Summer Nights

This Summer we hosted more parties then any other Summer I can remember.

It was wonderful.

I think it's because we weren't in the middle of a newborn phase as we have been the past several years: March 07 Luke was born. April 09 Paisley was born. Two Summers spent in sleepless nights and glazed over days! It's nice to be use to this new normal and we're enjoying it immensely. If you're in the newborn phase, don't worry, you will sleep again and you will have people over to your home again, (if that's something you enjoy doing)!! One of my favorite things
is to entertain people here at our home.

Have I introduced you to Sadie yet?

My sweet by-the-side-of-the-road treasure!

She was so good to me this Summer.

Keeping drinks on ice &
carrying my goodies home from market.

Some days I would just stare at her out my kitchen window as she leaned against the gazebo
and long to ride her down the road, "fly the coop" so to speak.... but alas, I had 3 children here at home so I just rode her around the yard. I looked pathetic I know, but I didn't care!

Dinner with the Stolzfus Crew under the walnut trees.

Hummer by firelight.

I've always loved entertaining....ever since I was about 5 years old.

Seriously, I use to play for hours on end having people to my fabulous"play houses." Under the pine trees on Zook Road I would serve my friends mud, meadow tea and marigold pies. I still get sent back in time when I smell fresh meadow tea leaves and marigolds.

My Mom was so gracious, (or ignorant to the fact) that I had 1/2 the kitchen out there with me.....her measuring cups & spoons, real dishes and utensils and cups, pots and pans, the telephone and even the living room couch one time, (I still don't know how the heck I got that thing out there)!! *someone from my past please comment and tell me your remember this??*

And some of my friends that I served when I was 5,
I served again this Summer in the shade of our gazebo.
Oh Happy heart.
Friends are the sweetness of my life.

One this particular Summer's Eve Jake's brother and his wife and some of their friends were visiting from Canada. We don't get to see Sam and Cheryl very often so our time together is short, but very sweet. Jake and his brother Sam are about as opposite as you get and it's a BLAST being together, they bring out the best in each other. Just look at them! Isn't it hilarious?? I love it!

Reuben, Sam, Jake

Proud Mama with her 4 children,
Reuben, Sam, Nancy, Jake.

Sam is such a fun guy, he's not afraid to be completely himself and he loves to surprise everyone! One night he and Cheryl and his friends showed up to a party in complete Amish gear....
horse and buggy and all. We laughed and laughed.

Only Sam.

We miss you all already!!!!

Their friends look so authentic, don't you think??

We approached their buggy on the way to this party and I said,
"honey, look at that couple, if we were Amish that's the colors we would wear,
bright orange!"

Then as we passed them, I said, "WAIT....THAT WAS SAM & CHERYL!!!!"
It was awesome!!

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light..."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~