T-Ball

One thing I gotta say about kids t-ball, they always have the position covered. Claire and Cate and two of their teammates aren't going to let the ball get through here!

And Harvey looks like he's going to beat Natalie and three of their teammates to this ball!

But Natalie got her turn later.

They tell you to keep your eye on the ball. Good job, Harvey and Claire!

 

Those helmets can be a bit of a challenge to keep on.

But you have to wear them when you're running the bases.

It's a nice thing to have your dad as a coach. Sometimes he pitches to you...

...or is there when you make it to first base...

...or he might just be encouraging your defense.

I think it's mostly fun for the kids...

...and certainly for the spectators too!

Coincidentally, there's a DQ on the way home from Natalie and Harvey's games. Can't hardly pass by there without stopping!

 



No Hate Mail Please!

Just pointing out that it's still July but I saw my first Fall colors today. 

It seems a little early even to me. I could guess that the tree may be stressed but isn't that when it's too dry? And I don't think that's the case this year.



Never Let It Be Said...

...that crabgrass preventer is overrated! There are parts of our yard that I don't put it on in the spring. Betcha couldn't tell. :(

Granted, the right side also had fertilizer in with the application so it's a much darker green but on the left there's barely any regular grass and on the right there's no crabgrass.

It makes a pretty distinct line in our backyard!



Another Double Birdie

This is the Pileated Woodpecker that doesn't show his face very often...

...and he doesn't sit still for very long. Thus, his blurry head. But he's rather regal and the cool thing was, there was a pair of them! I've never seen two together before and I wasn't quick enough on the draw to get them both on film. So you'll have to trust me on all these birdie stories. They're not fish tales!



Hello Birdie!

As opposed to "Bye Bye Birdie."

Today was an interesting day on the Zumbrota Golf Course. Something happened that rarely happens once say nothing about twice in one round. On one par four Jill chipped to within a foot of the cup and put it in for a birdie. But that wasn't the end of it. Two holes later on a par three she made a 30 foot putt for another one! As she says, we're consistently inconsistent because she needed these two stellar holes to help offset the nine she'd gotten on a previous par 3!

These Fall Days Are Good For Burning! :)

Felt like Fall today. I even had jeans on. So we rounded up the old folks and had them help with some burning.

The four of us made some good progress before we came in for lunch. Those three threw stuff on the pile and I did some pruning that I wouldn't have been able to do without them helping. Those darn grapevines are everywhere! Mom and Dad haven't forgotten what it's like to work in the woods. But Jill needs a little counseling on how far to stay away from the fire. She did a pretty good singe job on her hair and eyebrows!

We got rained out for a couple hours in the afternoon but cleaned up our whole west burn pile before nightfall. This is what's left of what was there.

Tomorrow the east!



Smiling In The Face Of Adversity!

We went to the melodrama at the Mantorville Opera House last night. In spite of appearing above as if she may be at the mercy of the villain, our friend Renee' was one of the villains!! Nastiest nurse this side of the Mississippi! It was a great show. And, in retrospect, even more so in light of the fact that Renee' was under the weather and feeling quite poorly. It certainly didn't show!



A Couple Of 'Sits

Two things (among many others) that I need to blog about are 'sitting with the two newest Greats. And one's not so new anymore nor is the time we went to stay with her. Just before vacation we spent the day with Miss Maya. It started right out with breakfast where she showed us she's learned to keep her elbows off the table but not her feet!

It was a pretty nice day so we dressed appropriately for being in the sun.

The hat and glasses didn't last long though. Soon we were busy setting up for tea...

...and playing in the sandbox.

There must be something in the K genes, though, because all three of the oldest Greats have started out with their feet on backwards! :)

It's a good thing their lanai is big...it's even got pillars!...because Maya has a lot of chalk to use for decorating.

So what do you suppose we made her do before we had to leave?

That's right! Group shot!
Yesterday we went and spent the day with Charlie. His bib says he's a "peedster"...

...but we think that should be changed to "poopster". We had a diaper change event that required all four of our hands and we could've used more help if we'd had it! Everyone was in a good mood all day though.

Charlie may have been a little perplexed when we asked him to play his daddy's piece of music...

...but he was back in smiles when he got back into his gym.

Now, just because he's a little baby doesn't get him out of the group photo! Here ya go!!

Thanks for a fun day, Charlie!



Fore For The Fifth

Here it is almost the dogs days of summer (or maybe that's what's already going on!) and we went golfing today for only the fifth time! Since it's so hot we thought we'd try the short course up at Byron. Interesting. My score still looked like one from a regular length course. I'm going to blame it on strange pin placements and dandelions on the greens! But there are some really nice looking cornfields up there. 

SOMEbody was able to get out in their fields to plant this wet spring!



Celebrate Charlie!

We finally got around to having a shower for little Charlie last Sunday. We made 22 people sit out in the heat and humidity while his dad opened up some really nice gifts for him.

At one point he was wrapped up like a package himself!

But he was involved in a lot of the paper rustling of gift opening.

Jill fashioned a little train engine out of diapers after looking at a few pictures online.

(Charlie's Choo Choo)

But I think Charlie likes playing airplane better. He sure likes coming in for a landing when his mom flies him around!

 Most everyone was clamoring for a chance to hold him. He's getting to be quite an armload for little Great-Grandma to manage!



A Little More Accurate

You've heard the saying about the corn being knee high by the fourth of July. Last year I'm not sure whose knees were the measuring stick.

This year the corn in the same field is a little closer to the old adage!



Then And Now

We've been on vacation with these girls (Sara on the left, Kelli on the right) since back in the middle 80's.

Sunday we went to a bridal shower for Sara. What wonderful (inside and out!) young ladies they are today!

(Kelli on the left, Sara on the right)



Playdates

The girls were over a couple days last week. One of the times was when Cher had her little charge, Stefania, for a few days. So we 'sitters pooled our kids and spent a little time together. We have a stroller that Claire loves to push her babies around in. Even better with a real live girl!

It was a nice morning so we went to the park. Cate and Stefania teamed up on the see-saw... 

...and Claire showed us how she can make it all the way across the monkey bars now!

There was a swing just perfect for these three peas in a pod.

And I don't know what it is but there's somethin' 'bout a truck! Fun to play in, I guess. First with Stefania...

...then with Jill!