My River, My Birthday

Craig is a master of thoughtful gifts and he often surprises me with things I love but never would have thought of. Case in point? My birthday celebration last week.

He took me to dinner at a place where I truly feel at home - right on the banks of the Wabash River.

I grew up on that river, pastured and rode my horses along its shores, and opened my bedroom blinds every morning to see the sun rising over the water. Day after day, year after year. Truly, I was blessed and that river is my river.

All my local family was there to celebrate with me. (Except for Ian who had soccer practice.)

Curt and me.

Lisa and me (photobombed by Lukie.)

Lukie and me.

Mila and me. (She had just come from dance practice. Her shoes are under the table. I hope.)

I missed a photo with Vanessa; drat! She went outside to photograph the my river.

Just around that bend is another place that is near and dear to my heart.

Fort Ouiatenon! It's the big red oval on the map and McGraw's Steaks, Chops, & Fish House is the red tag on the right. It was wonderful to be so close to two places that are so meaningful to me.

For my birthday dinner, I had the chicken linguine.

Lukie REALLY wanted to try the crab cake. He said he liked it, but I think he thought it would be more like a cake. LOL

Rivers are magical. Calming. Peaceful, even. Mila responded to the Wabash's allure, curled up in her chair by the window, and watched the river flow while she ate. Me, too, Mila. Me, too.

Creme brûlée on the house for the birthday gal! We stayed so late, we were almost the last diners to leave!

Sarah had orchestrated a really nice gift for me, too big to bring into a crowded restaurant. 

A brand new, updated family portrait taken by Vanessa last August when we were out in Utah for the JC^2's wedding.

The only family member missing is grandson Braden who had to come late to the wedding due to his work schedule. (And, when the JC^2s give birth in nine weeks, that will mean two family members are missing!)

Waiting at home for me after dinner was a gift from Cole, Emily, and their girls. I'd invited blog readers to guess what was in the box, hinting that it "goes along with a new hobby of mine."

Betsy in WI guessed a Lego bouquet and while it's a Lego horse, not flowers, she wins! (I'll be in touch, Betsy!)

I'm excited to put this horse together but I am also feeling quite intimidated, too. I'll bet the grands will help me! ::cough cough::

There was one more gift that had not arrived at the time, but it came yesterday. I'll share it soon. It's pretty cool.

Stay 'tooned! 

More from Shrek the Musical

Shrek the Musical wrapped yesterday after a very successful series of shows - at last count, it was the second highest attended show in Spanish Fork Community Theater's history. 

Baby Bear Titan and Goldilocks Cambria carrying the show's banner in the Spanish Fork Pioneer Day parade.

As always, official photos are taken of cast members.

Goldilocks with Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear.

Andrew in full-on Papa Bear mode.

A very demure Mama Bear Jessica. (Don't ever mess with a Mama Bear, even if she looks demure like this one!)

Baby Bear Titan - loving and happy.

And Goldilocks Cambria with her newly gilded locks. (Which her Grammy likes a lot.)

A screen shot from the show's program with the family's bios.

So many friends and family came to see Mountain Mama Jessica and her family perform.

Of course, Uncle Kyle came to watch - several times. He also volunteered as an usher and helped strike the set when the production was over. 

I was puzzled over this photo of Jessie and Kyle in the photo booth - what was up with the FIIZ cup?

Turns out FIIZ is the family's favorite place to pick up a drink and they always stopped there as they headed to rehearsals and performances. They've become friends with the staff as a result and that photo was a fun shot taken for them!

Andrew's parents, Laurie and Tom, came several times as did his grandmother.

Vanessa's sister, Carly, lives in Utah and came, too. The very next day she flew out here to Indiana for a visit with Vanessa and Curt. 

It was so good to see all our family and friends who came out to support Jessie and her family in the show. Thanks, all!

I'll share some more pics tomorrow.

Stay 'tooned!

Wrapping Up the 4th of July Family Gathering

I'm sure that if I write that this is the last post I'll write about this summer's family gathering, I will find something I've left out, so let's just say that this is the INTENDED last post about it, right? LOL  (And it's long - fair warning!)

Legos

Legos are beloved around the world, and my kids and their kids are no exception.

