Extended Family Time --Memorial Day Weekend

The family gathered last weekend to celebrate cousin Jesse's graduation from high school and spend time together during the Memorial Day weekend. Although Jesse doesn't seem to be in any of my pictures that are below, he is in the group photo. We were missing several family members but were so happy to see the ones able to attend. Jesse is right in the middle of the first row that is standing, in a grey shirt. Congratulations Jesse!!

 

Here are the three C's...ready for some fun times.

 

 

Uncle Larry took them out in his big, powerful boat..... they came back all smiles!

 

 



Aunt Jenny and Alexa had a craft project for all the little cousins to work on. They made graduation hats from a chocolate covered graham cracker perched on a peanut butter cup and then decorated with frosting. They turned out pretty cute.

Lisa giving some assistance to Ezra.



Chris being silly... with Ellie and Emma and a tiny bit of Ezra....

Ellie and Chloe wait patiently while Alexa helps Chris.

 

Mike found some sort of a blue colored skink and when he went towards it the lizard dropped it's forked tail. Yikes!!

Chris loved showing it around. Uncle Roger doesn't look too impressed....

 

 



Claire spending a little quiet time with Uncle Superman and Papa...

 

Chloe checking things out....and then having a little chat with Papa...

 

 

 

The deer came for their usual visit......look closely. Emma, Chris, and Ezra watching.

 

 

We had a wonderful time and look forward to our next gathering at Uncle Larry and Aunt Paula's cabin.

 

Yesterday the three C's and Mike and Paula did a little fishing. Below are the results!

 

 

Good job kids!

 

We are about to head off on a road trip. Looking forward to the adventure but will miss our precious grandchildren.





May Days

May is always a busy month as school is winding down and outdoor activities are increased. May, for us, has been continued focus on Papa Norm's arm healing and getting his therapy and exercise in. I'm happy to report that he is doing very well! Although we have been sticking pretty close to home we have had lots of visits from family and plenty of activity around the place. Mother's Day was one of those days. I had a wonderful day full of the three C's, good food, lots of laughs and lovely gifts.

Aunt Suzie make fruit pizza with Chris' help. It was yummy and beautiful as usual.

 

Jon nearly always brings me a bouquet of flowers from his yard. He also does a great arrangement and I always look forward to seeing what will be in each bouquet.

 



 

Mike, Suzie, and Jon just happened to sit together when we ate. This is what you might call a rare picture.

 

A few minutes to wind up the afternoon with T-ball!

 

 

 

Papa's first outing (except for doctor and therapy appointments) was to Science Night Open House at Claire and Chloe's school. Before having a fundraiser taco dinner the girls had to show us the latest skills on the play equipment. They have really gained strength in the past few weeks.

 

Claire and Paula play a little tether ball as do Chris and Mike.....

Their classroom was full of exciting things. Here is Chloe's model flower.

 

Claire and a friend check on their live plants from a unit that Mike worked on in the classroom. It was fun to see the difference in how the plants grew. The students selected the type of seed they wanted to plant so there were all different looking seedlings. 

 

Chloe and friends checking out their plants.....

 

Claire's model flower.....

 

 

Chloe demonstrating a paper whistle that makes a screeching sound when blown properly...

 

Chloe getting ready to take home her plant....

 

The three C's posing one last time for Grandma.... thank you kids!

 

Chris riding his "new to him" two wheeler bike. Wow can he ride for a 4 year old!

We have had some phone conversations over the past few weeks as we were home so much. One in particular will stick with me for a long time. Claire, as you may remember, is quite a story teller. If you have forgotten, click here and see a story that we happen to catch on camera when she was three years old. She is so descriptive and detailed in her information. The story/incident that she passed along to us recently was concerning a "deal" she made with Chloe. Apparently Chloe is the champion earth worm finder/catcher and Claire doesn't have quite as much luck in that area. Claire needed, she felt, an earth worm to put in one of her plants and Chloe had the only existing earthworm at the moment. Claire worked a deal with her to trade a roly-poly bug, a white ribbon, and a small container in order to get the earthworm for her plant. Claire's lengthy description of the story ended with how happy they both were with the deal that was made. It doesn't sound as cute here, as I write it, maybe it is one of those moments that you had to be there, but I wanted to make sure it gets in the book that we make from the blogs at the end of each year. Hopefully when the three C's grow up and look back at their blog books it will give them some great and happy memories.