Luau 2015

It feels like  we have been preparing for the luau for months, but I guess it's just because the bishop has been announcing it and talking to us about it for the past few months. They asked Kathy L to help out with decorations and signup sheets and she really did a great job. I think there was a lack of communication at first though. I came to church one day and picked up the program and flier there on the chair and there was a whole new plan for the luau. Kathy had really taken the idea of helping out and ran with it. She had a new menu of pulled pork sandwhichs and to have everyone bringing potato dishes to share.  Also she said on the flier that everyone was supposed to make a family flag and bring it to the luau. I looked at the flier as sacrament meeting was starting and was kind of in shock. I sent Kelley a text asking what in the heck was going on. 

Kathy had told him she had made flier and he had picked one up but not read it so he had no clue of what it said. He just got up and conducted the meeting and said the luau was coming up and to check out the flier. Well as soon as people read the flier they started complaining.  "Why are you changing the luau?"  I told them I didn't know anything about these new plans but we would get it worked out. So as soon as the bishopric saw the flier they were like  ummm no.  So they called Kathy in to talk to her about it. She said they had done all these things at her family reunion and it was fun so she thought it would be fun for the luau.  They told her hey appreciated her efforts of putting this idea together (the flier was super detailed and two pages both sides explaining what was going to happen). But that wasn't what we do for the luau. I so didn't want to offend her and was hoping they would handle it without hurting her feelings.  She is a tough lady and didn't seemed phased by it. This time they told her (I think more clearly) what they wanted and said to talk to me about it and we could work on it together.   

Katie and I walked down to her house one night and we talked about what we wanted her to do. We decided what each of us would do and I felt pretty good about it. She really is a great gal and just puts 150 percent into everything she does.  

We made sign up sheets and she took charge of them  and made sure they got around to all the organizations. That was really helpful.

We have been working in the yard, tidying up the garden and pulling weeds in the rock garden.  Morning glory has pretty much taken over the whole yard!  The flowers have really struggled too... I think from the heat. Kelley threw a bunch of wildflower seeds back behind the waterfall though and they have done so good!

Kelley had the big job of getting all the wood him and Kate have collected stored away cause it was all over the place. It  never fails to amaze me the amount of work he can get done!  Everything is stacked on these racks him and Lynn built and stored on the side of the garage. He also cleaned out and tidied up the garage which is no small feat! 

He spent Thursday afternoon getting the fire pit all cleaned out and ready to cook in. It's a lot more work than it sounds like. First he has to brave crawling in the pit with all the spiders.  Kelley really doesn't like spiders. Then He has to dig out all the dirt, then seperate the lava rocks from the dirt. Then he chops wood and puts that in the bottom to be ready to start the fire Saturday morning.  He has to get produce (like cabbage, lettuce leaves, he used a bunch of our kale this year) ready to cover the meat.  Then there's the burlap...There's probably even more to it than that but it's quite a process

He power washed everywhere

And was going to do the chairs but the power washer konked out so I did them Saturday morning.

Stephanie and Jeff came over to help prepare the meat Friday evening. We got all the foil prepared and Kelley and Jeff sliced up the meat and put the salt and liquid smoke on them. 

Their little guy is such a sweetheart and was happy to just lay on a blanket on the  lawn while we worked 

 They put up the tents friday night too. Kelley was grateful for Jeffs help. Rick and  Stacey were in Park City this weekend and Kelley sure missed him. He is always such a great help and support to Kelley.

So we were worried about what the bees would do with all the people here so Kelley decided to move them down the street to Todds house. We waited till the sun went down and most of the bees had gone inside, then he smokes them to get the stragglers to go in. Then he taped up the boxes so they couldn't get out and him and KC carried them onto the trailer. They are really heavy and awkward. We were all just holding our breath watching them move them.

Kelley was up early Saturday morning getting the fire in the pit going. Reed Arnold came over and helped him and I think Kelley was happy for the company

Reed brought helps cute new little puppy over with him and she wanted to play with lizzy so bad.  Lizzy wouldn't have anything to do with her though. The pup would follow her around and sit right in front of her but lizzy just snubbed her.  Not sure why.  Lizzy is usually pretty friendly. 

This was pretty cool...about 9:00, men started showing up in the back yard ready to put up tables and chairs. I bet there were at least 30 men! The elders went to the church and picked them up and within about 30 minutes they had everything set up and were helping move the patio furniture for me. We really have a great ward!

Jay Jackson brought over his huge tent and with the help of all those men had it put up in no time. 

Kathy and Tom came over about 4 and we started working on getting the table cloths on. I was glad Candice was there to help too. Tom and his son came to help with cooking the chicken.   That was  a pretty miserable job cause it was so hot! 

Kathy had made some cute center pieces and everything was looking pretty festive. She had bought this grass skirt stuff to go around the tables. We wrangled with it and finally got it up around the serving table and as soon as we turned around it fell down. The heat pretty much melted the tape we were using. So we tried packaging tape...thought that was the ticket but that fell right down too. So we got out the big guns and tried Kelleys silver duct tape. That held for about 5 minutes then fell down. At this point we were all drenched with sweat and swearing at the grass skirt. I said let's start over and not use the grass skirts. I scrounged in the garage and found some more plastic table clothes (the other ones were full of holes drinks trying all the different tapes). It looked fine but I felt bad we couldn't use the grass skirts. 

Kathy had disappeared and I went in the house to see if she was in there.  She was sitting downstairs on the couch looking pretty sick. She had gotten overheated running around putting the table cloths on. It seriously was so hot that day. I felt so bad for her. After a while she cooled down and felt better. 

Jeff was a sweetie to come over and help bbq. 

We had a great turn out... Tons of good food and a real nice evening visiting with everyone. I got to sit and talk  to Mckenzie M. She was leaving for  her mission on Wednesday and was pretty excited. She is such a special girl and for sure one of my favorite young women in the ward. 

There were quite a few new people that came that I didn't know so it was great to make some new friends too. People seemed happy to stay and visit   It was such a pleasant warm evening with a big full moon.  Everyone pitches in to help clean up too so that makes it a lot easier on us.  It sure feels good to have it over with...it's always a good time but a ton of work and  a relief to be done with.