfast.

The flowers are also from the yard.

Aubrey shucks corn for dinner.

Aubrey brings presents to the family room.

GM and Bon survey the loot.

Flowers CJ made at Church.

Aubs watches from the safety of the couch.

CJ explains the card he made to his mom. "No mom, you have to open this part first......."

GM opens her picture.

As Molly would say "Ta Da"

GM's flowers.

All in all, I'd say it was a really good day. Time to gear up for GM's birthday, which is this Friday, then Aubs, then....... Wow, there sure is a lot going on around here.

I'm sure I'll be blogging at you soon.

Summer Daze?

No, not yet. But a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon that seemed like a summer day. Shawna was in town visiting, along with Doogle, so after Church, Bonnie and the kids came over to hang out and it turned into a summer like day.


Grandma catches a few rays.




Bonnie catches up on some reading.




Shawna and CJ break out the ladder ball game.








GM cleans up after dinner - yummy enchiladas. Like her new polka dot apron?




Doogle looks for someone to play with. We decided he really likes playing in the yard!




Aubrey gets in on the reading thing.



Bonnie and Shawna. Are they having a reading race?





CJ watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" during dinner and is now a pirate. It's only a matter of time before he ends up in the pool.






It starts cooling off, but Bonnies on a streak and breaks out a blanket.




Everyone ends up in the spa.


After a trip to Dairy Queen to take advantage of the last day of the Blizzard sale (GM got 6 and put them in the freezer).
Shawna and Doogle crash.
What a great day! I can't wait for summer!