7-17-10 Barry's Barbecue

We were early risers this morning. While Dan went to town to get the right size bolts for the boat trailer, Barry & Suzanne played a little trivia game on the PC. See if you can guess which of these famous people have passed on or are still kickin'. We were surprised at some of the answers! We spent most of the day splitting and stacking wood in the woodshed, (no more yellowjackets), so there would be extra room for all the cars. We took a trip to Sterling School to get 25 chairs and 3 large tables for the big event. After the final touches on the lawn with the mower, setting up all the stuff in the yard, putting balloons by our street sign, (1st row 2nd pic), out bn the Sterling Highway so people could find their way (2nd photo top). and getting the grill fired up 2nd row 3rd photo), we were ready!

Tonight, 64 of our friends & neighbors, including many of Suzanne's colleagues, students & their families, gathered together in our yard to meet Barry and welcome him to our great state. He was quite the celebrity! For two years, he has been talking on the phone and/or corresponding by google chat with Suzanne's students. You should have seen how they greeted him for the first time... they were so star-struck! Barry certainly was a famous person tonight! Everybody was so excited to meet Barry and welcomed him so warmly as only an Alaskan can! We provided the BBQ and the drinks and everybody brought great food to go along with it. And the weather was absolutely perfect! It was warm and sunny the entire day! The kids played games on the lawn, (top row last photo), while the adults had a great time visiting with each other (2nd row 2nd photo). Kimberly took Barry's picture with each family that came and every person attending was invited to draw or write a note to him for his BBQ scrapbook that Suzanne will be putting together hopefully before he returns home (2nd row last photo Austin & Blaine two soon-to-be 1st graders, enjoy writing their notes to Barry!).

All the people who attended are near and dear to our hearts but here are a few that I would like to mention: One of Suzanne's best friends and "the teacher next door" for 15 years, Lora and her son Micah (bottom row pic #1), Sarah McConnell, one of Suzanne's girl scouts, (top row 3rd over), Atlee Turner, Barry's #1 fan, (3rd row with red shirt shaking Barry's hand and also top row 4th photo with the puppy), who asked Mrs. Martin every single school day after Barry got his PC , if Barry was online so that he could chat with him; Tracy Davis, (2nd row 3rd photo), Suzanne's dear friend & Girl Scout co-leader for Sterling Junior Troop 217 and our daughters are best friends. Mick Audette, our friend from Coldstone Creamery also showed up with an ice cream Key lime pie..... mmmmmm!!! And Austin, (Barry is holding him 2nd row #4), who's mom said he was asking her every day since school was out when he would get to meet Barry!

After everyone went home about 8:30, we cleaned up, (3rd row 1st photo) took the last load of split wood out of the truck (last row, 4th photo), piled the truck with chairs and tables (last row, 2nd photo) and headed back to Sterling School to put everyting away with the help of Kimberly's good friend, Ty (last photo). What a busy, wonderful and fun day. Barry had an absolute blast. I don;t think we've ever seen him smile so much! We all had a great time! The house is very quiet now with sleeping people, so this blog author is now going to quit typing and add to the silence...as soon as she finishes her piece of key lime ice cream pie that she put away for just this moment! Until tomorrow then....... oh and P.S: for all you faithful bloggers reading this... I will let you in on a little secret.... look very closely at Barry (bottom row 3rd photo in). Notice anything different? You got it! He is becoming a real Alaskan with real whiskers! Will he actually go home with them? No one, (not even him at this point), knows for sure... so shhhhh...... don't tell anyone and stay tuned!