Fun Weekend & Teddy #4

Hubby and I have been sooOOooo busy of late.  We attended our Daughter-in-law Beth's graduation from college on Saturday and then treated our son's family to an Italian dinner along with Beth's mother and brother who drove almost 1,000 miles up for the event from Los Angeles, CA.  Yesterday we headed back to their house in Vancouver, WA for a celebratory BBQ.  We were celebrating Beth's graduation, Mother's Day and Michael's birthday.  Our other son Travis and his family joined the party.  Since it was Mother's Day - the duty for making the macaroni salad fell to hubby.. I talked him through it.  We also picked a big huge bouquet of lilacs for Beth and also for her mother who loves them but can't grown them in LA.  Here is my sweetie holding all the stuff for the trip over the river. :-)

Michael is now 12 and I finished his bear while enjoying the company of my family.   

I used a bulkier yarn on Gabriel's bear, "Mr. Mint" - Michael's denim blue bear is smaller.   

Bear #4 is done! Now I will begin on the lichen green bear for Hayden, and then the "Ow-eeng" bear for Caleb. 

It's been very warm here - record highs - so the boys were inviting Michael to squirt them with his new water gun.. hence the stripped down kids in this photo. :-)  12 candles on a strawberry and whipped cream cake!  2 kinds of ice cream too.  :-) 

From left is just turned 3 year old Caleb, 7 year old Gabriel, Michael and just turned 4 year old Hayden who seems very intent on keeping an eye on the cake until he got his piece. :-) The boys were chanting cake, cake cake!

3 of Beth's friends joined the party, this friend is from Thailand and he was thrilled beyond measure when Travis offered to give him a ride in his classic 1966 Mustang GT Fastback.  :-) 

Now.. you know how things happen at family parties that become "Family Lore" - stories that get told over and over and OVER?  Well... here is the one for yesterday.  3 yr old Caleb saw the car pull up with Beth's friend Shirley who is from Taiwan and is now working in Shanghai, China after graduation college here - and Annie, from Taiwan also, but lives here now... SO.... Caleb sees the 2 girls and as they walk up he leans on the red car and says.. "My name is Ca-wub and this is my Muh-tang."  His mom, Kristi, nearly fell on the ground in hysterics.  Do you have a funny family story to share?

We didn't get home until 10 pm, and no rest for the weary, I had to get up and get going early this morning to attend my last Daughters of the American Revolution meeting before the summer break.  THEN I went swimming for an hour... ::whew::... when I got home the farm looked beautiful so I strolled around to get some shots to share with you.  This is my gorgeous white Azalea and my white Lilac.. I want to plant more white flowers for my little "white garden".  

They are in their prime right now.. no brown edges. 

I have realized that my white lilacs are very bushy and full, this must be a "double" variety. 

My pink "Rose Bud" Azalea is starting to open nicely.  The florets are full like a rose. 

Another Rhododendron has opened up, I think this one is called "Blue Boy", but I'm not sure. 

Dayle had to repair the little windmill as he'd broken the leg by pulling the hose around it.. hard.  That darn hose is in almost all my photos.. grrrr. 

Spring flowers all over! 

My un-inspiring tan irises.. including a fly.  

Pretty purple Iris. 

I was spoiled with flowers and gifts from all 3 of my children.  Amy sent the milk glass hobnail vase last week from Ohio.  Yesterday Shawn and Beth gave me the rose bouquet and a cute little Teddy Bear that says "I Love Mom". Travis and Kristi gave me the adorable little glass vase with Siberian Irises from their yard.  Thank you, kids!  I love you!!

I hope your weekend was wonderful and wish for you a great week.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 
(PS. Blogger was acting up yesterday and I had to end my post without all the text I'd added about the salad - so to tell you about it, it's made with a bag of "salad macaroni", cook it to al dente, cool it, then add 12 hard boiled eggs, chopped, mayonnaise, yellow mustard and sweet relish to taste, salt and pepper to taste, and hubby added chopped fresh chives from our garden, sprinkled Paprika on top and then stuck 3 chive flowers on top.  YUM!!)