Summer’s over.  For me, at least.  And, now it is straight on into fall.  (Even though the stores have been selling Fall stuff since Valentine’s Day…NOW is the appropriate time to start the Fall sales push.)  How do I know it’s time?  Well, school starting is one reason.  And, the next is, our family had their end-of-summer Birthday Bash!!!  As usual, it was a wonderful afternoon and evening!

We swam for a while, at least some of the crew did.  As usual around these parts, it was hot as blue blazes!  After (almost) everyone arrived, we really enjoyed visiting and catching up.  It had been a while since I had time to sit and visit with Will (Tara’s hubby).  And, then Patty, Joy and I got dinner ready.  Patty and Mike came to be with us, as well.  Don brought in a Boston Butt, chopped, and a Smoked Turkey, that Ian did a masterful job of carving.  He also brought Baked Beans, Slaw, and Homemade Strawberry Shortcake!  I added to that Chips and Spinach Dip, my famous (just with my family) Cheesycornchilitomato Dip, homemade Pimento Cheese, large Fruit Salad with dressings, and Brownies.  Lots of drinks, tea, lemonade,ginger ale, Grapico, Shasta Orange, And the regulars Dr. Peppers, real and diet, cokes, real and diet….and lots of good ‘ole water!  We feasted. We laughed. We had a ball!  And, so fun to have2 babies to watch this year!  Oh, my! How good God is!  And, no one enjoyed it as much as Pop!  We celebrated his 85 th birthday, as well as Adam’s, Mike’s, Patty’s, Tommy’s, Mine, Joy’s, and Ian’s.  We’ll get the rest in the spring.  We missed Lori, but she was feeling bad, she’s been sick several days.  She needed the rest so she could be at work next week.

My boys…Alex, Adam, Ian, Levi…

Here comes Tommy and Pop…

…and Joy…don’t know which is off kilter – Joy or the door…

Hugs all around…again…

A little hot-tubbing…

Someone’s getting tired…and hungry !

Time to eat…

Presents…

More smiles and fun….Adam and John Thomas…

Alas, eyes are getting sleepy, and Will and Tara have a ways to drive…so pull out the car seats, and load ’em up….

And, this Birthday Bash is at an end…

A short night at The Creekhouse, and then a yummy breakfast cooked by the Breakfast Master, himself…

 After breakfast, Ian suggested a swim…which gave he, Don and I a chance to talk a bit.  And, all too soon, it was over.  A hug in the driveway…a honk of the horn at the street and he’s on the way.

And, one more Birthday Bash/ Family Fun Week-end is over.  Nothing to remember but blessings.  Nothing to fret over, nothing to dread.  Even the things that gives us pause, will work out fine.  We know that whatever troubles us will be turned for the good by our Father.  He promised.  Oh, the blessing of a family!

And we know that it is “God who gives us these times of joy.”

Nehemiah 12:43