Is June really over? Already? My goodness.
Here are a few highlights from this fast and furious month.
The first weekend of June, we made our way down the ol’ familiar highway to Odessa. I was a hostess at a baby shower for a longtime family friend named Kristi (Patterson) Clemmer. Her little guy, Devin Lawrence Clemmer, is due to arrive in late July, so it was time to shower her with gifts galore! My responsibilities for this exciting day/time in Kristi’s life included making a YUMMY punch, assembling table decorations for the tables that lined the room, and helping get the opened gifts out of the way of the unopened gifts.
If you are interested in the punch recipe, this is your lucky day!
Banana Punch
(1 recipe = 8 quarts = 2 gallons = enough for about 50 people)
*2 quarts of water (8 cups)
*1 quart of sugar (4 cups)
2 quarts of pineapple juice (8 cups)
24 ounces of frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
72 ounces of water (9 cups)
½ cup lemon juice
5-7 large bananas (pureed in blender) First side note: The more bananas the better, in my opinion. Second side note: I did the puree process with some of the 9 cups of water so it would pour out of the blender more easily when combining with the other liquids.
2-3 liters of ginger ale
Combine
*water (8 cups) and *sugar (4 cups) in a large pot and boil for about 15 minutes. Let cool. (Do not let your 2 beautiful nieces --who are doing dishes and think this is a giant pot of water-- pour the sugar syrup down the drain. If you do, you will have to repeat the process.) Add all other ingredients together (including the 9 cups of water) except the ginger ale. Mix well and freeze. Allow about 2 days for solid freezing if all the liquid is placed in the same container. Take mixture out of freezer at least 2-3 hours before serving. Shave with a fork and pour semi-thawed/shaved punch into a punch bowl and add ginger ale to desired consistency. Punch should be slushy.
Did I mention that this punch is DELICIOUS???? WOW!! So yummy indeed!
The following weekend, we made the same trip down the same highway to the same house. The house belonging to my wonderful parents. That weekend was a bit more somber due to the nature of our visit. We, along with numerous other family members and friends, were going to the Midland Rockhounds game for a tribute to our dear nephew, Deuce. For months prior, Deuce had been scheduled to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th-inning stretch. God had other plans and called him home on the first day of May. As a tribute to our little red-headed guy, the ballpark wanted to play the recording of him singing the same song from last summer. We all wore matching “Deuce” t-shirts and put on our best game face while at the same time bracing for a difficult and emotional evening. It was just that. At the same time, however, it was such a heart-warming feeling to hear his sweet voice FILL the ballpark. It gives me goosebumps even still. He touched so many lives in so many ways and in so many places. The ballpark is just one of those places. My life is forever changed by his sweetness, love, and happiness. I miss him more than ever even though I didn’t know I could miss him more than I did yesterday.
Deuce's friend, Cooper, ran the bases in a race against Rocky that night. He has one of the "Deuce" shirts too.
The next weekend, my best friend in all the world, Riley, hopped on a plane and came to Lubbock for a visit. She and I go waaaaaaay back to 1994. Through e-mails, texts, occasional phone calls, cards, letters, and visits, we continue to cherish our friendship and time together. The weekend was filled with lots of fun including eating, game-playing, shopping, itty bitty projects, and visiting. We like time spent “in home” as much as we like time “out” so it was a good, enjoyable balance of both. My mom joined in on the fun Saturday late afternoon and headed back to Odessa after lunch on Sunday. We were a wild and crazy trio Saturday night…and what I mean by that is that we stayed up talking until 4:00am.
Sunday of that same weekend was Austin’s first Father’s Day! Owen got his Daddy this cute picture frame.
Mommy and Aunt Riley had taken Owen to the park for a few pictures, so as a result, we had cute pictures to put into the frame! Owen is so thoughtful!! ;)
The next weekend...the one with June 26th...Austin and I celebrated anniversary #6! This was my status on facebook that day: "Once upon a time, God penetrated the world wide web and brought a boy named Austin into my life. 6 years ago today, we were married! Loving him is the best part of my life. Happy Anniversary to Austin...an amazing husband, father, and friend." On Friday evening, the 25th, Austin’s mom came over to watch Owen so we could go out to dinner.
Thanks to a little anniversary money from good ol’ Mom and Dad, we treated ourselves to the yumminess that is Harrigan’s. We then took a little ride over to Toys R Us where we picked up a board game and a new grocery cart/high chair cover for Owen. After a couple more quick errand-type stops, we headed back home to put Owen to bed and play our new game with Austin’s mom. It was quite a nice evening. The next day, on our actual anniversary, one of us (not Austin or Owen) got up at about 6:15 for a 5-hour cleaning, organizing, decluttering session in the garage! It felt GREAT to get so much done!! After a shower and some relaxation, we headed to Kermit for a top-notch meal prepared by Aunt Bev! Man, can that lady cook!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it was a long way to go for dinner, but it was a nice cool evening, we had a happy baby the whole time there and back, we had some great visiting time with each other and with dear family, so it was worth every mile and every minute!
