Sunday with Friends

On Sunday we ran into some lovely friends and nearby neighbors of ours at Mass and spontaneously went to brunch. After our nice visit, we were walking to our cars and my husband suggested to them that they were welcome to come over and hang out in the afternoon if they wanted. They said sure, and maybe they'd bring a little something, maybe watermelon? Well, sure, and, of course, we could just eat dinner together if nobody has any plans. The other husband mentioned he had some pork chops marinating at home.

Well, before it was all said and done, these dear friends of ours showed up at our house with the pork chops, the collard greens and fresh salad from their garden, the sweet tea and Capri-Sun, and the home baked cake. For my contribution, I baked some sweet potatoes (which, as you know, involves stabbing them with a fork and sticking them in the oven).

I was going to make some homemade macaroni and cheese but, upon discovering 30 minutes before dinner that I had no pasta in my pantry, the wife of the couple insisted on driving to the next-door-neighborhood to get mac & cheese from her house! As my husband commented wryly about me (and deserved so): "Classy."

Anyway, I figure those are the best kind of guests who come over and bring just about everything with them!

The six kids played outdoors for hours.

Margaret climbed atop the children's picnic bench to get a better view of John feeding and watering Boxer the turtle. (Boxer seems to be the name settled upon.)

A more experienced mom might have spotted the danger here . . .

It just so happens I was snapping a photo of the turtle eating his food when Margaret tipped right over the edge of the enclosure and, a millisecond later, landed on her head on the wooden box. Many tears ensued, but she was fine.

Praying the rosary in between dinner and cake