Senior Class Cook-Off Challenge

Friday night was such a fun night! Our Senior boy had his class over for a "Cook-Off Challenge".  He was one of the team captains.  One of the girls was the other captain.  They decided to compete boys vs. girls.  

There were 12 out of 20 classmates at the challenge, so a good group!

 My husband and I went with them to shop. The tiny nearby grocery store wasn't sure what was going on seeing 12 teens in a race to shop and a crazy mom trying to get it all captured with her camera!!

 The two captains had decided on Italian food. I had gathered some of the supplies already, but we wanted to make sure they had to actually shop for quite a bit of it.

 It was a great experience for them!

 Some weren't used to purchasing food to this degree!  And none us remembered where to buy the yeast - in the refrigerated section (I didn't even remember that's where it was kept at this store!).

 These two girls were checking the prices on the meat. Good for them going for the cheapest packaging option!  There was a sale on the big 10 pound package of ground beef!

My husband stood at the front to buy their "goods".

 A stop outside of the store for a group photo and then it was time to get busy!

 The girls went to one house - the boys were at our house.  The girls made lasagna....

 ....steamed squash and zucchini, and lemon cupcakes.

 Samantha did great on her food and guiding her team!

 The boys made corn fritters, meatballs, spaghetti with spaghetti sauce, Fettucine Alfredo, cheese breadsticks, green beans and salad.  We've laughed about J standing in the chair to grate the Parmesan cheese! He told his mom he needed a better angle!

 R was getting into the pizza crust dough :).

 And this picture is worth a thousand words....and a huge science experiment....and a prayer of thanksgiving....all of which we won't share.  The Seniors will always remember this night, however!

 The corn fritters were great!

 The meatballs - I heard - had too much pepper in some place and not much in others. Each boy blamed the other one for the bad mixing! Ha ha!

 Who can go wrong when you used Olive Garden dressing???

 This is the lemon glaze for the cupcakes. They were delicious!  The glaze looks like Alfredo sauce!

 Steamed veggies....

 ...cheezy bread sticks....

 ...the finished cupcakes....

 green beans....noodles....

...lasagna....

We deemed the meal a success and a tie. It was really hard to judge two different meals. We decided the next challenge had to be the same foods.  The kids had a BLAST and can't wait to do it all again!

Thanks to them for allowing us to be a part of their lives this year.  We're having fun hosting them. They're making memories and getting to know one another at a different level for this final year of high school.

Great job, chefs!

THS Seniors of 2015 - September

 

Last night our oldest son's Senior class met at our house.  It was the second "get-together" for their Senior year, and the class of 21 had 100% attendance for the evening! That is just amazing!  Unfortunately this picture was taken right after one boy left. Next time we'll have to get everyone.  This is a great class. They all get along. Many of them have been together, for the most part, for many, many years.  And the newer ones seem like they've been here the whole time. They're making lots of memories this year. We're thankful to be just a small part in those memories.

This picture is in front of my old pickup.  You can't really see the old pickup!  I'll have to share it with you on another post. It's all pumpkin-ized!

 Mexican food was the menu for last night's meal.  Royce is showing Tanner how to properly fold a burrito! His work at Sonic taught him that skill. He now works as a waiter at a Mexican restaurant!

These little great-nephews aren't Seniors, but they had stopped by the house for a pumpkin photo shoot. They got the ice cream treats the big guys were eating :).

One parent sent delicious Reese's-type cookie bars.  They went perfectly with ice cream cones and sundaes!

 They had fun with spray whipped cream! I think Christian's bowl was half whipped cream...plus what he had in his mouth!

 Megan's bowl was so pretty! She put this waffle cone on top. I told her she could work at Disney World with that pretty bowl, but then found out that my husband did it!  Maybe he should :).

Group photo during meal...

Other table during meal....

 Football basketball was next on the schedule.

 The boys would throw the football and try to make it in the basketball goal!

 Guess who was the only one to make it???  "G"...the quarterback!  Way to go, G!

Some of the Senior girls posing....not really, but it looked like it!

Then night ended in car hide and seek. And they let me play along with them! It was so much fun!

My sister-in-law asked about car hide and seek, so I'm sharing the answer with you...in case you wonder or want to play!  I think us parents should play. It's FUN!!

