Weekend Visiting Hours

We were blessed today to have two surprise visitors in the early afternoon, then four more visitors later in the day! 

For the past two days, my sister Rachel and our mom were down in the Milwaukee area. Rachel had a wedding and Mom was her plus-one. They added an extra day so Mom could finally see the painted chimneys around Greendale. She saw them on a TV show or in a magazine a few years back and has wanted to go ever since. Since all roads lead through Central Wisconsin, Rachel called me this morning on their way back up north to see if they could swing by and see us. Of course!!

Haven't seen them since Mom's birthday party in early April, so it was so nice! The four of us went to a nearby cafe for lunch and then I sent them home with fresh-baked Hornet's Nest Cake. It was a short visit since they had another four hours to go. But we got our hugs in!!

Later, the big boys and their special ladies came over for dinner. Clay actually prepared the prime rib on his fancy Traeger grill. He and his girlfriend Becca brought that out and I made a few sides to go with – including Apple-Snicker Salad. Gotta stick with the favorites. Thus, the Hornet's Nest Cake for dessert. (The irony of Clay being the area Orkin man was not lost. He could get rid of the hornets. AND the cake!)

Love this picture. Miss the baby brother but he is in Washington, D.C. for the next two weeks anyway.

It was just awesome to have a nice family dinner. Probably be some time before we can do it again. Hopefully before next year. It was Emily and Casey's last evening in Wisconsin, but we'll see them bright and early to take them to her parents in Minnesota.

If I haven't said it before, family time is the best. Planned or unplanned. 

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend, too!