The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Summer Get-Togethers

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner

August 21, 2013

I really enjoyed having all my family home this last weekend. It was a whirlwind of fun and activity, and yes, I was tired, but it was a good tired.

Although the kitchen was the main hub in the house just because the food and drink are there, a lot of time was spent in the yard.

Our son-in-law Scott Postle and his dad Gerald, fried us fish one evening. It was the highlight of the evening for everyone, and sooo good.

Matthew and Katie brought us a Baggo Board that Matt had made himself.

We had purchased a trampoline for the back yard (poor Drew sprained his ankle on it) after he and Ali worked so hard putting it up.

Ping Pong and Pool and Air Hockey were played and some movies watched.

Ali's fiancˇ Kevin Burgus was constantly Mr. Popularity with all the kids as he piled them all into the golf cart and drove them around the yard. He also took them to his home for a pool party two different days.

We had lots of waffles and bacon, sausage, eggs and cereal for breakfast.

Lasagna and Enchiladas and Tacos, and grilled burgers, brats, macaroni and cheese, potato casserole, green bean casserole, pork chops, pizza, cheese, dips, chips, salsa, cheese, carrots, green peppers, and watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, ice cream bars, Popsicles, grapes, lots of water, bing cherries, popcorn, cherry Pepsi, juices, milk, and desserts. Three double batches of brownies were baked by Darci and Kati made a triple batch of Toll House cookies.

I forget how much kids can eat!!!

We enjoyed 18 of our 20 grandkids and two of their special friends (Kevin and Megan).

And we enjoyed having almost all the kids and spouses 11 out of 12.

Darci's husband Dan had remained in Colorado finishing up their new home in Eaton (a small village east of Fort Collins).

Their oldest son Matthew is working in New Jersey and their daughter Autumn is working in Denver and were not able to attend.

We were all constantly cleaning up meals and preparing the next, it seemed but still had time to visit and laugh. It is good medicine having your kids and grandkids come home for everyone.

The Hartman family from Stronghurst have so many families from afar that they have resorted to getting RVs and campers and gather at the Stronghurst fairgrounds and play volleyball and have lots of fun each year.

Troy had brought an RV home two years ago and thinks next time, he will try to do that again. It sure helped out. His whole family can have more space and it will free up a bedroom for us. We even showed movies on the outside of it as we gathered in the yard.

This year, we ended up purchasing theater seats at Bob's TV instead of bunk beds feeling we would use them all year round rather than once or twice a year...

Laura and her crew at Bob's delivered the chairs the same day and we really appreciated it as it was the day everyone arrived.

We are hoping to get together either at Troy and Erica's in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma or Damon and Kellee's in Des Moines, Iowa for Thanksgiving.

Winter time is always more difficult due to the weather, but I am almost always ready to go see my kids and grandkids and work it out.