Hot and Homesick

We've been too busy to blog, which means we have lots to blog about.  I'm going to try to be better about that this week...I have a bunch of pictures waiting to be blogged!

I'm feeling a little lonely for home this week as I realize how much I'm missing this weekend.

1. The annual Convenant fall conference is always a favorite.  Eric took me to my first one with Dr. Hywel Jones (a WSC professor) on our second date.  We really miss our Covenant family and Pastor Wright's preaching.

2. The annual home varsity volleyball tournament.  I haven't missed one in 5 years...and it's the last year I'll have a sibling playing in it.  I'm sure my whole family will be too busy with it all weekend to even notice this post, but in case they do--I wish I was there!

3. The Elim Dutch Fest.  I've missed a few of these since they started, but there's something about the annual nod to my dutch heritage by pigging out on olie bollen, buying a year's worth of almond paste, and watching the klompenmakers, or whatever they're called.  Obviously I'm about a 6th generation dutch girl :-)  Maybe I can convince some of the dutchwomen around here (there are so much more of them than I realized) to teach me how to make stroopwafels. 

Lastly, fall is my favorite season--and it just doesn't feel a bit like fall.  There are no leaves changing color, and no reason to wear a sweater--September is actually the hottest month of the year. 
Check out this forecast (that temp is at current time--9pm!)

I know this may feel like gloating--but really it's not.  I promise to try to be more appreciative of the warmth, but I would love one day that would at least merit wearing pants! (please send one day of rain, midwest!)

In honor of hot-tember...I made myself a chai milshake (in lieu of a hot chai), and turned up the air conditioner.  I can almost feel fall...

Labor Day

We had a little shin-dig at our house on Monday (only 1/4 of the guests we had over this week!)

Just 10 friends over for a little barbeque. barbecue.  bbq. [whatever.]

I decided that I love entertaining...because it forces me to do a super clean of the house in a short period of time.  If only I was cleaning like that weekly!  Anyway, now I feel more motivated to do so.

Eric was in charge of grilling, and all the rest of the guys were in charge of supervising the grilling. 

We only lost one burger, and had to replace to propane tank. NO explosions, so we considered it a success.

(L to R: Bill, Tiddo (fixing the problem), Luke, Thomas and Eric)

Our part of the food was easy (meat, beer and margaritas!)--everyone else brought yummy dips, salads and desserts to share.  We ate and chatted around the bonfire, but the night ended early because it was a work/school night.

The ladies:

Dyan, Alieda, Adrienne, and Alicia

 Nice to have a day off of work, and a relaxing evening with friends (even though it was getting a little chilly.  70 degrees!) :-)