Preachers Coming

This is an old favorite dessert that my Mama used to make when I was little.  I have made it a few times before, but it had been a number of years.  Something made me remember it and decide to make it again when friends came over for dinner the other night.  We are all in agreement that this will have to be made more often.  It is so yummy!

I have no idea why it is called Preachers Coming, but that is the name we have always known it by.  Thinking of that, I should have made it the night we had Brianna's family over!   :D

Preachers Coming
2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 cup butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
3 egg yolks, beaten
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
2 cups powdered sugar
3 stiffly beaten egg whites

Butter a 9x13 pan and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs over the bottom.  Melt the butter and chocolate together; add beaten egg yolks and powdered sugar, and cook slowly for a few minutes.  remove from heat and blend in the beaten egg whites very lightly.  Spread over wafers and cool.

Slice ice cream and lay evenly over this.  I buy the 1/2 gallon in a paper square shape (so no Breyers for this one...) and break down all four sides of the packaging.  Then I use a serrated bread knife to cut the ice cream into 4 horizontal slices.  Lay the ice cream sections evenly over the pan.  You will have to use a spreader to sort of smooth out the rough edges.  You will also end up cutting one of the slices in half and laying it along the long end of your pan.  Just make it all fit then smooth it out.  Finish by sprinkling remaining vanilla wafer crumbs over the top.  Cover tightly with foil and freeze for several hours.  Cut into squares to serve.

April Snippets

The rest of what happened (so far) in April.   :)

Jackson took these two photos recently and I just thought they were really pretty.

Speaking of Jackson...   :)   He decided to try on his Dad's old Letter Jacket from high school and of course, it fit him perfectly.  I have no real explanation for the following photo, but am thinking it would make a good facebook profile picture??!?

The boys were FINALLY able to get out and play a little tennis with friends.  Boy, were they both rusty!  Hoping to get some good weather days so they can practice more before summer tennis begins in June.

Jonathan and Zack

Adrian, Gigi and Jackson

We met Jim for dinner and FINALLY gave him his Christmas presents!  How sad is that!!  It had been WAY too long since we had seen him and it was so good to spend time together.

Julie, Jim, Laura, Marvin, Jonathan, Jackson, Mama, Daddy

Photos of Megan and Melina taken during one of our walks in April when they made a quick stop at the school playground.  Note Melina even took off her roller blades to jump on the merry-go-round.  :)  Love these girls!

Our family, along with Matt and Brenda, attended a performance at Truman of the True Men and 4 other accappella groups.  It was a super fun evening and, of course, we are always so proud of Matthew in the True Men.  Unfortunately, I never can get a decent photo of them on that stage with my phone.  It always turns out like this...

However, Jackson helped me figure out a way to at least improve the quality somewhat.  I used the HDR option on my phone and took this photo of a different group.  At least now I know how to do it next time.

After the performance.  Matt, Matthew and Brenda.

He may be getting married in August, but he will always be Brenda's little boy.  :)  (I completely understand!!)

Brianna and her sister, Alaina, dropped by for a quick visit one evening.  The sunset was absolutely stunning and I was trying to figure out how to take a good photo.  I never really got the sunset, but these two girls make the picture lovely anyway.   :)

Brianna and Alaina

Then this creeper got into the photo...

:)  

Brianna, Jackson and Alaina

And, they're off...

And finally, Jackson picked up his tux for prom (this Saturday).  He is wearing PINK for Brianna!  I am impressed.   :D

Although, we still need to have one more conversation about formal attire, apparently....

Nice, but you're gonna have to lose the hat...

Today we switched out the shirt (shown above) for one with a regular collar to go with his tie.  Official prom photos will come Saturday.   :)

Jackson's Party

So, one problem with trying to catch up the blog (and being so far behind in the first place) is that you lose track of events and end up posting them in wacky order.  Such is the case with this post.  Jackson's party actually happened a couple of weeks ago... but here it is!

I truly love Jackson's group of friends.  They are a terrific group of kids.  Although not everyone can attend every party, he does a pretty good job of making sure there are lots of opportunities for them to get together.  I appreciate that he likes having them here at the house and have enjoyed getting to know many of his friends.  

He had been hoping, yet again!, that the weather would cooperate for a bonfire.  But again!, it was too cold (hovering around freezing!) so they moved inside to the basement to play Just Dance on the Wii.  :)  

We sure missed Brianna who had to work, as well as the tennis buddies who were out of town at a tournament.  Surely NEXT month will be warm enough to have a bonfire!!  

LOVED Megan's socks!

:)

Mason, Jackson, Jonathan S., Mia, Nils, Sebastian, Megan, Melina

Zack and Jonathan

yes, they are best buds...  :)

Megan's Prom

Megan's Prom was last night and Julie and I were honored to be a part of her day and evening.  As you know, we aren't yet officially related to the wonderful M. family, but we already behave as if we are.  :)    (Just waiting on Anna and Matthew to make it truly official in August!)  :)

Megan arrived at Julie's house bright and early so that Arayna could do her hair.  What a lovely job Arayna did!!  I just love all the curls and sparkles!!

We then all trekked out to the M. house where Megan finished getting ready for her big night.  Her date, Tristan, came to pick her up and get a few photos.  I don't think he realized how many photos 'a few' meant.  But, Megan is an old hand at our paparazzi notions and filled him in.  Thankfully, he was a terrific sport!!  

Tristan and Megan

Brenda, Tristan, Megan, Melina and Matt

So cute - Megan's doggies wanted to greet her, too.  :)

They headed off to the school to line up for Grand March while we all grabbed a quick supper.  Then we were off to their school as well.  It was dark and I was too far away to use the flash, so the Grand March photos were a bit blurry.  

Sitting in the stands at Grand March - Melina, Julie, Brenda and Matt

After Grand March we took more photos on the gymnasium floor.  One particularly sweet moment occurred when Matt and Megan were talking and holding hands.  Suddenly Matt just took his lovely daughter and began waltzing around the gym with her.  What a precious and poignant moment.  Just perfect.  

Megan's first dance of the evening... with her Daddy.   :)

A few more photos, then out to their limo for the ride to Kirksville.  (Their school holds their dinner and prom at a location in Kirksville; this year it was at the Newman Center.)

Julie, Melina, Brenda and Matt

I have left out so many important photos but I know this post is getting full.  You can see an entire album of photos by clicking here.