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?

52 weeks--I Did It!!

52 WEEKS OF PHOTOS WITH ME IN THEM--I DID IT!
Now I probably have more pictures of me taken in this last year than in who knows how many years before that! I know that some weeks I didn't have a new one and posted an "oldie" but then some weeks I had more than one photo with me in it also!
I have to admit that along with becoming more conscious of trying to be in photos with my kids, it's also had the effect of making me quite conscious (and irritated at myself) when I miss an opportunity. That's what really gets me....!
One week from today is our daughters wedding, and I will have more photos with me in it. Since there is one more Thursday in the month, and considering the occasion I will have a bonus "52 weeks" post. I also plan to do something fun for a "grand finale" of my 2009 - 52 weeks posts, so watch for that in January (I hope!)

Here's a few more from our last day up in ND. I really meant to post these with the first ones, but ran out of time so I thought I'd post them later and then forgot :(


Kyrie & Jessi in their matching dresses that I had Great G'ma Cilla make for them


Grammie with 4 of my grand-sweeties, Kyrie, (5) Barrett, (5 days) Jessi (3 in Jan) & Trey (3 in Feb)


The group of us after Sunday a.m. meeting before we left for home.
Front, Kyrie, Trey & Jessi
Back, Meshayla, Lynisha, Me, Dalyana with Barrett, and Wade.
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Last week (Friday eve) our friends Dan and Cyndie hosted a couples shower for Relyssa and Mark. We had a potluck supper and a wonderful evening. Here's some pictures from it.


Mark & Relyssa, with his parents on the left, and us on the right.


Opening gifts


A quilt from Marks grandparents


Relyssa & Mark


Our lovely hosts, (and my "Sistah")--Cyndie & Dan


One more picture of girl-friends. Relyssa won't be here for Lorene's birthday this year (If you remember THIS post...)
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On Monday night this week, Kara's class had their D.A.R.E. Presentation & Graduation.
Her essay was one of two picked to be read.


The class preformed a song for us. (This is the 4th and 5th grade classes in her school)


Kara receiving her certificate from the deputy who taught the class.




Mom and Kara at home afterward.

Oh my, I can hardly believe she's a 5th grader and not only that, but 1/2 way on her way to being a 6th grader already!


That's all for this week folks! Have a wonderful Christmas & New Years holiday!

The last two weeks

Sorry, these aren't in order as far as dates they occurred. (And, I'm too "lazy" to change them)

Relyssa's birthday cake/supper--She's 18



Mark & Lyss--



Ryan--ready to enjoy that delicious creation :)


They were SO..SO good!! I hadn't made waffles for ages! The only thing we were missing was cinnamon syrup, and I didn't think to make it ahead of time. Here's the recipe tho. Give it a try on waffles or pancakes. It seriously is THE BEST!! (Posted at the end)


Leon & Relyssa I didn't get a picture of the yummy homemade strawberry/raspberry ice cream he made, but it sure was good too!


Lorene & Relyssa have grown up together, just 3 months apart exactly in age. I believe we have a picture of them at their birthday parties every year. This little guy is Lorene's baby, and such a cutie!

These pictures were taken at the shower that Cyndie hosted for Jeanne & Lyrah. Lynisha gave her the little outfit she's wearing, & the headband is from Dalayna.

This was the day of the shower...Oct 10. We got our first snow of the year, and there were still green leaves on the trees!


Cyndie's gift made a really cute centerpiece, and anyone that knows Cyndie, knows what an awesome & creative hostess she is!!



Hmmm, a rather random picture. Cousins. Evidently needing something worthwhile to do to work off the "Monster" drink they consumed!



Lynisha took Lyrah's pictures for her baby announcements when I was out there the first week in Oct. She was a little over a week old here. The baby legs, onsie & headband are all from Dalayna.





Kara's first Orchestra concert (Oct 12) with the other local 5th grade schools. She just started playing the violin this year. I recorded a video, but never could get it to upload to blogger or facebook either one. Maybe next time!

Here's the syrup recipe!
1 1/4 c sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c white syrup
Boil 3-4 minutes add:
1/2 c evaporated milk
1 T. butter flavor (optional) or use a dab of butter if you wish.
1 tsp cinnamon

ENJOY!!

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!)

Ready...or Not!

Today was the first day of school for Kara & Kaela and Relyssa.
(Morgen & Meshayla will start later)
The "little girls" were quite anxious. I don't know how many times Kaela told me to be sure & set my alarm so she could get up at 6:00. She even offered to set the alarm for me. Never mind that they don't leave until 7:30, they have their clothes laid out the night before and they eat breakfast at school. It takes them about all of 5 minutes to get ready. No telling these girls twice! I'd bought some basic school supplies, so this morning they went thru them and filled their school boxes & got out their back packs (Their ones from last year were still good, so didn't have to buy new ones! WOOHOO!)


The tradional first day of school picture. My babies! *sniffle*!! Kaela's going off to 3rd grade, and Kara off to 5th grade, her last year in grade school!! (another *sniffle*) Like another blogging friend mentioned, they should still be 3 & 5....not those grades!!




Now this daughter is a different story....*rolls eyes*
I tried to make her happy by reminding her that this was the first of the last days of school. It didn't help, she still rolled her eyes.
"WHY do we always have to take a picture, I hate school, It doesn't amuse me, (whatever we said), it's not a happy day,...........O.K.....Just PRETEND like you're a nice girl, o.k.?
*BROTHER*!!
Here's our Take 4, one is barely decent. O.K. Relyssa, you're done, this was the last time. THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY! You're a SENIOR! AND you only have 1 semester left!!!





Oh yeah, and someday you're going to hate it that you had that kind of posture in pictures, trust me! :D

One of my summer projects.

It seems like house projects are an on-going thing. At our house it's very hard to ever get something completely completed! One of the down sides of finishing your own house! Our basement has been an on-going project ever since we built the house 17 years ago. At that time we had 4 teen age girls in the 4 basement bedrooms. When we got the space divided into rooms, we let each girl pick & decorate their own room. Since then we've played musical bedrooms many times, and have several make overs.
two years ago Relyssa picked out the paint for the bedroom she "inherited", and her sister painted it for her. We got her the comforter/sham set for her birthday, and then later I got the curtains, and the lamp for her birthday last year, but that was as far as we got then.
There are still some things that are not finished, and some that need re-done, but this room was on my list of summer projects to do while Relyssa was gone. My summer went way to fast! On Friday last week I found out that she was coming home about a week & half sooner than I expected, so we went into fast-forward gear! Everything moved out of the room, carpets shampooed, a closet unit put up, blind for the window, tie backs for the curtains, a queen bed instead of two twin mattresses on the floor, dresser painted & new knobs, a new rug & a new table/desk. Some other odds & ends, and now we're awaiting Miss Lyss to come home and hopefully enjoy her "new" personal space.




Laura enjoys crocheting, and made her this afghan using the colors she wanted.

The self portrait on the wall, and two art objects on the floor are some she made in school.


Another one of her art projects on this wall.

None of the basement bedrooms had closets put in them for a long time, and this unit has been our solution in two of the rooms. We like them! Nothing gets stuffed in the closet, & they take up very little room space.