My apologies to Michelle and Joe, who are now both 20!!! I'm old, and should have known I needed to 'calculate' all their ages, instead of the ones I hadn't remembered.

From left: Samantha (22), Michelle (20!), Brian (26), Amanda (23), and Joe (20!), and Izaac at 2 1/2 years old.
This is almost the same line-up, but before Ben arrived. Izaac was cooperative for a few minutes at least. (Alex didn't make it in the picture, either.)

Boys and trains...

Izaac at Camp Stanhope for the long weekend and he's had a small circle of track and a train, but today we got some more track and signs, and the boys put it together and discussed 'switching' mechanisms, etc.

In the end, I'm not sure who had the most fun!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!

These are the grandkids who showed up for a great T-day feast in Des Moines courtesy of their grandmother!!!!  (Including fabulous pies from both she and her brother, our Uncle Charlie!!!)

From left: Ben (17), Amanda (23), Michelle (19), Brian (26), Samantha (22), and Joe (19).
Missing from the pack was Alex, who worked until 11 Wed. evening, had today off, but helped
Allison serve T-day at her house in Waseca.  We missed you both!

Oops....

This is the picture of how NOT to run a coal train. The derailment happened a few weeks ago near Elk Horn, NE, and took out some of the rail line, too.

This is Bogart Wrigley and Georgy laying in the Prairie Room window on a sunny day earlier this week. They were very relaxed.

Then, that evil dog-cousin, Oliver (Alex and Allison's big puppy) came to visit for the weekend.

None of the cats are relaxed now!!! He looks so angelic sitting there. He's behaved well for me (going out into the yard this afternoon by himself for potty breaks!).

Happy Birthday Joe!

This is (from left) Joe, Bob, their dad, and Ben.

We had his birthday party in Des Moines last Sunday. The birthday parties aren't quite the same as when there were 7 small grandchildren and all the parents in attendance.

Ron and Patrick acclimated to their new home

Ron has made himself to home at his new house.

Patrick looks pretty relaxed on Marty at his new house, too.

How the non-farmer sees harvest in Iowa

First, all the helpers gather with their respective equipment.

This is a combine with a corn attachment, and into the field the work starts!

A tractor with a 'bean head' works in the field across from our house.

On the way home from Ames yesterday I saw this tractor filling a grain bin.

A field that's been completely harvested.

After the fields are cleared the soil is treated. (That's a tractor driving on the shoulder of the road in front of the anhydrous tank & pickup.)

Izaac break-dancing 10 28 09

Izaac trying a little break-dancing to "Bonfire"....

More pictures from Ben's b.d. party last Sunday

Izaac in his 'fashion' sunglasses....

Aunt Michelle introducing the finer points of a leaf pile to Izaac.

Cousin Ben passes the football to Izaac, who just enjoys being outside playing any sport with the boy cousins....

This video is 17 seconds in length.

Sunday pictures from Des Moines

Happy Belated Birthday, Ben!! The youngest of the Markey grandkids (he's my nephew) is now officially 17! Yikes. I think it makes ME feel old....

Izaac modeling his fireman costume from Halloween. He told everyone who asked last week (what will you be for Halloween?) that "I be a fireman". His mom put some stuff on his face to make him look like he'd really been in the 'smoke', and he had a great time saying "Trick or Treat" and collecting candy!

My kids' engagement pictures...

Samantha & Marty

Alex & Allison

They both had more than one nice picture taken, so I'm reserving the right to post a different picture soon!