It Went Swimmingly!

Harvey had swimming lessons last night. The last time he did it was about a hundred degrees and they were in an outside pool. This was down at the 'Y' and his Grandma Connie and I got to go in to observe. Some things...

 ...were more fun...

...than others.

 But he was still a pretty happy little guy when he got out. Good time spent with Mom!

Fall Skies

It's now officially Fall.

 How about these for Autumn skies?

I love the colors and smells of the season!

Sunday 'Sit

It's been a week already since we spent the evening with Claire and Cate while their Mommy and Daddy went out to celebrate Angela's birthday. We spent quite awhile downstairs so I practiced my juggling skills. It was a good environment for that because you can learn to ignore distractions!

We took our group photo with a lot of hurrying and scurrying to get in position. (We didn't always make it!)

And during one of my "warmer moments" my freezie pop was bringing distinct relief and the girls thought they should try it too. 

A Birthday And A Milestone

I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to Randy and I just discovered I'm doing that with my 1000th blog entry since January of 2008.

Happy Birthday, Rand!

Just Because

Going through some pictures the other day I found one that I really like!

A Tasty Treat

Yesterday was the first ever Taste of Rochester down at Soldier's Field. Tricia rounded us all up for Saturday night supper down at the park. Before we ate, the most interesting sounding thing to me was the miniature meatloaf cupcake from the Kahler Grand Grille but my favorite thing of all the things we tried ended up being the vanilla cupcake from Daube's Bakery. The one thing I tried I know I don't need to have again was a fish taco. But at least it only cost a buck!

We were so busy eating I never took much time for pictures until we ended up at the playground across the street afterwards. Harvey liked peering down at us from his perch on a bridge.

 Natalie thought this slide was really fast!

 Tricia helped Harvey slide down the fireman's pole...(after she showed him how!).

 Jill decided some group photos were in order.

 Jill was behind the camera again but where was Jon?!

The kids played us a tune to rival the bands across the street.

 There were two bands we heard play...Chester Bay and 5th Street Bridge. Both sounded pretty good although the volume was best from across the street!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

I never did a blog post about this but two Gold Rushes ago our biggest treasure was this old phone. The style is from even before my time but I can remember Sheriff Taylor on the Andy Griffth Show trying to get ahold of Sarah, the operator, because he didn't even have a rotary dial on his phone. 

Now move forward about 50 years and see how different the technology is!

We just got our new cellphones activated today and we have a lot to learn. Sometimes I wish it was just a matter of picking up the receiver and having someone else dial for you! (Well......maybe not.)

Days Gone By

I'm in need of a little catching up! We had a family party here on Labor Day and what a beautiful day it was. We have a string of late summer and early fall birthdays that we celebrated with a cake that both Jon and Mindy collaborated on. One of the candles was one of those that keeps re-lighting and that was right down the kids' alley since they looooove to blow out candles! 

Last Friday was Cher's retirement party at the gazebo at St. Mary's. She had quite a string of folks come through and a lot of leftover cake! We were the lucky recipients of some of the lemon poppyseed.

 After her open house our family had supper up at Daniel's and, unexpected by most, Kate and Brian and brand new baby showed up unannounced. What a glorious surprise! Maya got passed around quite a bit but didn't seem to mind at all.

 This is the first family picture with the proud parents.

I got a special chance to have all three greats with me!

 Saturday Mindy gave a very fun bridal shower for Tricia. The kids loved helping open the gifts and playing with the bubblewrap.

 I finally got to meet more of Tricia's family...here she is with her mom.

 Kate and Maya stopped in and Tricia got her turn holding the baby. Here's a threesome that ranges all the way from 87 years old all the way down to 8 days!

 It also happened to be Marigold Days in Mantorville where we met Cher for a little greasy supper. Connie and Duane were in town, too, and since they and the K2's were going to the fireworks at dusk we joined them for some fun.

 Harvey didn't really care for them but the rest of us voiced our oohs and aaahs. 

 It was really a beautiful night to be out because it was clear, not buggy and almost a full moon.