I have a huge tub of Legos that had belonged to my children, and we keep its lid full to the brim and under the large coffee table in the living room for the grands to use whenever they visit. (Curt's idea - brilliant!)

For her birthday, we gave Kate a Lego Botanicals floral arrangement.

Botanicals are very popular among Lego lovers, so I also bought a few other boxes for the kids to put together while we were together.

That vase Kate is holding belonged to her Great Great Grandma Honeywell. I love the family connection she got through those Lego Botanicals.

Dog Fun

Someone asked if having so many dogs together caused fights, and you would think it might.

Trinity with Gus and Henry while Nash, Tammo, and Pepper hang out.

But only very rarely do we hear a serious "leave me alone" bark. They know each other well and get along. Of course, we keep an eye on them and if one does seem to be getting stressed or upset, we intervene before things can escalate.

Rhett taking a rest break with Todd. 

Kyle and Nash while Tammo sleeps on Kyle's foot.

The dogs get a lot of attention, playing, and walks when they are together. (They sleep really well at night, too!)

And if you're playing and they aren't included,

some of them will invite themselves into the game!

Games

A hallmark of any Isenbarger family gathering is to play games around the dining room and kitchen tables. (My sewing table has been brought down in the past to make a third spot for folks wanting to play.)

Guide-Dog-Pepper always heads under the table, and often the other dogs follow her. In this case, Tammo and Rhett. (A little "dog cave!")

Sometimes the game playing begins as early as whenever the family early birds get up, and we sit around in jammies, playing a game and waiting for the rest of the family to get up.

And almost every evening there's a group that stays up into the late hours of the night.

The late night players sometimes get a little goofy.

I don't remember why Kyle was passing Sarah a card like that, but I do remember laughing about it. 

Depending on what's planned for the day, we squeeze games in multiple times.

Not only did I set out Legos for the kids,

but knowing that some family members love working puzzles, I set up a table and put out some puzzles on the overlook upstairs. (Looks like Henry is helping Emily and Kate.)

Then there was the unexpected bonus of Curt's neighbor's trash. He was throwing away an old television which had a working DVD player and let Curt take it. Curt's plan was to see if it worked and, if it did, put it into his basement where the kids could watch old DVDs.

Curt set it on the floor in his garage where Lukie found it, plugged it in, and discovered that it did indeed work.

The kids hauled some camp chairs over, put in a movie, and Curt discovered them all happily enjoying themselves! The spot is now called "the kid cave" and that TV may not make it down into the basement until cold weather arrives!

Camp Tecumseh

Ian and Julie went to overnight camp while Kate, Mila, Susie, and Lukie did day camp.

This was the 101st year of the camp. Emily was a camper and a counselor here herself. 

Saying good-bye to the two overnighters. See you in a week! Have fun!

Julie scored a top bunk! Aside from Ian, she knew no one else there. But many of the kids are in that situation - campers come from not only around the United States, but from around the world. 

Granny Janet Mila does a cannonball. (How did she get up those stairs without her walker??)

And Granny Rita Kate also takes the plunge!

Ian playing ga-ga.

Drop-off on a misty morning - look at those smiles.

Miscellaneous

Finally, just some photos that make me happy.

Lisa, Trinity, Emily, and Sarah ready for fireworks on the 4th of July.

Susie down on the dogs' frisbee field, picking flowers.

My kids commemorated the first anniversary of Abby's loss by giving me a beautiful wind chime with her name on it. (Thanks, everybody. ::sniff::)

Some daddy/daughter time for Cole and Kate.

Vanessa had done a photo shoot with a woman name Kylie,

and Kyle rearranged the letters on her welcome board - perfect!

Four of my six - Lisa, Sarah, Kyle, and Cole.

Kate cuddling up to her Aunt Sarah in church. (While Julie does the word search in the church bulletin.)

Kyle trying to not smile as Lisa takes his photo. 

We never did get everyone in one photo, but we did get photos of everyone who was there over the ten days we spent together.

As always, I am grateful for the gift of time our kids gave us, with those who could rearranging their busy schedules to come to Indiana. Thanks, all. I will cherish that time we spent together.