Welcome to My World!

Family News...

2008-08-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

First of all, Happy Belated Birthday to my sister, Nancy! She has been busy with her house this year and recently added a beautiful waterfall to her backyard. She also had a new retaining wall built at the same time and you can see that in the background. I am sure she will really enjoy both! These pictures were taken the day the landscapers finished the pond, so she plans to add some other things to finish the look.

I am sure if you are readers of Kelly's blog you know our baby Clare turned one and is starting to take a few steps here and there. Go Clare! She is still such a sweet baby!

Grace will soon be starting "school" one day a week. She is also in the midst of potty training and doing pretty well.

Reese started Pre-Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. She goes to school in the morning with her mom and afterwards she gets to go into Kristy's Third Grade Class for the last 45 minutes of Kristy's teaching. She even has her own desk with the 3rd Graders!

Ryan is at a new Daycare this year..."Mama C's House" as he calls it. He wasn't sure at first - not having his big sister with him - but made friends quickly and is enjoying his mornings there, too!

Holly's House

Great Room

Master Bedroom

Kitchen

Our big news is that Holly is house-hunting! She put an offer on a house about 4.5 miles from ours - between her two sister's! There is new laminate flooring downstairs and nice carpeting and new vinyl floors upstairs. There are three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a huge pantry and big walk-in master closet! It's freshly painted and very neutral - just what she wants! The master is very big and the other 2 bedrooms are nice size, too. The outside needs a little landscaping, something she's excited to do. We haven't heard back from the seller, but hopefully it will go through. If not, there's more out there!

I Know Where I Stand...

2008-08-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today I watched Reese, Ryan, and Grace for a short time. When I walked in the house, all 3 kids started yelling "Hi, Grandma!" but Grace went a little farther. She ran across the room, saying, "I love you, Grandma! I love you! I love you!" and flung herself into my arms.

Then, as she gave me a huge hug, she added, "can we go for a ride in your new van?"

Not even 2 1/2 yet - it starts early!!!

Brooks School Park

2008-08-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kristy went back to school last week and we helped out with Reese a few days as the teachers had to go a couple of days without students. The Friday before, though, we had both Reese and Ryan and took them to a park near our house. Ryan - aka "no fear kid" - ran straight to things he could climb on while Reese was a little more cautious.

It was such a pretty day and even Grandpa enjoyed the playground!

Isn't it too early for school to start???

I'ver Been Tagged!!!

2008-08-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Jen to do this:

Three things...

...THAT SCARE ME: snakes, snakes and snakes!!!

...I LOVE: my family, my country, my friends

...I HATE: snakes (I had a bad experience as a child), hot, very humid weather,
having to watch what I eat and exercise

...I'M DOING RIGHT NOW: typing this, listening to Stan getting something to
eat and the television in the background

...I CAN DO: alot of different things a little: paint, sew, scrapbook, play
piano

...I CAN'T DO: alot of things really well! I am a jack of all trades, a master
of none!

...THAT ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOODS: noodles, ice cream, cookies/brownies

...SHOWS I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID: Mickey Mouse Club (yes, they had it back in the 50's),Lassie, The Lone Ranger, Sky King, Roy Rogers

People I'm tagging to do this on their blog: Debi D and her daughter, Dawn

Grandma's New Ride

2008-08-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

Out with the old...

and in with the new...

...and yes, they are different colors. The old Grand Caravan is a beige/gold color and the new one is silver. We have been talking about getting a new minivan for quite a while, but it seems like we never found the time to go look for one. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, we took a couple of afternoons to go scouting around. After looking at several, we settled on a Town and Country with the Stow and Go Seating (where the rear seats all fold into the floor.) It has many cool features along with the all important DVD Entertainment Package.

I remember shopping for the Caravan, back in 2003, I did not want a DVD player. I had seen many families driving down the highways with kids entertained with cartoons. I thought, "what happened to playing games while driving? What about "who can spot the UPS trucks first? (an old family favorite) or the ever-popular license-plate game 0r singing the National Anthem?" My girls read books in the car while on long trips or slept!

Then I became a grandparent!

We did get the Caravan with a DVD back in 2003, only because it was actually least expensive due to the package we got versus a van without one. When Reese came along in 2004, we had only used it a few times for trips to Fort Wayne or Hilton Head. When Reese was nearly one, I started playing a Care Bears DVD in the van and she was hooked! That child's eyes never moved from the screen! The summer of 2005, our family went to Hilton Head and Reese rode in the van with us. On the way home, a nearly 15 hour drive with a 15 month old, it was Elmo all the way. For those of you who are familiar with Elmo, you know the show starts with Elmo saying "Hi, I'm Elmo and this is my friend, Dorothy. Say 'hello Dorothy'..." to which the screen pans in on Dorothy, the goldfish, swimming in her fishbowl. Dorothy is a real fish, so she never talks, of course. Well, Grandpa Stan, after listening to about 10 solid hours of the same Elmo DVD, finally said, "WHY DOESN'T DOROTHY SAY HELLO?!" Joel and I started laughing and said "because she's a GOLDFISH!" Anyway, it was funny at the time!

