Thursday, June 5, 2008

Fitzgerald Family Fun Festival

We had our first annual FFFF and it was wonderful. We had about 35 people, counting the off spring. The gala took place at Andrea and Travis's home in Oldham Co. Beautiful surroundings, perfect weather, convivial family members and superior food all came together for a perfect day.

There was so much to do! A play ground structure up the hill a little way from the house, that the kids could climb in, slide down the slides , go through tunnels and have a good time in. There was a conventional swing set, with a super swing for adults, they had basket ball hoops, volley ball nets, acres of freshly mown grass to run on, a fishing lake, full of fish, and a long looping drive way that was ideal for riding one of the vehicles that were available to us. Any thing from a small hot wheel to a full sized ATV and plenty of helmets to go around.

Gregg had smoked a turkey in his "Big Green Egg" smoker and Andrea provided the ham and sandwich breads,and the appetizers and every one else brought a dish. People grazed on the shrimp cocktail, salsa and chips, and crackers and pimento cheese washed down by Margaritas, Pinot Noir, or your beer of choice. What a day!

It just happened to be the day before Kathy's birthday so we had a BD cake, complete with candles, (in keeping with the fire laws, we didn't have the full number of candles) and we had cup cakes and compotes of fruit. A feast fit for the Fitz Clan!

The little people, Gus, Abby, Kadon, Preston, Pearce, Robert, Jimmy, Sean, Bridget, Conor, and the two middle aged people, Julie and Jeff and the biggins' Paul, Travis, Scott, Tim and Joe all fished, while Maureen, and Marie hung out with the rest of us. Karen, Linda, Kristin, Jane, Andrea, Angela, Kathy, Stephanie,Erin, Nathan, Mike, Keith, Gregg, Lee and me. Brian took pictures of the fishers and the loungers and they are great.

Since I have been teaching school for 39 years and the number one teacher gift at Christmas time is an ornament. I had a plethora of ornaments. I have not had a Christmas tree these last years because it is too much of a chore to put it up by myself so I had a Great Ornament Give away. We displayed all of the ornaments on long tables that stretched across the width of Andrea's lower room and let everyone pick ornaments of their choice. We saved the ones that were not picked and will put them out next year at the 2009 FFFF. Any one wishing to get rid of an ornament can put it out with next year's crop.

The day was so full and there was so much to do and to talk about, I'm sure I have forgotten something noteworthy but if I think of any more I will write another blog tomorrow. We missed Jeanine, Rick, John and Jack, Shannon, Lenny, Eric, Nicholas and Daniel, Patrick,Kristy,and Alex, Courtney, Al, Ellen, Sam and Madeline, Larry, Doc and Paula. We hope they will join us next year and we can have even more fun!! Thank you Andrea for thinking the event up and thank you Travis for being such a good host, thanks Gregg for the turkey, and the riding machines. Thank everyone else for being there. Wasn't it fun?

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