School's Out

As of yesterday @ 11:45 school is out for the summer. Swimming pool opens today. Here Calvin is picking up his bike. Note the cool shades! Joan - notice the blond on the sidewalk picking up her youngest 2. Bet you can guess who that is. It is officially summertime!

Busy Thursday

Yesterday afternoon was the JS track meet for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. It was a beautiful day and the shade moved around for me to sit at the top of the bleachers in the shade after about 1/2 hour of umberella shade. T. S. announced names so we would know the racers. _________ At 5 there was a meeting to pack gift bags for the upcoming Bell Tower Festival car show.________Than we went to the open house for the house that the High School had constructed. It is the 13th house built by the school and a great learning experience for those that take the classes. ________Than it was an 8 pm Little League game. It ended in a tie4-4. The kids did well but picky, unsportmanlike adults were a problem. Too much time out reviewing rules and complaining of minor details and the ump's (A high schooler) decisions.

Oriole Feeder Found

A pair of orioles found my feeder a little while ago. By the time I got my camera out they were gone. They checked out the hummingbird feeder too. I had to rehang the feeder. I noticed the jelly was spilling out. First I thought it was the wind, than I saw a Mourning Dove fluttering away from the feeder. It had tried to land on the perch and the feeder tipped, scaring the bird. So than I knew what was causing the spills. I rehung it with the wire holding up the front so I wouldn't tip. It held steady when Mama Oriole landed. It has strawberry jelly now. I need to get some grape. That is their favorite.

Garden

We had rain yesterday and this morning. Our garden is growing, weeds included. The tomatoes are doing well. Even have some blossoms, though the first ones don't amount to much. Our beans are getting eaten by deer. They snip off the top leaves and leave the stems. We'll wait to see if the beans make a comeback. Deer like the peas too. Jerry put fences up for the peas to climb on and that has helped some. Onions, radishes, and lettuce in with the radishes, they have left alone. We'll need to hoe as soon as it gets dry enough.

Abbey and her boyfriend

Abbey's little boyfriend was at Hil's graduation party. Abbey has been his babysitter occasionally. He has 3 big brothers and they had girlfriends, so he said Abbey is his girlfriend! (This picture was too cute not to share.)

Baseball @ Ogden

It was a nice night for a ballgame. Calvin's team were the victors 14-1. ( In little league that isn't as big a margin as it looks!) Calvin started at first, moved to short after a couple innings, pitched one inning, than back to short. He batted 5 times. Scored twice, died on third twice and put out once. Typical 10 year old: On the way in complained of his cleats making his toes numb. That his feet had grown and they were too tight. The Mother of 4 says, "Now you tell me!" (Not when they were going shopping, as they will have to be purchased out of town.) He survived just fine. No games until next week. We'll have to check out his shoes then!

First Car Show of the Summer

Tonight there is a car show in Ames. The weather sounds fairly favorable. That means Pop is getting the streetrod ready. Calvin has a baseball game in Ogden. That is where I plan to be. We do our favorite things.

Mother's Day Gifts Put to Use

___I tried to put a couple pictures on of my hanging basket and my oriole feeder to prove both are up and in working order. No orioles yet! But there was one in the front yard a few hours before I got the feeder ready. He'll be back. The pictures are on the computer, but when I click the browse button to load it doesn't get to the computer!!! Maybe later! ( Later it worked so enjoy the pictures!!!)

Congratulations, Graduates!

Sunday was a busy day. Graduation was at 2:00. Hil's celebration was a pancake breakfast Sunday a.m. at the parish Center. The cook would flip pancakes for catching on your plate! ______ There was food and entertainment in one! Decor included flower arrangement in volleyballs. Plus many awards and pictures. Here is Hil catching a pancake and the final moments of graduation with the celebrities turning their tassels.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Have a great day! (You weren't always as angelic as you look here.) I remember threatening to ground you until you were thirty. Looking back, I think that would have been about right. Now with four of your own your are the grounder, instead of the groundee!! Love and prayers, Grandma Elaine and Pop

Awards Night

Graduation week activities continue. Last night was awards night. Here is Hil after she received her gold cord signifying honor roll 7 of the 8 semesters. (This last semester isn't completely finished.) Other scholarships and etc. were given too. (Hil got one.) Check out my facebook site for a picture of some of this years graduates at a birthday party as about 8 years olds. Cute then and beautiful girls now! (Maybe Grandma is a bit partial!)

Daughters with Cameras

This picture was to good to hide. Here they were trying to capture some pictures to blog! It was taken after Sadie's party. They were having fun...._____________________________ I skipped out of going to the track meet last night. It turned out it to be a late night due to rain delays. A good night to skip. Tonight is awards night, Thurs.= Soccer, Friday= Track. I plan on taking the camera, than I will have something to blog!

Awards Concert

Tonight's concert continued this week's graduation activities.

Senior Mass/Mother's Day

Our 10:00 mass today honored the graduating seniors. The Junior class was in charge of a brunch for their families to follow. The graduate's families had a big part in the Mass also. _______ Ab and Calvin were greeters and passed out bulletins. (I missed getting their pictures.) Jeff lead in, carrying the banner. (I didn't have my camera ready. Hence the blurry image! Hil lectored. (By then I was prepard.)_______The other picture is part of the group getting a blessing. (Mothers got a little honor also.) I don't know if Teresa got a reprieve from serving or not, since she has a senior and a junior.

Happy Birthday, Teresa!

Happy birthday to you. You'll have to take time to notice it's your birthday. With all that is going on, it's busy!!!! Here you are caring for puppies, an every summer occupation for quite a few years. Now you are busy caring for others, lots of others: Family and a whole school full!

Little League Game Tonight

Calvin was sick this week. (Ears and throat) He missed school 2 days and baseball practice too. But he made sure he got to school today, as wanted to play tonight. He was shortstop and the last 2 innings, pitcher. Had one nice double and another hit and made it to first safely. He died on third both times. They lost 3-1.___________________ We got our beans and tomatoes planted after lunch. Then had a brief shower that should give them a good start.

Our Lilac!

We do have a flower or two of our own. But mostly we enjoy others. But wait until the garden starts producing! We have our tomatoes ready to plant when it gets dry enough. Our peas, radishes, onions and lettuce are doing well.

Bonnie's Tulips

These are gigantic! Brad says they open up during the day and close up at night and look like tulips then. Well, Bonnie grew up at Pella. She would know about tulips!

Prettiest Tree Around

Nora's crabapple tree.

Track @ Ogden Tonight

Hil jumped 4' 8" with space to go. Jeff didn't run yet tonight. One week ago tonight he pulled a quad and coach said "not yet." Maybe Thurs.

Flowers for Dancers

Saturdays dancers and their cousins, who brought the dancers flowers.

Sadie's First Communion

------------Communion along with parents---------------

This is Sadie's class. There were 6 classes. One at each of the 3 weekend masses for 2 weekends.

Party time after Mass.

-----------------------------------------------Food, cake and presents of course!---------------------------------------------------- ________________Abbey instructing everyone for a' Hannah Montana' dance routine.____________ ___________Take home gifts!____________________

Jill and Sadie Dance Recital on Saturday

Both girls were in one number and the finale.

Friday Night - Little League Opening

Teams and coaches were introduced. The floor was mass motion with all the kids.

Happy Birthday, Dan!

Have a great day! (Picture from 1964. Playing in the ditch in front of the house, before they paved the street a few years later. Those are American Elms in the background and shading the area. This was taken early in the summer, before the shade was thickest, and before Dutch Elm disease attacked, years later.) Now you're all grown up and soon to be a Grandpa!