Laugh Out Loud

Last Year....Labor Day Weekend

Today I was working on a project that took me straight back to one

year ago today...Labor Day Weekend 2007.

Megan's Baptism and a Family Reunion, minus Andrew,

who was serving in Peru as a missionary.

Until today, I had almost forgotten how absolutely

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Andrew's missionary letters were.

They are packed with classic one liners that would double us over

with laughter the moment we read them.

What was the project I was working on? Interestingly...it revolved

around Andrew's Missionary Letters... I got them completely organized

in the page protectors and in the "Called To Serve" Binder.

(Doesn't everything in our family eventually revolve around Andrew...

no matter how round about it happens?)

I spent a lot of time laughing today...compliments of Andrew.

Read on to the end of the photos...

I posted the photos of our 2007 Labor Day Weekend activities onmy blog for Andrew to enjoy. As you will read at the end...a few things he saw caused great concern for him...

After viewing the photos, Andrew wrote,

"I saw the pictures from the boat trip you all took on the

intracoastal!!

It seems like you all had a good time!

Although something worries me.

The thing that worries me is the risk that Curt is now at to get

skin cancer on his head!

I have only been gone a year and he has no hair on his head.

From the looks of it he cant grow it on his head

any more so he just decided to grow it on his chin!!!!"

Love, Elder Hoss

You gotta know...Andrew loves his brothers!
Can't you just feel of his love and concern????
Your Turn will come soon enough, Andrew....
soon enough!
I could post for many days on just the hilarious thoughts from Andrew....
More laughs to come....
For a review of last year's fun click
HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE

The Leader Of The Pack

Labor Day Canoe Trip..... The Anticipation Was Overwhelming...

After a weekend of non-stop fun...Ron was laid out flat on the picnic table at Jonathan Dickinson Park while we were waiting for the Canoe Rental Office to open at 9. We had to get on the road at 6:30am that day so we could be at the gates when the park opened at 8am. We made it with 10 minutes to spare and we even made a stop at Mc Donalds for breakfast!

When I called a few weeks ahead of Labor Day to inquire about reserving Canoes, I was told no reservations were taken and that I could expect a huge crowd on the Loxahatchee River that day, hence the early morning start. There was no crowd beating the doors down, but I am still glad we got on the river early before the heat was bad.

By the looks of Mr Ron, no wonder he had to head to Gainesville this weekend for some R&R...oh yes, and of course, he had to help Jeffrey and Alison use the University of Florida vs Troy State Football game tickets for tomorrow.

He will be revived and ready to rock and roll after a day in The Swamp!

Go Gators! Have a wonderful time, dear!

Eat and Play...Eat and Play...Eat and Play Some More

Work Hard...Play Hard... Then Eat!

When we are together as a family, there are some guarantees... Someone is always cooking, baking, or preparing a treat and.....

We will always end the day playing games. Our stand-by favorite for the past few years has been Phase 10, however, when the group gets large, we break out Trivial Pursuit and divide in to teams.

Ron, the ever calming force in our family is teamed up with Alison who is all over the "Don't spill your Trivial Pursuit Wedges" or you will have to earn them again concept. Her game style fits right in around here. We totally understand her and the 'seriousness' of games and competition.

None of us know very many of the answers alone, but when we work as a group, the odds of a correct answer are increased tremendously (like I might actually have chance to get a few questions correct when backed by a team...otherwise...alone...forget it!)

Jeffrey and Grandpa..most likely establishing a rule about spilling the Trivial Pursuit wedges and having to re-earn them.... Yes... there is no mercy when we play games.

Grandpa and Grandpa on the same team.... You may think my mom is quiet.....just get her in the middle of a game..Watch out. And then there is my dad who does not, under any circumstance, want to lose. Invariably,one of us earns a quarter when we hear Grandpa slip with "crap"--a word he has worked to eliminate from his vocabulary--for years. One he does not use in every day conversation, however, get him in the middle of a game, and catch him in the middle of not winning.... you may earn a quarter, or two.

Family Boating Day

Scenes From A Saturday Boat Ride...

Unless you are an avid, every weekend Boater, this is the way to enjoy a boat in Florida, or any other place... Rent one. Let someone else store it and maintain it!

Everyone has returned to their homes and life is marching on... thankfully for the memories and good times we share last forever.

