Blasts from the past!!

 My cousin, David, seems to be missing, and Uncle Charlie, (who was probably behind the camera) for this picture in March, 1983, when my relatives gathered to celebrate my grandma's 75th birthday.  From left: my dad, (Bill), mom (Lenore), Bob Z behind my mom (Shirl's hubby), Grandma (blue dress), Aunt Sue (Margaret & Dave's mom), Bob (my brother, behind Aunt Sue), Margaret, (cousin), Uncle Wayne (Dave & Margaret's dad), Shirley (my sister--in red), me (in blue), John behind my me and Tim (Margaret's hubby) behind Shirl and John.

 On our wedding day saying goodbye to somebody from my folks' driveway.

 From left;  Uncle Charlie, John, Uncle Wayne, Dad, and Bob.  Summer, 1985 and grilling at my Grandma/Uncle Charlie's house

This was the day after we were married, 8/31/1980, when we had visitors to our Ames apartment!  These pictures recently shared by Margaret and Tim when they visited Des Moines.

More Wisconsin moments, during the week of August 1st, 2016

 Alex and John on the boat on Dutch Hollow Lake with Olivia trying to drive.

 Olivia and her mom (Allison) enjoying the boat ride with Oliver looking for the next opportunity to jump into the lake!

 Allison and Alex (our son, his wife) on the tube.

Alex, Allison and Olivia, enjoying a s'more at the fire pit in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin views July 30th, 2016

 We're visiting Olivia and her parents at her 'other' grandparents' house in Wisconsin.  It was cloudy when we arrived last night, but has turned beautiful today.

 These top two pictures are views across the lake from their dock.

 The water is clear and the boys (John and Alex) were trying to find fish!

Some friends from Beaver Dam came to visit today, too, and Olivia is showing them her bubble gun abilities!

Middle of summer, 2016 Cousins!!!

 Audrey, 2 1/2 years old, and cousin Anthony (almost 3) playing at Mema's last Sunday.

 Great-grandma (Mema) and Olivia, 2 1/2 years old, on 4th of July having brunch at Samantha and Marty's house in Des Moines.

 A little yard work at home on a day that it wasn't 90 degrees (or higher, like today).

Olivia over 4th of July weekend.

 Izaac (9 years old, and ducking under the table), having some supper with his Uncle Brian and Brian's boys, Blake (5 years old) and Anthony on July 20th.

 Mema's house, July 20, 2016.  A gathering because MY cousin, Margaret, and her hubby, Tim, were traveling through town from Buffalo to Colorado.  Audrey and cousin Harper (will be 3 on Oct. 29th) perform a couple of dances for the crowd.

Several birthdays also needed to be celebrated last night at Mema's, including Marty's (7/20), Brian's (also 7/20--but can't see Brian in this picture), Sam's birthday was 7/18 and Amanda's (standing in the corner with the phone) was 7/13!  There wasn't enough candles to count for all those birthdays, but the girls had fun blowing them out.

Beginning of Summer, 2016

 This was a week ago at my mom's house in Des Moines.  A little pool action on a hot day for the great-grandkids (Audrey, 28 months, Harper, 2 1/2 years old, and Blake, 5.... cousins)

 My daughter and her hubby, Marty, moved into their new house in Des Moines.  Nice.

Watson found a nest which had apparently fallen out of the tree over the patio and could not decide what do do with it.  

I haven't taken too many pictures lately.  My life is boring, but good!

Finally finished mowing.... June 11, 2016

Grammy, I'm stuck in the cat cubes (again)..... May 14, 2016

 Stig (my daughter/son-in-law's dog) is visiting, and has discovered the cat cubes.

 He puts a squeaky ball (or one of his rawhides)

inside a cube and then tries to retrieve it, but this has been happening.

Some of the time he can get himself out (I separated the cubes that had been velcroed together), but other times he seems a little embarrassed and has to come to John or me to get himself rescued.

Mother's Day's views from my mom's house, May 8th, 2016

 Ben (my nephew) and his fiance, Kylie, trying to give some tips to the next generation of baseball players at our house (that's our great-nephew, Anthony, who will be 3 in August).

 Izaac (great-nephew) laughing at his sister's dirty face (it was REALLY dirty!).  (That's Audrey, who turned 2 in February.)

 Great-uncle Bobby (my brother and Ben's dad) pitching to Audrey.

Anthony telling his great-grandmother (my mom, 'mema') a story.

Miscellaneous family pictures from this week. April 22, 2016

 Playing in Mema's (great-grandma to them) dirt pile:  Anthony, Audrey and Blake

 Blake, Anthony, Audrey and Izaac (way down by the fence in the yard).

 Michelle, Amanda (sisters) and Harper (Michelle's daughter, 2 1/2 years old already!) at Uncle Charlie's house this week eating mema's spaghetti and meatballs--yum....

 Amanda,  Samantha (my daughter), Harper, Ben (nephew) and Shirl (mom to Amanda, Brian and Michelle) in the kitchen at U. Charlie's.

My cousin (Margaret) from Buffalo came this week to try and help my mom clear out U. Charlie's house.  (Ben and Shirley on the left, and my mom on the far right). 

Sunday afternoons are good for baseball games! April 18, 2016

 Izaac (our great-nephew, almost 9 years old!)  is ready to play baseball!

 On base and ready to run!

 Amanda (Izaac and Audrey's mom) and Audrey enjoying a sunny day at Izaac's baseball game.

 Anthony (another great-nephew) enjoying the game on warm day in April.

Izaac's team dugout.  Audrey was a little fascinated with it and escaped into it several times with a big grin on her face!

Grand-dog Stig is at Camp Stanhope! April 5, 2016

 Stig and I stayed up a little too late to watch the Chicago Cubs win, so Stig wasn't anxious to get out of his wooly blankets on my bed....well... neither was I, but I was awake, so got up anyway!

 But he started moving, and yawning.

 After John got home from work the other evening and got settled in his chair, Stig did this.

 When Stig didn't get an immediate invitation into the chair, Stig gave him the puppy look.

Stig was successful.