crazy girls creating with grandparents

On Monday, my niece came over to make apple crisp and gingerbread cookies with the girls and my Mom and Dad. After some discussion, she spent the night too.

They played very, very hard.

Interesting note, the couch you see is over sixty years old. My Dad's parents bought it with their wedding money. My Grandfather was a pastor and him and Grandma had seven kids. When my aunt stopped by we were discussing the sofa and she says she thinks it was reupholstered three times.

Can you imagine a couch today that could endure seven children and the numerous moves made by a pastor's family? It is a gorgeous and durable piece of furniture.

When it came to baking, the first order of business was to make the gingerbread dough so it could spend sometime in the fridge. Dad has nutmeg so the girls all got to grate fresh nutmeg (which takes gingerbread to a whole new level).

After the dough was done and resting in the fridge, the girls made apple crisp. Mom and Dad had a discussion about how to multiply the recipe for the topping.

K and H really enjoyed making the crunch topping by hand.

C on the other hand has texture issues and didn't care for it.

H's Mom and big brother stopped by to drop of some overnight gear.

The girls had mac and cheese with little smokies, orange soda, and pumpkin pie for lunch.

After lunch they began rolling out the cookie dough and making the cookies.

Grandpa was getting a little stressed by the high energy girls and needed a break so Mom and I took them for a walk around the circle and stopped at the little abandoned playground.

Hubs was smarter than my Dad, he spent the day ignoring it all!!

In the evening, we drove out into the country to see a very famous local light display. For several years, the creator of the display has discussed shutting it down. The man is quite old (in his seventies, I think) and it is too much work for him. For awhile locals helped put it up but now the displays (all designed and made by the owner - nothing pre-made) are starting to deteriorate so this might be his last year.

Two very tired girls listen to Grandma read.

In the morning, before H's Mom and maternal grandmother came to pick her up, they frosted their cookies.

(If you are interested, my other blog has pictures of the eagles (flying wild) that we saw on our trip).