It started on the 23rd of May, when Sarah assembled her friends IMG_1474 for a salad dish IMG_1475 a pasta dish IMG_1476 a chicken dish IMG_1477 and a salad IMG_1478 but Ben IMG_1479 was more interested in the bread IMG_1480 and I had my Diet Snapple IMG_1481 so I was happy. Ben made it to the (almost) clean plate club IMG_1482 as Sarah and Suzanne IMG_1483 IMG_1484 IMG_1485 Claire and Joyce IMG_1486 IMG_1487 and Ryan (with a penchant for moving trunks) and John IMG_1488 welcomed Claire's new friend IMG_1489 and Jane IMG_1490 was incognito about finishing her food IMG_1491 and mine IMG_1492 though the light was better IMG_1493 for this picture.

Two nights later, on May 25, the tables IMG_1494 IMG_1495 were set, the servers IMG_1496 IMG_1497 IMG_1498 were ready, the plates IMG_1499 were there as was the carrot and asparagus dish IMG_1500 and the special dish IMG_1501 that ChefRob IMG_1502 had prepared and we admired the umbrella stand IMG_1503 and the flowers IMG_1504 as the bar IMG_1505 IMG_1506 was assembled and the flowers IMG_1507 and chess board IMG_1508 set the tone for bread and roll IMG_1509 as Sandra arrived to be greeted by Suzanne IMG_1510 and there followed the picture of the two IMG_1511 who organized the meal and the two chef's (ChefRob and ChefLarry) IMG_1512 who were cooking it.

On Thursday, May 27, I took a picture of Mark Hansen IMG_1513 of the English department who is staying and then headed off to Ben's school in the evening. This boy greeted us IMG_1514 as I took a self portrait IMG_1515 Jane IMG_1516 appeared distracted and Alan IMG_1517 wondered what the sleepover would be like. Ben's class filed in IMG_1518 and Suzanne IMG_1519 settled in behind us as the kids IMG_1520 sat down and the drama teacher IMG_1521 set the context. The children settled IMG_1522 IMG_1523 as the first story was read IMG_1524 and then a character emerged IMG_1525 IMG_1526 to tell his tale. Next, Ben IMG_1527 emerged and chased Joel IMG_1528 before they came together IMG_1529 and Ben IMG_1530 watched Joel catch some sleep IMG_1531 before they headed off IMG_1532 and the next story IMG_1533 IMG_1534 could be told. There followed another story IMG_1535 IMG_1536 IMG_1537 before Ben put on the Russian hat IMG_1538 for his tale of Sam Levin IMG_1539 who made the trip IMG_1540 from Russia's cold weather. The story unfolded IMG_1541 IMG_1542 and Sam (Ben) IMG_1543 was still in his hat with Bobby as the class gathered IMG_1544 IMG_1545 and a picture was missed IMG_1546 for further gathering IMG_1547 IMG_1548 IMG_1549 before they dispersed IMG_1550 and the story continued IMG_1551 complete with finger props IMG_1552 to end the tale. After a few more stories IMG_1553 IMG_1554 IMG_1555 IMG_1556 IMG_1557 IMG_1558 IMG_1559 IMG_1560 IMG_1561 we saluted the class IMG_1562 and Joel and Ben IMG_1563 made their way while Brian Blount posed IMG_1564 and then Ben posed for a number of hat pictures IMG_1565 IMG_1566 IMG_1567 IMG_1568 before I said hello to Dr. Ginsburg IMG_1569 and Ben showed us his Russia diorama IMG_1570 complete with map IMG_1571 colored in. On the way to the car, we saw this frog IMG_1572 and then this one IMG_1573 before we followed Suzanne IMG_1574 home with Ben IMG_1575 incognito in the back seat.