Round our Dinner Table...

Hello, friend!

I am a little sad that this gloriously long weekend is coming to an end....but we certainly ushered out the long holiday week with some very special people!!!

Jake and Janelle and their adorable children gave us the gift of their company tonight...whenever we get together and after the time flies by and they go back to their cozy cottage, I always think "We MUST do this more often!".

Tonight we had a "Make Your Own Pizza" Party. I even made the dough (ok, so I've got to pat my own back for that one, as the mere mention of using yeast in anything nearly gives me hives) and it actually turned out, even if it wasn't quite plentiful enough. Speaking of plentiful enough....the world just does not have enough people like Jake and Janelle. He is one of the most sincere people I've met...so genuine, so manly (you're welcome, Jake). And Janelle...well, as the quote on the quaint Tea Box reads, "Let people bask in your radiance and sunshine" - Yogi Bhajan...this is precisely what she does, and not in a fake, flakey way. She is FOR REAL!

God bless her little heart...with her more-than-ample bread making skills, she took over for this skittish hostess when it came to rolling out the dough. (she's a take-charge kinda gal. we get along just fine.)
Waiting, waiting, waiting for dinner....and in the meantime, Rick got an education on the Amish (both Jake and Janelle have family roots that stem into their traditions)

Jake feeding a pint-sized version of his wife! :)
Ham balls
Pleased as punch with their Italian pastry creations...
Her big brother so kindly made a smiley face on her pizza. She was tickled pink. (He's so great with the bevy of little siblings that have 'suddenly' burst on his scene)
Ariel view of the kiddo's table
During this season of life, fancy dinners out...elegant dinners in...they are rare blips in the blur of life. But setting a few extra plates 'round the dinner table is do-able, and often, most enjoyable.
As was the case this evening.