Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

Front Row seated l- r: Kelly, holding Grace, Nancy, holding Anna, Mom, Dad, Stan,Libby, William. Back row: Holly, holding Ryan, Keith, Joel, holding Reese, Kristy, Megan, Deb, John, Jarrod, Jack, Linda, Doug, Jenny ... not in picture: Rodney and Jonathan


Today (February 20th) is my Mom and Dad's 59th Wedding Anniversary. They celebrated by going to the podiatrist and dentist! As Mom said, from head to toe treatment!

I think I will opt for a facial and pedicure for my Anniversary, though....

The picture above is from my Mom's 80th Birthday party in December 2006. Rodney had a special-session of the School Board, which he is on, that day and could not attend. Also missing was Johnny, who was still at Purdue.

Since then, we have another family member....Baby Clare. The family is getting so big it is difficult to get all of us together...and to find someplace to accomodate everyone.

Mom and Dad, look what you started!

Happy Anniversary!

It's Been Fun, but it's Time to Go!

Or so said the invitation....

Cheryl, Karan, Patti, JoAnn, Linda, & Dale

Jim, Gary, Steve, Garry, & Stan

Last Sunday we went to the Retirement Party of a long-time friend, Steve, who was retiring from a 39-year career in Law Enforcement. While he is officially retiring, he will still be working in the department in "Cold Cases." After all of his years of service, I am sure he has a lot of knowledge of the happenings over the past 4 decades here in the city!

Above are some pictures of the gang at his party, whereas

the picture below was

taken in January 2000, during a Super Bowl Party at Jim & Karan's.

from left back row: Steve, JoAnn, Stan, Linda, Jim, Garry

front (on floor): Karan, Garry, Dale, Patti

California Dreamin'

Pierce and Taylor in their pool last weekend.

While most of us would have to admit that this winter in Indiana hasn't been all that bad, at this point most of us are tired of the cold. I'm not talking about the 40 degree days with sunshine, or even those 34 days, but the extreme cold days of single-digit temperatures and biting winds.

We had a strange couple of days last weekend. Saturday it was so

pleasant that I didn't even wear a coat to the Dinner-Dance that evening. Then Sunday, we awoke to low temperatures and wind that literally took your breath away!

Monday morning, we received this picture from our brother-in-law, Eric, in Sacramento. It was sunshiny there over the weekend, with the thermometer making it up to the high 60's, so the twins, Pierce and Taylor, decided to take a "dip" in their backyard pool.

At 12 1/2, they were alot braver than most of us would have been. I don't know where big brother, Ryan, was at the time. He's 2 years older than the twins, so maybe he knew it would be a little chilly. As Eric said, " the water was probably only in the 50's and the boys didn't stay in too long.....still...."

Puttin on the Ritz!

Dan & Deb

Stan & Linda

Saturday night was the Indianapolis Sailing Club's annual Commodore's Dinner and Dance. Stan wanted to go, so we invited good friends (and sailing co-horts), Dan and Debbie, to go with us. The dress was semi-formal, so after searching our closets, Deb and I came up with appropriate attire.

The men have it so easy - they just throw on a suit and tie and they're ready to go.

With us gals, there is finding the right outfit, which in itself can be challenging, then there's the hair, nails, shoes, handbags, etc! After getting my hair cut,my nails done, and a facial from my aesthetician, I've realized it takes a village for us gals to gussy up, and the older I get, I'm beginning to think it is soon going to take a small city to get me ready for these affairs!

Baby Love....

Grandpa and Clare taking an afternoon nap together.

One of the things about being a grandparent is that you really can take the time to enjoy each stage your grandchildren go through. It seems like when our kids were young, we were so busy that they grew up before we knew it! We couldn't wait until the kids took naps so that we could get something done ourselves. How times have changed....

Stan just loves holding Clare. When Reese was this age, he was busy working, as he had not

yet retired. With Ryan and Grace, when they were this age (6 months), he was busy working for the Indians, playing softball himself, plus we were in the midst of moving from one house to another.

Now, life is a little slower...it's mid-winter and not much to do outside. It's a great time to

hold Baby Clare and fall asleep! I happened to catch them napping...I didn't want to get too close as I didn't want to wake up either of my "babies"!

Holly's Straightened Up Her Act!

For those of you who know Holly, you probably hardly recognize her. Thursday night she had her hair straightened for a new look. We hardly knew her when she walked in the house! It takes some work to achieve the effect, so I am sure she will not be doing this daily. Still, it is nice to have options.....

Birthday Boy!

Jim and Karan

Jim's cake - complete with trees, flowers, and a minature lawn tractor!

Friday night we went to Bazbeau's in Broad Ripple to celebrate the 60th Birthday of our friend, Jim Slack. Jim retired a couple of years ago from Kroger and started his own business, "Turf's Up" in which he does lawn mowing and care (hence the tractor on the cake.)

Later, I recalled celebrating his 40th, which at the time, seemed old! So, here we are...we have been together through most of our thirties, forties, fifties, and hopefully, several more decades to come!

Here's to the Birthday Boy and his lovely wife, Karan!