Okay gang! Here are the rules for planning a family reunion involving family members scattered across the country.

Rule #1: Be flexible
Rule #2: See rule #1

If you haven't heard the news already, Andy, Val, and the girls won't be joining us for the 4th of July festivities but we're keeping out fingers crossed they will be able to make it to Missouri before the end of August. More on that to come as details become more clear.

From the beginning, this 4th of July family reunion weekend event was focused on the kiddos. Our hall closet here in Texas is brimming over with goodies gathered over the last several weeks to help make it fun for them and we are going to continue in that direction.

We realize everyone may not be able to participate in every activity because of other commitments and, hey, that is okay. We understand completely. Join in when you can and we will have a grand time together. I will post a tentative activity schedule no later than Monday and we shall go from there.

Since Aunt Gloria, who will be with us for the week, has her heart set on going to the zoo, would anyone be interested in going on Friday, July 3rd? If the guys don't want to go, let's make it a day out with the kiddos. I'll try to talk Uncle Brock into going along as the designated photographer. Please confirm your interest in this activity via email as quickly as possible so we can make plans to get her there earlier in the week if Friday doesn't work for you.

Since the idea behind having a professional photographer come to the house was to include the entire family, we've postponed the professional photographer until such time that we are able to get the whole family together. But, we will not let that stop us from shooting tons of pictures of recording our time together and the kids interacting with one another. I'm still game for the gals scrap booking in the evenings--just let me know if you are interested. I have a ton of supplies I would need to bring.

So, that brings us to the weekend activities. Here is a sampling of some of the activities planned:

• Homemade ice cream making contest - guys get out your recipes and start gathering your ingredients
• Making personalized plaster stepping stones - grown-ups included!
• Fishing contest - prizes for the biggest fish and the smallest fish
• Art anytime in Grandma K's "Art corner"
• Yard games
• Water slide and water balloon toss - not just for kids!
• Fireworks - Pappa-style
• Good food
• Dress-up and tea party for the girlies - okay the boys can come too!
• Special music entertainment by Luke
• "Canned" music by Uncle Brock
• and much more.....

Uncle Brock Takes On the Music Venue

Thank you Uncle Brock for taking on the music venue for the weekend extravaganza. He needs help though in locating these artists: Len Doolin, Darryl Worley, Randy Travis, Whitney Houston, and Waylon Jennings.

If you have these artists in your music library, singing patriotic songs, please let me know as soon as possible.

Stepping Stones

I made a trip to Hobby Lobby today for supplies for stepping stones...but forgot 40% off coupon. I bought the supplies anyway but soon realized the error of my ways. So, I'll be returning the supplies and repurchasing them over the next several weeks...at 40% off. I'm including some examples of how the kids can decorate their stones. The plan is to make one stone per child. Since these are for Grandma K and Papaw, if you would like one of your own (smile), please bring a box of stepping stone plaster. Don't forget to use your 40% off coupon. Be thinking about how you will help your child decorate his or her stone. See the examples here, except the stone will have the child's name and the year.

Meals

This is the first of the posting for meals for Extravaganza Weekend. If you would like to plan a single meal (I will buy or reimburse for the ingredients) or meals for a day, just let me know as soon as possible. Do you sense that I am in a mega planning mode? As you email me with your suggestions, I will post the meal plan. If you want to add anything to a particular meal, say desserts or fruit specialties, just let me know.

Friday July 2nd -- Arrival Day for Some

Lunch:

Dinner:
Hamburgers on the the Grill
with the Trimmings
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
Homemade Lemonade
"Yummy" Summer Berry Cobbler

Saturday July 3rd

Breakfast:
Cereal of Choice
Fresh Fruit
Milk & Juice

Lunch:
Homemade "Sub" Sandwiches
Jello Salad
Homemade Cookies
Milk & Lemonade

Dinner:
Homemade Tacos
Refried Beans
Chips & Nacho Dip
Ice Cream Cones
Fresh Fruit

Light Fireworks and sparklers

Sunday July 4th

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner 4:00 p.m. Chow Time:
BBQ Brisket Texas Style & Grilled Brats
Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Old Fashioned Corn on the Cob
Rolls
4th of July Cake & Ice Cream
Watermelon
Ice Tea & Milk

Music Search

This is a music search for the following songs for our listening pleasure for Sunday evening pre-fireworks activities and during the grand show. It would also be fun to have music other times when we are outside enjoying activities. Please email me if you have these, or others you would like to hear. Brock....this is a test to see if you are following the blog...will you take charge of the music?

This Land is My Land by Woody Guthrie
Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
Red White and Blue by Lynyrd Skynyrd
There Ain't No Yellow in the Red White and Blue by Len Doolin
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Only in America by Brooks & Dunn
American Made by the Oak Ridge Boys
This Ain't No Rag It's A Flag by Charlie Daniels Band
Have you Forgotten by Darryl Worley
Independence Day by Martina McBride
Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning by Alan Jackson
America Will Survive by Hank Williams Jr.
The American Way by Hank Williams Jr.America by Waylon Jennings
Our Country by John Mellencamp
Living in the Promised Land by Willie Nelson
America Will Always Stand by Randy Travis
This Ragged Old Flag by Johnny Cash
American Spirit by Mannheim Steamroller
Where The Stars and Stripes and The Eagle Fly by Aaron Tippin
Star Spangled Banner by Whitney Houston
America the Beautiful by Ray Charles
God Bless America!

Tea Parties and Dress Up

Sugar and spice
and everything nice
that's what little girls are made of

Sunshine and rainbows
and ribbons for hair bows
that's what little girls are made of

Tea parties, laces
and baby doll faces
that's what little girls are made of

"Author Unknown"

Stacey is bringing dress up clothes for the girlies. What fun!! Grandma needs to hit a few more garage sales before July!! I'll bet we can get Aunt Patty to do nails.

Garden Stepping Stones Craft Idea

Stacey suggested letting the kids make jeweled and bedazzaled hand print garden stepping stones. I will look for the kits at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.