Family Home Evening

Brandee, Val and I 

(I just got out of the shower, our water was off all day while the water softener was being installed, that's why I look so lovely)

Jeremy, Dan (isn't he so cute?) and Ryan

Val with Brandee's baby boy, Stetler

Ok, so this was the funniest home evening ever. Dan and I are really good friends with two families from our previous ward, the Lloyds (Brandee and Jeremy) and the Davies (Ryan and Val). Well, try as we might, we never seem to be able to get together with both of them at the same time (which we love to do cuz it makes game nights so much fun). So, I invited Brandee and Jeremy to come over for FHE this week  a day or two before it and I wanted to call the Davies too, but I knew there was no way that they would be free at the last minute (they have 4 kids that are all involved in a million things). So, instead of doing the smart thing and inviting them anyway, I decided to save myself a phone call and sad rejection and assume that they wouldn't be able to come (that was my mistake!!!). Monday afternoon, I called Brandee to settle our plans for the night and she told me that she just talked to Val and that now she felt really stupid that we didn't invite them. I got excited and said "Could they come???" and she said, "Yes, but I didn't want to invite them to your house for you. Do you have enough food?". I laughed and told her I had enough to feed an army. WARNING: the conversation that follows will sound extremely rude, but I promise you, it is all said in fun. Val, Brandee and I find great joy in being rude and trying to make each other cry. I immediately called Val and before I can even say "Hi" she says "Is this a sympathy call?" and instead of telling her I felt bad, I decided to tell her, "It's all your own fault! If you guys weren't so busy all the time, I might actually make the effort once in a while." I then proceeded to tell her that if they would come, they would make my whole night. So, thankfully, they came over and we had a great night. I made cafe rio salad (thanks to Melissa Morehouse for the dressing recipe) and then we played some fun games. We played Druthers and Celestial Companions. Ryan and Val always win Celestial Companions, but this time, Brandee and Jeremy came very close to winning, they had to have a tie breaker at the end. (Hey Val, do you need a mint?) Dan and I always come in last when we play (we aren't very in sync when it comes to games). When they all left for the night I was saying goodbye from my porch and I yelled out "Maybe you could invite yourselves over for dinner again sometime!!". I think maybe I did make her cry, or at least I can hope!!!!