Congrats to Aaron!

and Ethan and I were able to attend the high school graduation of Ron and my nephew, Aaron.  Congrats on a successful high school career!  We KNOW you will be a success!

Aaron and his grandparents

Ethan and Aaron in deep conversation :-)

Visiting my sister

OK…a bit out of order here, LOL.  Just before Dairy Days, Ethan and I traveled to Ohio for Ron’s nephew’s graduation.  We spent a couple of days with my sister and her family.  We spent a few hours with our dear friend Ashley and her son Mason and her niece Autumn (we missed you Kasey!!) at Sauder Village in Archbold, OH.  It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time together!

 

We just have to chuckle (no…really LAUGH) out loud at the pictures of this darling little girl, Autumn.  Oh she would NOT smile.  But we had a good day, anyway :)  My mom started babysitting for Autumn’s mom, Kasey, when Kasey was just a few months old.  Kasey and her siblings (and parents) are just like family to us!  We missed you at Sauder’s Kasey (well, Landon, too, LOL)  Thanks for sharing Autumn with us for the day!

And oh, my gosh and melt my heart this little guy is a DOLL, too!  His mom is Kasey’s little sister, Ashley.  Ashley got to spend the day with us.  Mason was a little freer with his smiles.  Did we ever get our baby fix that day or what???  Glad to spend the day with Mason and Mom, although we missed seeing his daddy Anthony :)

Madi called stroller pushing!

Mason and his mommy, Ashley.

Autumn and Auntie Ashley…they were matching buddies!

We also met up with my best friend since 2nd grade, Beth and her kids.  Daniel and Bekah are in the back row, with Autumn, Madi, Ethan, Jordan and Mason in front.

Beth and her kiddos.

LOOK…is that ALMOST a SMILE I see peeking out??? Maybe???

Ethan and Jordan were less than thrilled to go back to school :)

My friend Beth’s daughter’s Hannah (left) and Bekah (front) and her niece Ashlyn

Beth and me :)

oh my stinking GOSH he is CUTE!  And cuddly.  And friendly.  And I miss him…

This was RIGHT before that sheep said (VERY loudly) hello to us in sheep language (“BAAAAAAA”) and scared the living daylights out of Autumn.  She was DEFINITELY not smiling then, the poor thing! 

Couldn’t get a good picture of the 3 of them with the geese ‘cause Jordy kept shouting “AFLAK”!

Anyone notice that she STILL isn’t smiling???

Can you honestly NOT smile when you see this picture??

Oh my stinking heck…is she CUTE or what?  I miss her!

Sue Ann and the babies…

LOVE this one of E and Madi!

Me and E

Sue Ann, Jordan and Madi

Our 15th Dairy Days!

Wow…I can’t believe we are starting our 15th year here!  Our first Dairy Days was jut the week after we moved in.  We were very impressed with the celebration this little town put on!

Parade Candy!  Ethan and his friend Briesse scrambled for the goodies!

Of course, for the past few years, Dairy Days means funnel cakes for us!  The Youth Group made around 700 funnel cakes during the 2 day celebration!  Thanks to all the great help we had, we profited about $2,200!  WOW!!

Yum!

And, of course, games, games, games.  The kids think they are fun.  Wonder when they begin to realize how much $$ they waste here??

YAY!  Here comes the BAND!  My favorite part of the parade!!

Rachel on the right with her clarinet.

Cameron and his trumpet :)

What a great couple of days it was.  BUT, we are always glad when it is OVER!

Cameron’s Latest…

OK…I thought Cameron reached the limit of goofiness with his golf outfit…but nope.  THIS tops it!

The story…

They were bored.  It was Tuesday.  Cameron and Anthony went to the golf course for a while, but their friend Sam, who was bartending at the time, said “really, guys…it’s men’s night tonight and you really shouldn’t be here…you aren’t old enough”.

Well…they didn’t like hearing THAT, so they went to Tony’s house…got their hats…sunglasses….and took the ARMS OFF OF A STUFFED MONKEY!!!! and stuck those arms to their faces and went BACK to the golf course…thinking “Now we look old enough”

Cameron came home and said “Yeah…it didn’t work.  And all we wanted was a Shirley Temple!” 

Oh my GOSH…life is NEVER dull around here!

Happy 15th Birthday, Rachel!!

A 15 year old daughter is an indescribable blessing!  Mine is especially so!  She is beautiful and friendly, kind and loving, wickedly funny, talented and just plain perfect.  I am truly blessed by God to have been given such a wonderful gift!

Happy Birthday, Rachel!  I love you!

The night before the last day of school

You would think the night would be spent cramming for final exams and such.  But around here, the evening was spent working (Cameron was working at the theater) or just relaxing and playing.  That is important, too, I guess!

Rachel is very thrilled to have Caleb home from University of Iowa for the summer!  They jammed on Rock Band for a while tonight!

Mom!

Why are you taking my picture???

MOM!  You are messing me up!

Ethan spent some time playing catch with his dad!

Hot, sweaty, happy boy, whose last words tonight were “AH….I only have to wake up early ONE MORE DAY!”  That’s a common refrain heard by Cameron, Rachel, Ethan AND Mom tonight!