We rode up to the Jupiter Lighthouse and got to view Du Bois Beach Park from the Intracoastal

We left from the Riviera Beach Marina across from Peanut Island.
Waiting to board the boat. We felt privilged that Jeffrey would join us on the boat when the Florida Gators were playing their Opening Day Game. He managed to endure this family trip. When we stopped for gas, he jetted off the boat and in to the store to check the score (like the score would be even close UF vs Western Kentucky...give me a break)

Megan took her turn driving the boat. She steered us straight and clear.

Curt at the wheel....

Captain Ron ready to take us on an adventure

Curt, Carmen, and Megan

When we docked for gas, Curt was headed in to the water for a refreshing dip.

Jeff and Alison..No Wedding Date yet... hopefully, this huge dose of family togetherness did not scare Alison away.

Grandma ready to go aboard.....

Grandpa with the Jupiter Lighthouse in the Background

Shauna, Katherine, and Megan at the front.

As long as I stayed in the front... no Hogie tummy (aka motion sickness) worries

Grandpa and Grandma

Jeff and Alison... The Gators are winning....relax!

If our family did not scare Alison way this weekend, not much more will.

Curt and Carmen

Curt cooling off in the water during a fuel and "Check The Gators Score" break.

Soon, Curt had company in the water with him. Katherine, Alison, and Megan joined in.

There were stingrays swimming all over near the marina. In fact, more than I have ever seen at one time in the wild. The water was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the company was the best ever. Who could ask for more than spending a day with family in such an ideal setting.

Jet Skiing Day

While The Little Girls Were In school..... We Were Playing.....

The was the first adventure of our Family Weekend together.

Curt, Carmen, Jeff, Alison

(Ron and I were there, contrary to what the photos will show- Ron was paying the bill, and I am the eternal family photographer)
Alison knows how to keep Jeff in line! She is perfect for him!

Curt and Carmen ready to zip along

Jeff and Alison ready to go. I wont say who took the first dip in to the water.... but it was not Ron, me, Curt, or Carmen..... Watching a certain other couple dip fly off the Jet Ski was scary for me as a spectator (Alison's mother, please don't be upset we took her in to the Intracoastal Water) Before the day was over, we would all have a turn to swim.....

Between Jeff and Alison, I am not sure who is the biggest Florida Gators Fan... I do know that Alison is a more patient Gators Fan! This day, we were not competing with the Opening Day Florida Gators Football game, however, the next day's adventure was a different story.

Megan's Baptism

Megan was baptized on Friday, August 31.

The first of many great choices she will make.

Megan was so excited at every point. Many friends and family joined us for this special occasion. With the exception of Andrew, all of our children were here. Curt and Carmen came from Utah, Jeff and Alison came from Gainesville, and my parents came from Orlando. What a way to start a Family Reunion weekend!
The Baptism was the focus of our weekend together. What an honor and privilege for me, as Megan's mother, to meet her as she came up the steps of the Baptismal Font after being Baptized. It was a special time to share as mother and daughter. Having so many friends and family share in the joy made it even more special. Our family is blessed with so many friends who are just like family. I say this often, that God chose my friends for me and place us in each others' paths.

Shauna, Ron, and Megan

(Disclaimer-Ron's eye is swollen due to a hive--not me whacking him during the night when he nudged me to stop snoring!)

Carmen came to the rescue of my simple, plain bouquets of Costco flowers. She worked her magic to make arrangements for the chapel, foyer, and food table.

The bonus of these arrangements is that they were still fresh on Sunday, so we used them for Church meetings and then... I used the white roses for my Young Women Lesson. I sent a white rose home with each girl as a reminder of purity.

This was the beginnings of the food table being put together. The flowers were perfect and the food was inhaled and gone in no time flat.

Bring Them On

The Hostetler Hotel is Ready and Waiting....

The Pantry is stocked, the sheets and towels are clean, the game closet is ready for attack, the Jet Skis are reserved, The Baptism is planned, The Boat is reserved, The Canoes are calling our names..... All we need are the guests!

My little girls are so excited about the arrival of our family this week, sleeping at night is getting harder and harder for them.

By the looks of our pantry and freezer, it is obvious we are not planning business as usual for Labor Day Weekend. As my girls informed me, "You only buy 'good' food for everyone else". Good Food means, Chips, Ice Cream of assorted flavors, Popsicles, 'Fun' Cereal, Cookies, Ice Cream Toppings, Hot Dogs, Marshmallows, M&Ms, Soda...you get the picture...The Good Stuff!

Plenty of Kodak moments await us. More than we will possibly be able to blog about! Stay tuned.