The Weekeend Merriment

'Twas a whirlwind of a weekend filled with family, food, fun, and birthday festivities. My mother-in-law turns 90 years old this week and I don't think she'd mind me telling you. I mean she's a dynamo who can run circles around all of us 'kids' so why not tell the world your age? 

She will be celebrated by family and her at least 1000 friends all week long, but we kicked things off here at the lake with a great-grand palooza. All five of her greats were here and it was wonderfully chaotic and sweet. 

Nana (that's me) might be tired today but it's a good tired. 

I took pictures but I try not to post any of the kids faces up close here, so I'm not sharing many. We laughed a lot and enjoyed being together and that's the main thing. 

Daughter2 and her littles arrived Thursday afternoon and since Thursday is my volunteer day I'd planned ahead with a roast in the crock pot. Yay me!  Her hubs was working his way this direction and would arrive Friday afternoon to join the party. 

Friday morning I had a hair appointment so while I was there daughter2 went over to her sister's house and spent a few hours. Just one of the joys of living close. The cousins played so well together and it was nice for their mommas to have time together to chat and catch up. 

Meanwhile...back at the ranch....

Hubs was manning the BBQ he'd started in the literal middle of the night Friday. He was up at 3 AM putting the pork butts on the Big Green Egg, and we all agree this might be his best effort yet. So delicious! 

Hubs brother and sister-in-law arrived from Tennessee late afternoon, bringing the birthday girl with them. One son-in-law made it here around 5, and the other ended up in late surgery so had his dinner with our dessert. You have got to roll with these grown kids work commitments and such. 

It was forecasted to be a rainy weekend, but Friday was so nice and really warm and we sat out on the patio and talked, hula hooped, fed fish, and chased small children. 

Dinner was BBQ courtesy of the hubs, baked beans and cole slaw ala me, and homemade mac and cheese made by Daughter1. Everything was yummy. I ordered a cake from the Publix Bakery because hubs said I shouldn't try to add one more thing to the already full schedule by making one from scratch. 

The cake was delicious, but they forgot to put the cross mark on the H in happy birthday, and there was a small crack in the icing so not the usual perfect you get from Publix. If I'd baked it myself I would not have missed that H, just sayin'. 

Still so pretty though! 

We lit the candles and sang happy birthday and then the absolute precise second the song ended my middle grandson blew the candles out before anyone knew what was happening. He did not miss a beat. It was hysterical.  

I got these gorgeous tulips from Publix too and they were the most beautiful shade of fushia, which you don't see a lot of in the tulip world, or at least I don't. 

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law slept at Daughter1's house so after breakfast we all met up there. Which is just four miles from me in case you've forgotten. The three littles played and hubs and his brother and sister-in-law went to watch the two oldest grands at their baseball practice. Dad was coaching and they had a lot of fun. 

Daughter2 took her two back to our house for a nap, but my mother-in-law, daughter1 and I had a nice long chat on her screened porch which was lovely. 

We had going out to dinner plans booked in a local Italian restaurant for Saturday night, which let's just be honest and say is a bit of a crap shoot in terms of how it will actually go when you're talking small children. The two oldest boys thoroughly enjoy ordering from a menu, but restaurant dining with the three and under set (of which there are currently three) is anybody's guess. 

Turns out it was a really great fun family night and everyone was happy, hungry, and eager to help Grandma with her cannoli. 

The oldest with the youngest is just so precious. 

Sunday morning we took up a pew and a half in church which made my heart so so happy. Daughter1 and her family left after church to go her in-law's house to celebrate her father-in-law's birthday, but everyone else came back here for lunch before the Tennessee crew headed back home. Daughter2, who also lives in Tennessee but a different part than her grandmother, aunt, and uncle, stayed until Monday morning. They'll go home around lunchtime and the house will be quiet once more. Messy too, but it's the quiet we'll notice and love a little, but also hate. If ya know ya know. 

Hope your weekend was filled with lots of happies too. I'm linking today with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) for the Monday morning weekend recap link party. Hop over there to see what others are doing and sharing too. 

Have a great week everyone!