You start from "base", which was our house, then one car (each car has 3 or 4 people) goes to hide. There are road boundaries. You have only 3 minutes to hide, then the other cars go looking for you for 10 minutes! The hidden car sends text hints/clues to the others. If they don't find the hidden car, then a text is sent out to all go back to the home base, then the next car hides. Our car was probably disadvantaged because Jacob had to drive the speed limit with me in there! Ha ha!! No one was driving fast, though. Want to make that clear . Zachary was driving one of the other ones. 

Senior Class of 2015 - Back to School Breakfast

We began this with our daughter's Senior class two years ago, so now continue this tradition with our oldest son.  Their Senior class is invited to our house every month to get together for a meal and fun.  Today was the first event for the Class of 2015 - an early morning, before school breakfast.  There were 18 or 19 in attendance out of 22 or so. A great group and a great turn out!

 Since our school colors are black and gold and the mascot is a tiger, I decided to go with that for the decorations.

 Many of the tigers will be auctioned off at our annual Fall Festival in November. I buy them throughout the year whenever I see them.  But, it was good to get some use out of them instead of having them setting around the house doing nothing but collecting dust!

 I decided to get Starbucks Frappe chinos for the Seniors as a special treat. I have empty bottles that were used with paper straws for other juices and milk if the Seniors desired.  Why does a special glass and paper straw make everything more fun?! :)

 The fruit and yogurt parfait station is probably more of a "girl" station, but a few boys seemed to like it, too!

And the boys' favorite is the Slow Cooker Breakfast Burritos. In fact, I took this to the elementary, JH, and HS buildings on the first day of school and the teachers and staff think it's their favorite, too. So many people use this recipe. It's such a great recipe (so whoever came up with it, THANK YOU!) It's on my "Life's a Bowl of Cherries Blog" if you don't have it already. I have used it or heard it used for county fairs, family reunions, vacations, and camps.  It's definitely a time saver, too!

 I've started grilling onions and peppers and serve along with the burrito fillings. (Bacon is next to that pan.) A funny story:  The elementary had the grilled onions and peppers hidden somehow, so they didn't even realize they were there until late in the day - right before I picked up the food on Monday! The HS principal was visiting the elementary and happened to mention the onions and peppers. They thought they had been left out, but found them under a lid! Ha ha!

 My son made cinnamon rolls for his classmates on Monday, plus again for this breakfast. We also served biscuits and sausage gravy.  Oh, and Hostess powdered donuts! :)

This class has mostly been together a long time, with just a few changes and additions along the way. It's a close class and we are looking forward to spending more time with them during this last year.

 They're a talented group of leaders.  They're fun to watch no matter what sport or activity they're involved in at the time.

Have I told you about my addition?  The old Ford pickup?  If you don't live here, you may not realize that I've always wanted an old pickup in the field.  Just for pictures.  Really.  But look!  It's it just perfect for these Senior girls to stand by and pose?  I think so, too!

Senior Night and Homecoming 2013

We experienced a first this week.  Actually, we experienced a few firsts and several "lasts".  Fun, extra-curricular activities signifying that the end of high school, for our oldest child, is approaching very quickly!

Tuesday night was our high school basketball teams' "Senior Night" and Homecoming.  Lauren was a part of both celebrations.  I thought I would be sad, but I didn't have time to be sad, really.  Too busy to think about it, I suppose.  And then I wonder if "thinking" about it is sad, but that actually "going through it" isn't as sad??  Maybe at the time you go through it you are caught up in the moment and memories and don't think of being sad.  Not sure about that.  I'm pretty sure I'll be sad during some of these times in the next few months.

It was an exciting night for Lauren and her friends as Homecoming candidates and for each of their families, as well.  Fun memories of their Senior year, and the last "home" game for the season....and forever for some.

The last team prayer on the home court - the new tradition I told you about recently, but one the Seniors have shown as an example for the rest of their teammates and fans.

A celebration of memories for all of the Seniors and their families.  The last time to be cheered on by the home team fans.  The anticipation of playoffs beginning tomorrow.  

Congratulations, Seniors! We're proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to your successes in the future!