Visit from Makenna over the weekend

Waking up for breakfast at Grandma's house. "Where's Poppo?' she asks.

At Carrie's Monday evening. Sometimes the little guy just needs to stay asleep.

Makenna likes to show you where her belly is.

She's proud of it!

Cora, in her new birthday jewelry and hair from Chris and Maria; she picked it out herself at Claire's.

Sweet swinging Hannah. She has another pet frog in the bucket.

Close-up view....check out the necklace, earrings, headband, and...

hair extensions. Carrie was thrilled with her daughter's new look!!! :o)

Our tween.

Makenna has her first driving lesson at Carrie's.

Not her first time with Daddy and the soccer ball.

Riding side by side with cousin Nolan.

He's following her for now.

A goodbye kiss....

and hug....

and a couple more times down the slide at Aunt Carrie's after supper....
before the Arizonans hit the road for O'Fallon. We will see them again on Saturday for Maria's brother Michael's wedding.

Nolan gets the last photo of the night. He says this is how the tiger looked at him at the Kansas City Zoo last week.

I had a great weekend. More photos to come.

Off for a few days...

I had the privilege of watching a mother robin positioning herself to feed her babies right out my deck door over the past several days. She would not fly to the nest while I was out there watching; Mario says the mother doesn't want anyone to know where her babies are. Well, the nest is sitting in plain view on the downspout, so I couldn't miss it. But Momma would flit from one spot to another with the worm in her mouth, and she wouldn't go to the nest til I was back inside. Our neighbors have several birdhouses in their little garden area, so I am getting to see a variety of pretty birds. Surprisingly, few blackbirds are coming around. That's what usually happens when I try to feed the birds. The pretty ones don't come around, just those dang blackbirds. And they are mean to each other!

Today I got a little dusting done (about a month's worth of it had accumulated on the furniture, so it was time). We are expecting Chris, Maria, and Makenna Friday afternoon. Actually, it will just be me, because Mario will be working at ISD Friday afternoon, and Carrie and her family are on a little 4-day vacation to Kansas City. Blake is playing soccer there on Saturday and Sunday, so they left tonight to take in the zoo and I'm not sure what else. They are staying at the Sheration on Friday and Saturday nights, as there is a water park included there. They will return Sunday evening in time to have a day's visit with the Arizona Camachos before they head back to St. Louis. Lots of coming and going here for everybody but me!

So with the Dede gang out of town, and getting ready for the Arizonans to arrive, I will be off the blog most likely til next week. Adios, amigos.

Chico!

Mario chose the name Chico. It means boy. So here we have Chico, age 5 weeks, and The Man.

Momma knows what's happening. She's losing her litter one at a time. Is that traumatic to a momma dog? I would think so.

Cora was swinging on her tummy and somehow got the forehead burn on the rubber mat beneath the swing. She is part adventurer, so I am never surprised with what happens in a day in her life.

We won't get Chico until we return from our trip the first week in July. But we did get to play with him for awhile, and Hannah had the most difficult time saying goodbye.

Nolan loves the name.

I am going to learn all I can about the little guy before he comes to live with us. The lady who is providing him will get him started on house training. That's great with me! I have learned a few methods already from her and from Kathy. Now Murphy will have a cousin. Murphy and Chico. Sounds like a movie or a Frito Bandito commercial!

After a long day with Grandma and Grandpa at Bailey's graduation and party, and visiting with Chico north of Jacksonville, we had 3 sleepy grandkids on the ride back to Quincy. They were so good for us. We are blessed.

Bailey's Graduation May 31, 2009

Bailey's graduation day was a perfect day for a beautiful girl with a sweet soul. Congratulations!

Blake's 16th Birthday

Happy Mommy Carrie and Baby Blake on 16th birthday. I will officially end calling him Baby Blake as of today.

Good friends they are to join with the mom and dad, brother and sisters, and grandmas and grandpas for the party

Our group got the restaurant's attention with our singing of Happy Birthday. Blake is probably happy the hot chicks aren't around for this.

Little brother zonks out after pizza.

Blake wanted ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

Nolan did wake up a few minutes later to have birthday cake.

I will always remember the day Blake was born. It began the evening before with Carrie calling up the steps on Curtis Creek, "Something's happening!" Three weeks early, Blake was ready to make his entrance. June 1, 1993. Time flies.

We have enjoyed Blake more than words can say. Happy Birthday, Baby Blake. Oops. There, I said it again. Grandma loves you.

Quincy University Golf Gathering

These photos are from Friday in Belleville at the fundraiser for the soccer program at QU. I think I mentioned how good it was for all of them to see one another. I took pictures at every hole of golfers teeing off with the sponsor signs in the background. I think I might do that job again next year! And since Mario had so much fun playing racecar driver in the golf cart, he will probably get his job back too. The food was excellent too. And the soccer program does well financially from the day. It is good to see all these former players still supporting the program that provided them their college educations. The first pic above are all classmates except one older brother. They are the Pollihans, Rothery brothers, JB, and Schmitty. Jack was pleased, and as always, has a heart for all his players. We were saying to each other that we couldn't believe we started our freshman year at Quincy College 40 years ago! Most of us still look pretty darn good.

Uncle Jimmy looks good; J.D. graduates!

Uncle Jimmy and Jonny on their recent cruise.

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea....

Uncle Jimmy had to promise he'd sleep in a lifejacket because of his sleep-walking.

J.D.'s graduation from 8th grade at Waverly.

JD with Jessica Kissick, Kelly's daughter.

Proud Mom and Dad, Craig and Melody, with J.D.

I love pictures of happy people :o) Thanks for sending them!

Today I slept in til 10:00, after a long day at the golf course in Belleville yesterday. Mario was like Mario Andretti driving me around the course on that golf cart. By the time we got in the car to come home, my insides had to be sedated! But it was a great day, beautiful weather, lots of money was made for the Quincy University Soccer Program, and we had a ball seeing old college friends. I will have pictures later.

Today we have the 50th Anniversary in the priesthood celebration for our "senior" pastor, Fr. Bauer, who has retired but is still having masses everywhere to cover for other priests and to help out Fr. John on the weekday and sometimes weekend masses. There is a parish reception following 5:30 mass that we will attend.

Time to lay me down.