But the best part about it was the people we were with!

A Momentous Day

In about an hour my sister will be at an open house commemorating her retirement from a career at Mayo. Cher's last day as an ortho RN was yesterday and today we celebrate!

Things have changed a little in 30 years!

 Now she'll have time to do the things she's always wanted to do. Gonna be one busy gal! Congratulations, Cher!

New Wheels!

Before Jill had a red truck she drove a blue one...until the day some idiot turned in front of her and totalled them both. So for eight years she's been stuck with a color she didn't really want.

What goes around, comes around. She's back to driving blue!

Of course it has 2012 technology that Jill is getting used to. She was perplexed by a digital display that kept changing...until she figured out it was the odometer! It's a bit of a step up into the cab so she had running boards installed and their brand seems to be 'Luverne'. So.......................introducing Jill's new truck, Luverne! The Onstar lady needed a name, too, so she has become Shirley. And, my, how polite she is! When she didn't understand a command she says "Pardon?" I hope she gets along okay with Samantha on the GPS! 

On Tuesday the kids were putting their stamp of approval on Jill's new wheels.  

Another Fall Birthday!

Officially, Tricia will be the newest member of our family in late October but, practically, that has been her status all along (until Maya!).  

Happy Birthday to the previously newest K! A quarter century down. A whole lot more to go!

The Market

I went down to the Farmer's Market Saturday for the second week in a row.   

I actually had some specific things I was looking for but all the stuff down there is so fresh and nicely arranged and so colorful! The first time we went it was more for browsing. And while we browsed we needed some breakfast. So what do you suppose we had? Lefse! Must be like Norwegian fair food. That was quite a treat because it seems, in our family anyway, that that's more of a winter food.

Furst On First

Have you seen this guy?

 He's one of the editors for our local paper and we happened to see him last week when we went down to Thursdays on 1st.

We'd gathered who we could and made an evening of it. Jill's the one behind the camera!

 We did a lot of strolling and a little eating and more drinking than usual. But it was so hot we needed to keep our fluids up! Harvey had a pretty good perch for awhile.

 Tricia and Natalie got goofy together.

 Natalie found one of the downtown geese...

 ...and the two little kids had fun frolicking together while the older folks sat and chatted.

 It was while we were sitting towards the end of our evening that Mindy got the okay to share the secret she'd known all day that Kate was being induced and we'd soon have a new family member! Mindy, you have a pretty good poker face! 

Summer Fun

Last Wednesday was the only one we could find to go to the ski club's water show that they put on out at Fisherman's Inn. Those guys kick up a lot of spray when they're barefootin'!

They did a few jumps...

...and built a few pyramids.

 I'd started to get a cold so I wasn't feeling all that great but it was a nice evening to be out for burgers and entertainment by the lake with Jill and Cher.

Spelling Bee

You know how sometimes your fingers have a mind of their own? Like when I mean to type "Mindy", many times my fingers type "Minday" before I get it corrected. Or "Harvey" comes out "Harvery". I've got a new one now. For "Maya", my fingers go automatically to "Mayo". Hmmmm.......is there some subconscious thing going on there?

Oh My, Maya!

Most of you who read my blog already have this information but for anyone that doesn't my oldest nephew, Brian, and his wife, Kate, are now the proud parents of little Maya Jayne born this morning at 4:42.

And Jill and I are proud great-aunts! Congratulations Kate and Brian! Can't wait to see all of you!

Kids Time

We did a little 'sitting last Saturday and decided to try something different for supper. Jill went to Buffet King to get Chinese takeout and, except for the rice, Natalie ate her whole meal with chopsticks. Granted, she has her own method but it worked!

 We went outside after supper and wheels seemed to be the thing. Natalie on her bike...

...and scooter.

 Harvey on his three wheeler...

 ...and his little car.

 Harvey was showing off his basketball skills and darned if he isn't pretty good at it!

 We had our group shot in the driveway. Natalie was the designated button pusher and Harvey had the best smiles!