Thursday, April 30, 2009

Alex's new apartment on his own!1!

Well, the college graduate (yes, he got his grades and he REALLY is a grad!) moved OUT OF STATE. He's really not too far, actually. He's about 3 hours from here. I'm excited for him, though. New town, new apartment, new job. Okay, I'm a little nervous for him. I'm still the mom!!!

John and Alex took BOTH of our red trucks from Ankeny (IA) to Waseca, MN. It's a one-bedroom with newly-laid carpet and freshly painted walls. It's small, but perfect for him.

Monday, April 27, 2009

More Graduation Day pictures

We had two cameras available (mine and Samantha's fancy Christmas present from Marty), but didn't get pictures of the rest of the family all dressed up! I'm still kicking myself for that. There aren't that many days we all look THAT spiffy! Oh well. I know my brain wasn't totally working by the end of that day (or any??).

Alex & Samantha with the cake their Grandma M. ordered.

(Uncle) Don, Samantha, Alex and (Aunt) Ann.

(Aunt) Katherine, Samantha, (Uncle) Mick and Alex.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

College Graduation for Alex & Samantha photos!

It's hard to choose the best pictures because there are some great ones from yesterday, but here's the best (I think). There are more on the flickr site, so you can click here or click on the link on the right hand of this page that says "Camp Stanhope's flickr site".

Samantha (21) & Alex (23) graduating from Grand View University (Des Moines, IA) on 4/25/09.

Alex, John (proud papa!!) & Samantha

Marty & Samantha

Allison & Alex

Friday, April 24, 2009

The end of the Boone adventure

It's REALLY windy again and we didn't get to play outside very long yesterday, either, so we'll have to make another blog of pictures from Monday's adventure to Boone (IA). Izaac was a little nervous about tall playground equipment, but warmed up to these sturdy teeter-totter things.

You can't have an adventure to Boone and not look at a train, can you? So here's a couple of them parked near the yard office. Their size intimidates me!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Boone High Bridge Progress

While we were out and about (it's back to REALLY windy again today) we made a trip out on a gravel road west of Boone to the "Wagon Wheel Bridge" (very old and rickety) and took some pictures.


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Fun in the Sun!

It finally got warm today (without the gale-force winds we've endured lately). Since we had to go to Boone for an errand anyway, we also went to the park so Izaac could play on equipment. He was a little nervous about the slide, but went down on Uncle John's lap before we left.

His favorite thing to entertain himself lately is 'driving' anything, including cookies, pretzels and the toilet paper roller! So when there was a steering wheel on this equipment, he was a happy camper!

We did take Dairy Queen home for dessert and had strawberries and ice cream for a treat. Now it's spring!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Izaac at Camp Stanhope this week!

I went to Des Moines on Sunday to retrieve Izaac for the week. This is a picture of his Aunt Michelle (right) and his grandmother, Shirley. (Michelle took the picture.)

Great-grandma (my mom) made fresh strawberry pie with REAL whipped cream, and we ALL loved it, including Izaac, who had strawberries and whipped cream from nose to toes (literally).

(That's me behind Izaac telling my dad something that looks really interesting, but I don't think it was.)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Horse Stampede??

About 11:40am Thursday morning I saw 6 horses (only one with a bit/rope on it) galloping down our road--alone!! (Are 6 horses enough to declare a stampede?) I called the WC police, and told them what was going on. (We have feed trucks and pickups that travel pretty fast on our road, and I was afraid somebody was going to hit the horses and hurt themselves AND the horses.)

The horses stopped for a couple of minutes just east of our house. Then a tractor pulling anhydrous tanks came out of the field and startled them, so they ran farther to the east, to the corner of Kantor and our gravel road. Then a feed truck came FROM the east and sort of corraled them at the corner. The sheriff got there, and went into the field from the other direction, but I couldn't see what happened after that. I'm not sure whose horses they were, or why they were racing down our road (a LONG way from the Kentucky Derby!!!), but it made for an interesting hour.

These pictures aren't great, but I was taking them through plastic over the east windows in the 'Prairie Room' (family room with a great view) and it was over half a mile away!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Happy Easter Everybody!!

We're hosting Easter dinner Sunday after everybody travels to Camp Stanhope! Ham, smoked pork loin roast, baked mac & cheese, cheesy potatoes, rolls/corn muffins, coleslaw and desserts. Yum.

This is 'after the storm' last Sunday evening. It's looking west through the windows, and the little reflections near the top of the picture are the little white lights hanging on the brass leaves we have over the fireplace (they're cute, so I left the colored ones up after Christmas, and then wanted white ones for Easter).

Friday, April 10, 2009

George walking backwards on 2 legs!!!

We were just starting some spring cleaning when Georgey decided he couldn't stand the vacuum cleaner attachment. Instead of turning around and running, he backed up on his back legs (several times, but this one is the most refined of the videos).

Easter Bunny?? What's an Easter Bunny??

On Monday, the day after the snow, power outages, broken branches (from the wet, heavy snow) and furnace repair, Izaac and I had a fun day playing.


This is a 55-second video of 3 of the orphans debating on whether it was worth it going outside in that white stuff with the wind howling. Patrick finally goes out (he and Ron were both out scattering snow on the patio earlier, but I didn't have the camera handy) and runs around.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Snowy Sunday April 5th 2009

What a Sunday! We had power until 8:25am, then it was off until 10am. It was on 15 minutes and then off again until 1:15pm! The furnace has not recovered apparently from the on-off cycling and even after an hour of the power being on again it still won't produce heat (but the fan works constantly, even when I turn the thing clear off!).

This cardinal seemed to be looking directly at me and cussing about the weather. Did he think I could do something about it?

Gheez. What a day for the weather guy to get it right! It IS what he predicted. Snow and wind and yucky slush.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Happy Birthday to Uncle Bobby!!

John took these pictures from his train sitting in Grand Junction (IA) while a 'stacker' train passed them.

Uncle Bob turns 50 today (4th). Since he's my younger brother (okay, but not by much) I know he'll like the train pictures, too.

Saturday Scenes off the train

For all you railroad fans (or interested parties), John took these picture off the train sitting still in Ogden (IA) while the 'oversized' train passed them.

It has wind turbine parts bound for Manly (IA).

Friday, April 3, 2009

Friday fun picture

I couldn't resist showing this cute picture of Izaac looking at his Uncle Johnny yesterday during his piano-playing session.

It was supposed to be 'nice' today. It's sunny, but COLD. The weather-people have predicted our neighborhood may get 6 inches of snow Saturday evening into Sunday, and there are actual blizzard warnings out already for some places north of here! I thought the calendar said April????

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Izaac at camp this week

Izaac (great-nephew) came to camp on Tuesday. It was sleeting on us when we were driving home. It's cold and really windy again today, as it was yesterday, but it doesn't deter his urge to go outside and run around.

This apparently is his 'formal' pose for his piano-playing fans.

This is his 'cute pose', which included saying 'cheese' to the camera.

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