27 years ago

 Mothers day, May 13, 1984 after a lovely day spent with Leon and our 4 girls, my grandparents & mother at my in-laws house, Baby #5 decided it was time to come on the scene.
At 2:15 in the morning, Monday May 14  we welcomed our first son into our family.
Derek was our 2nd homebirth but he was in a hurry, and didn't wait for our midwife to arrive.
She had a 3 hr. drive from her house from ours, and although we called her at the first sign, She arrived an hour after he was born.
Leon was initiated into the role of "midwife" without a whole lot of prep time!

Now this year he helped his own little guy celebrate his 1st birthday already!

 (April, 2011)

Happy Happy Birthday son-- We're wishing you the best year ever ahead!

Birthday, Graduation and family time

These girls are just 3 months apart in age, and have been friends from the beginning. When they were little we have quite a few pictures of them together. As they got older we've tried to get pictures of them together every year on their birthday at least. This picture was taken when Relyssa turned 16. Lorene was Relyssa's maid of honor at her wedding, and now tomorrow we'll add another photo memory of the two of them together. Now that they're out of school--"All grown up"-- ( :P) and Relyssa married, photo's of the two of these friends together are going to be much more infrequent.
Happy Graduation girls!


It's a busy weekend for us. Relyssa and Lorene's graduation reception on Sunday afternoon.
Derek's birthday yesterday.



All our kids/grandkids but Jana and Laura are "here" this weekend, staying in various places, but we're planning on lots of together time later today and tomorrow.

Last night I had a birthday supper for Derek. Ryan & Alishia joined us, and then Dalayna & Wade came by on their way into Kearney where they were meeting up with Wade's parents. Later Mark & Relyssa stopped in on their way thru just in time for cake.



♪♫♪♪♫♪ "Happy happy birthday--from all of us to you--♪♪♫♫♪♫♪ We wish it was our birthday, so we could party too"!♪♪♫♫♪♫♪

Oh yeah, that's right--We DO get to party too--alot!


"Can I just have a NICE picture"? HA, right!

And what do you mean I "only" have 8 candles on his cake? Can't you read short-hand?
Two stands for twenty!

26 years...in the blink of an eye.

About as fast as he could blow those candles out.





After they were gone then Jeanne & Floyd came out for a while. Nothing makes a place feel more like home, than to have all your kids arrive!

Bonfires seem to be a regular around here--definitely an attraction. This mom/grammie has to remember to keep a full supply of marshmallows on hand as the kids seem to think that they go together!

This afternoon & evening promises to be crazy, loud and fun. We're looking forward to sharing our time & food with our kids & their in-laws, as Jim & Mark's mom and Wade's parents & grandma are joining us too. My mom & MIL, & Leon's two sisters & our friend Martin.


Woops, that reminds me, we've got homemade ice cream to get in the makings for tonight too!

Anyone else want to join us?

35 of 52 weeks

All these years I've taken pictures of my kids on their first day of school. Did I ever even THINK to take one with me in it too? Nope. Well, thanks to Carin's "mom's missing from the pictures" challenge, I did it this year!
The other pictures of the kids are on this post.

The very reluctant senior...not only did she have to GO to school, she had to have her picture taken AGAIN and then to top it all off, one with mom too!


My youngest sweeties. No problem getting pictures from them! and if Mom is with them in a picture, that's even better. The best thing? Going to school! :D


And one more here....I get very few pictures anymore of our oldest son, hardly any of him dressed up lookin' spiffy, and pictures of me with him...well, lets just say that it has been a LONG time! (no, he wasn't going off to school!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEREK!!

24 Years ago, May 14, 1984 After 4 girls, A baby boy came into our lives...
Happy Birthday Derek, We love you! (and here too)