Another June highlight includes Austin’s whirlwind of classes that are over in just 2 more days! He has been working his tail off in 3 separate classes and is looking forward to a break in July. He has some obligations lined up between now and the new school year starting, but he is ready to have a bit of a break in the midst of it all! I am tutoring some, but not at all overwhelmed. We have such a good life. We are enjoying playing games after Owen goes to bed (that seems to be our "thing" these days), watching movies from time to time, working on chores together when we are able to, and running errands together in the evenings. God continues to bless us everyday…good families…good friends…good health…We are so grateful.
Happy July to all,
Carianne
If you are interested in the punch recipe, this is your lucky day!
Banana Punch
(1 recipe = 8 quarts = 2 gallons = enough for about 50 people)
*2 quarts of water (8 cups)
*1 quart of sugar (4 cups)
2 quarts of pineapple juice (8 cups)
24 ounces of frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
72 ounces of water (9 cups)
½ cup lemon juice
5-7 large bananas (pureed in blender) First side note: The more bananas the better, in my opinion. Second side note: I did the puree process with some of the 9 cups of water so it would pour out of the blender more easily when combining with the other liquids.
2-3 liters of ginger ale
Combine *water (8 cups) and *sugar (4 cups) in a large pot and boil for about 15 minutes. Let cool. (Do not let your 2 beautiful nieces --who are doing dishes and think this is a giant pot of water-- pour the sugar syrup down the drain. If you do, you will have to repeat the process.) Add all other ingredients together (including the 9 cups of water) except the ginger ale. Mix well and freeze. Allow about 2 days for solid freezing if all the liquid is placed in the same container. Take mixture out of freezer at least 2-3 hours before serving. Shave with a fork and pour semi-thawed/shaved punch into a punch bowl and add ginger ale to desired consistency. Punch should be slushy.
Did I mention that this punch is DELICIOUS???? WOW!! So yummy indeed!
The following weekend, we made the same trip down the same highway to the same house. The house belonging to my wonderful parents. That weekend was a bit more somber due to the nature of our visit. We, along with numerous other family members and friends, were going to the Midland Rockhounds game for a tribute to our dear nephew, Deuce. For months prior, Deuce had been scheduled to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th-inning stretch. God had other plans and called him home on the first day of May. As a tribute to our little red-headed guy, the ballpark wanted to play the recording of him singing the same song from last summer. We all wore matching “Deuce” t-shirts and put on our best game face while at the same time bracing for a difficult and emotional evening. It was just that. At the same time, however, it was such a heart-warming feeling to hear his sweet voice FILL the ballpark. It gives me goosebumps even still. He touched so many lives in so many ways and in so many places. The ballpark is just one of those places. My life is forever changed by his sweetness, love, and happiness. I miss him more than ever even though I didn’t know I could miss him more than I did yesterday. 
Sunday of that same weekend was Austin’s first Father’s Day! Owen got his Daddy this cute picture frame. 
Mommy and Aunt Riley had taken Owen to the park for a few pictures, so as a result, we had cute pictures to put into the frame! Owen is so thoughtful!! ;)
The next weekend...the one with June 26th...Austin and I celebrated anniversary #6! This was my status on facebook that day: "Once upon a time, God penetrated the world wide web and brought a boy named Austin into my life. 6 years ago today, we were married! Loving him is the best part of my life. Happy Anniversary to Austin...an amazing husband, father, and friend." On Friday evening, the 25th, Austin’s mom came over to watch Owen so we could go out to dinner. 
Thanks to a little anniversary money from good ol’ Mom and Dad, we treated ourselves to the yumminess that is Harrigan’s. We then took a little ride over to Toys R Us where we picked up a board game and a new grocery cart/high chair cover for Owen. After a couple more quick errand-type stops, we headed back home to put Owen to bed and play our new game with Austin’s mom. It was quite a nice evening. The next day, on our actual anniversary, one of us (not Austin or Owen) got up at about 6:15 for a 5-hour cleaning, organizing, decluttering session in the garage! It felt GREAT to get so much done!! After a shower and some relaxation, we headed to Kermit for a top-notch meal prepared by Aunt Bev! Man, can that lady cook!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it was a long way to go for dinner, but it was a nice cool evening, we had a happy baby the whole time there and back, we had some great visiting time with each other and with dear family, so it was worth every mile and every minute!
Another June highlight includes Austin’s whirlwind of classes that are over in just 2 more days! He has been working his tail off in 3 separate classes and is looking forward to a break in July. He has some obligations lined up between now and the new school year starting, but he is ready to have a bit of a break in the midst of it all! I am tutoring some, but not at all overwhelmed. We have such a good life. We are enjoying playing games after Owen goes to bed (that seems to be our "thing" these days), watching movies from time to time, working on chores together when we are able to, and running errands together in the evenings. God continues to bless us everyday…good families…good friends…good health…We are so grateful.
Happy July to all,
Carianne
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