Hello Monday - bbq 2013

Hello Monday. 

What a week you were....Saturday we hosted our Annual Friends & Family Reunion. This year we topped out at 213 people. 

Folks come from all over to catch up and share the afternoon...we love hosting this every year, as much work as it is to prepare and cook and clean up, we really love it. And most of all, we love that year after year we share this Red, White and Blue Celebration Tradition...

 

Hello photos on the flag...when the first guests arrive there's time for portraits on the flag, then mayhem brakes loose...and I grab what shots we can...

Hello Tess & Sue...

 Hello Heath and Ben...

 Hello Kim and Cheung...

Hello Richard, Thea and Alayna...

 Hello Hellers...

 Hello Cameron aka "King of the Root Beer Keg" and Alice...

 Hello Sue and Rog...

 Hello Desrats Clan...

When the party really gets rolling and I am hard pressed to nab a shot,

 but love when I can...

 Look at these three....what a wonderful trio!

The of course there's the MEN at the GRILL, something about the fire and the red meat...thanks chefs and carvers Robert, Harold, Fred, Cheung, Jason, John, Tom, Jeff...with 200+ folks they cooked and served 100+ pounds of meat to go with all the salads and sides Allie and I cooked on Friday...

 And I love looking across the yard at the total mayhem wrought by 80+ kiddos...

 ...and 130+ adults...

And I love catching the quiet moments too...

 Hello youngest guest...

 Hello Folk-style picnic...

 Hello childhood friends....I wouldn't be me without you...

 Hello good girlfriends...

 HELLO DESSERT PARADE!  Maybe the best part of the evening...a great way to get dessert served with kid labor...

 Hello driveway race zone...WATCHOUT!!!

Then the sun went down and 500 glow sticks kept the kids busy while we waited for the town fireworks at 10pm. 

What a way to end the day...

Hello cleanup.

Hello happy memories.

Hello wonderful traditions.

Hello perfect afternoons....

Hello America and Happy Birthday!

 

xxoo Jen