King Christmas 2014

Time for Bingo!!!

Caroline and Aunty Mal ready to play.

Greg, Austin and Kennedy

Haley, Val, Craig and Stacey... looks serious.

Joyce and Gavin calling numbers

The Harrison's having fun.. (Andy, Jack, Lea and Caroline)

The attempt to get all of these kiddos to sleep...

Elise and Amber

Caroline, Alli and Kennedy

And of course Jack...

This is what we do after the kids go to bed.. play cards and drink beer!

This year we missed some people. Mollie and family couldn't be there, which was a big bummer for everyone.  Lauren came down with a fever the morning we were supposed to leave so Eric stayed home with her and Elise and I came down.  We usually see Steve King and John at this gathering and missed them too!

Happy Turkey Day

The day before Thanksgiving I spent my day in the kitchen.. first I made this.. my Grandma King's Pecan Pie!!

Then I made this Apple Cobbler that is Elise friendly. I found an "apple goodie" recipe of my mom's and put it in a pie pan and ta-da... apple cobbler goodie!

Next came the enormous amount of stuffing.. this of course is Great Grandam Kit's recipe (Lucy's Grandma)

As you can see.. I was not joking when I say massive amounts of stuffing!  

While I was working the neighbor girls were over keeping my girls busy so I could work.. Natalie and Olivia.. such sweethearts!

Once we got to Myrna's Thanksgiving day it didn't take long before the kids were outside and wanting to shoot the clay pigeons..

Lauren gets her lesson from Dad.. and then said her shoulder hurt..a little kick back from the gun.

Next Elise gets a turn..

Lauren and Gavin are out gathering all the clay pigeons that we all missed.. Eric said he picked up 12 that he alone missed.. he also said he got shown up by 12 year old Austin who couldn't seem to miss!  Pretty funny stuff.

Climbing up the silo!

Amber and Elise... they were BOTH thrilled that they had each other to play with today.. they are such good buddies!

Such a face miss Lauren!

The Girls (well most of them.. Caroline had the stomach flu and didn't make it today)
Haley, Elise, Jessie, Lauren and Amber

The BIG game has finally come and gone!!

Another King Ladies Day/Night Out! It the annual Cy/Hawk Challenge Game Day.. this year in Ames so we all ventured on up for a FULL day of tailgating.  Myrna was there at 10:00 or so, I was there by about 12:30 and the game started at 5:00.. that's a long day of tailgating.. but so worth it.. had a blast.

Back Row: Me, Joyce, Myrna, Lea
Front Row: Mal and Haley

It was a little toasty in the afternoon but by late afternoon it was perfect.. just wish the game would have ended on a high note too.

Haley and her boyfriend Gaelen (not sure how to spell that one)!

Andy and Lea Harrison

My awesome Uncle Dick and Aunt Joyce Barta.. we weren't sure what colors Dick was going to wear.. thought it might be black and gold.. but he came through!

So this is it for photos.. because when I got to Ames I realized that my camera didn't have a memory card in it.. I was SOOOO mad.. so this captures the "early tailgate".. too bad no photos of my cousin and her friends "later" in the tailgate.. it was quite entertaining.  Such a fun atmosphere to be in Ames for the ISU/Iowa game.. even if I didn't have tickets.. and even if we didn't win. 

The King Ladies Day Out

Our girls day out started out at the Farmer's Market.  I haven't been down there in so long.  It was really fun.  I love to just go look around, people watch and eat!  Charlie was a trooper.. he is at a hard age to do this stuff.. he would rather be running around but he did enjoy the Choo-Choo!

It was a hot day so we got out the slip and slide... even Haley and Jessie gave it a whirl.

My family is not affected by heat for some reason .... except for me... and Val... and Jessie. We sat outside all afternoon and it was beyond hot and muggy... but the company was good so that is all that matters!

Jessie, Stacey & Haley

Miss Haley our awesome nanny for the summer!

Charlie wanted to walk up to the neighbors with Haley

It just wouldn't be a King gathering without cards and beer!

Back Row:  Pat Smith, Jessie and Haley Birch, Stacy Kile, Val King, Myrna King,  Lea Harrison, Joyce Barta and Mallory King
Front Row: Me.. Elise, Lauren & Dudley, Mollie & Charlie McAuley

The next morning Charlie and Dudley were watching Mollie pack up the car.

Mal reads Charlie a book.. and then he made his way around the room so that we all read him the book... he is such a character!!