Birthday Sleepover

Despite the loss of Brian on Sunday (her birthday) and dealing with making arrangements, we decided to go ahead and do Camden's friend birthday party.  She chose her 5 closest friends (clockwise around the circle - Jaysa, Bella, Nataly, Emma, and Sophia).  We started at the Crawfordsville Milligan Park pool for a few hours of swimming, then came back to our house.  

We didn't like the selection of cupcakes at the store, so we picked up a white cake mix and decided to do tie-dye cupcakes with store bought whipped frosting.  The girls helped mix the colors and put in the pans.  While the treats baked, they ate the Pizza Hut pizza we had delivered.

The cupcakes came out so cute!  And were so moist and flavorful.  I couldn't believe it was all from a box and a can.  

I hung out with the girls and we played spoons and Uno before presents.

Two of the girls (Jaysa & Nataly) spent the night, but before each of them left, Camden gave them their party favor.  We ordered decorate-your-own cookies from Day Bakery.  The cookies were the girl's names.  As usual, they were spectacular!

Can't Have Too Much

Because you should have desserts every day of your birthday week, we stopped at Flying Cupcakes for later celebrating.

Birthday Bear

We had planned to go to Top Golf as her birthday activity/present, but the wait was too long for our Melting Pot reservation time.  So afterward, we decided she could get a Birthday Bear from Build-a-Bear Workshop in the nearby mall.  They have a special that you can get this special bear for the cost of their age.  Since we waited until she was 12, we didn't get much of a savings.  However, she has always wanted one, so it was the time to get it.

Everything was touchless because of COVID, but it didn't diminish the experience much.  There were a few "routines" that were off limits, but at Camden's age, that was not a big deal.

Melting Pot Birthday Dinner

Camden has wanted to go to the Melting Pot since she heard of it's existence.  We've held off so we were sure she was at the point she could appreciate it enough to justify the price.

She raved about the first course - Wisconsin Cheese (Aged Cheddar, Emmenthaler, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Garlic) - loving the bread, broccoli, cauliflower, and apples that she dipped in it.

We let her drive most of the decisions and she selected Bourguignonne - European style with canola oil, panko bread crumbs, and tempura batter.  She opted for all chicken kid's meal, while Kevin and I each got various meats.  We all enjoyed this style, but the extra effort to coat everything and then "fry" was not our favorite way to do the Melting Pot.  Next time we will try the grill (we have never done that) or go back to our favorite Caribbean broth option.

I was not real thrilled when she wanted the S'mores dessert fondue.  This was milk chocolate with marshmallow crème swirled in, then flambeed and graham cracker crumbles added. It is not one of my favorite options in desserts but, again, the birthday girl got to make the selections.

As we began enjoying the strawberries, pineapple, bananas, rice krispie treats, brownies, cookie bars, and angel food cake, Kevin and I looked at each other and declared that this was our favorite dessert fondue we have every had there and we would get it again next time!

Happy 741 Birthday

We did an impromptu birthday celebration with GaGa and Grandpa.  We took some dinner to their house, GaGa made the mashed potatoes, and enjoyed celebrating the last day of her 11th year.

GaGa also picked up a brown sugar angel food cake at the Amish store as a surprise.  Unfortunately, she only had 10 candles.  So she improvised with some number candles...741...some simple math and viola - 12.

Camden danced along as we sang.

Despite COVID, we decided to let her blow out candles.

It was a sweet celebration.  (Side note:  brown sugar angel food cake is the way to go!)

Abundance

The garden is full of weeds, but also lots of great produce.  Cucumbers, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes are coming on in full force.

Melons are ripening and growing.  Probably another week away.  Rabbits found one of the cantaloupe, but we did eat one that was so flavorful and juicy.

We got a first pickin' of beans and shared the bounty (and the work!) with Gaga and Grandpa.  Have enjoyed a second batch (that was like a week's worth of eating) too.

Kevin also went and picked 9 dozen ears of corn from a Waveland farmer who always lets GaGa, Grandpa, and us get it.  We put up 16 full quart bags this week, plus several meals of fresh corn on the cob.

Nap Time

Small Group Gathering

Our church small group has had a few get-togethers at our friend's the Cogdills.  They have a wonderful house and pool.  We always do a pitch-in.  Good food, good folks, good times!

The kids in the group always enjoy cooling off in the pool.

They also have a nice stocked pond which Kevin and Eugene took advantage of.  The blue gill were huge and biting.

The Dairy Barn

On the drive home from Allerton Park, we went through Thomasboro, one of the towns where Kevin grew up just outside Champaign.  Then we drove home through the country.  Until we got to Danville, IL where we cut back to 74.  Just before getting on the highway, we googled ice cream places and found a little shop off one of the exits in Danville. 

The hand dipped flavors were excellent and we all raved about the taste.  Kevin had Thin Mint and Chocolate Peanut Butter.  Best mint ice cream I have ever had!

I had pecan praline and black cherry.  Yum!

Camden had a brownie sundae.

We might just have to make road trips that direction just for an excuse to stop here again.  What a find!