The DVD player has become a favorite with not only Reese, but Ryan and Grace, too. They love riding in "Grandma's van." Grandma loves taking them, too!!!

Happy 30th Birthday, Kristy!

2008-08-02T19:19:00.001-07:00

Kristin Marie at 1 year - July 1979

Kristy walking into house for her Surprise Party. Holly is on the left and Stan in the background.

The Birthday Princess - courtesy of a crown picked out by Reese at the Party Store!
Yummy cake from Marsh!

Even Baby Clare had a good time! Don't worry, darlin' - next Saturday is your turn!

The kids anxiously await their cake!

The two Power Wheels - the Jeep and the John Deere Gator - were big hits!

Yes, it is true! Kristy celebrated her 30th birthday today!!! My, where do the years go and how can we now have two daughters 30 and 32???

Holly and Kelly decided it would be fun to throw a Surprise Party for her, so with Joel's help, they successfully pulled it off! Holly, Kelly and Kristy went out for a late lunch and did some shopping at the new Hamilton Town Center at I-69 and Exit 10. While they were gone, Joel, Stan and I got the food ready and the house decorated.

Luckily, one of Kristy's neighbors, Jen, offered to watch the kiddies so we could get everything ready without having to watch them, too! Thanks, Jen!!!

When the girls came back, Kristy was surprised by the friends and family there. The food was yummy and a good time was had by all, as they say!!!

If You Give Your Grandma a Camera...

2008-08-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

She is going to take a lot of pictures of you....

when you're eating...

with your hands up to your mouth....

your sippy cup to your lips...

and when you are just being silly!!!

Then, you are going to realize that some day these pictures may show up in a graduation video, or worse yet, at your wedding reception someday.... So you'll pray...

that no one will ever see these pictures and hope that the only pictures Grandma takes are cute ones from now on!!!

Ryan, Clare, Reese, Grace, at our House, Christmas 2007

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Post idea from the Triple Threat Blog...adapted from the book by

Laura Numeroff, "If You Give a Pig a Party..."

My Stan the Man!!!

2008-08-01T15:00:00.001-07:00

Stan with his signed game ball.

Everyone who knows my husband definitely can tell where his loyalities lie in
Professional Baseball. Named for St Louis Cardinal Star, Stan Musial, my husband has been a life-long Cardinals fan. Two of his biggest thrills were when he met his idol, once in 1988, here in Indy, and several years back when we were in St Louis.

Not only does he love to watch baseball, but he also enjoys playing softball.
Several years ago he joined the "John Marshall High School Softball Team," the Patriots. Most of the team is comprised of John Marshall High School Graduates from the Class of 1969, the first year of JMHS. The joke is, Stan graduated in the"Class of '68" from Churubusco, not John Marshall. He is the "old guy" on the team - along with one other Class of '68 player.

Some people probably think that living in a city you would not stay that connected to your classmates, but this group is an exception to that rule! They have stayed together for nearly 40 years, not only as classmates,
but friends as well.

Anyway, while the Patriots play two nights a week, Stan only plays on Thursday, due to a Church committment every Tuesday night. Last Thursday, he had a great game, hitting a triple AND catching a ball at first base, worthy of a major league player! The guys on the team now call him "Albert (Pujols) the Man.

After the game, the guys secretly signed the game ball and presented it to Stan, which is not ordinarily done. He was definitely their MVP that game, but he is the MVD (Most Valuable Dad) in our household everyday! Way to go, Stan.

Enchanted

2008-07-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Deb with Phil Vassar

One of my favorite movies this past year was Enchanted. I have seen it three times since it's release around Christmas, and could watch it again and again. If you haven't seen it, Enchanted is a combination of all of the Disney Princess movies, with the "happily ever after" ending.

Well, this summer, my youngest sister, Deb, has been living her version of Enchanted. First of all, she bought a beautiful horse - a Tennessee Walker - named Jasmine. Deb has had ponies and a horse, Princess, throughout her life. She bought Princess in 1975, and had her for around 20 years, until she went to the great stable in the sky.

Raising four children, helping with John's business, going back to college full-time then teaching elementary school, active in Church and community affairs, she hasn't had much time to think or do anything for herself. So when the opportunity arose this spring to purchase another horse, she decided to get "back in the saddle" so to speak. She loves her horse and has enjoyed riding her this summer at the Horse Park outside of Albion.

Secondly, Deb conquered (well, that might be going too far!) her fear of flying and went on a Mission Trip with her church to Costa Rica. Not only were they able to work with children and do some good things for the area, but they were able to do some sight-seeing as well. She said it was an amazing experience and one she will never forget!

Then, a couple of weeks ago, she helped a friend and fellow teacher (also named Deb) provided food for Phil Vassar and his entourage when they were performing at the Noble Co Fair. Deb got not one, but three, hugs from Phil. Don't worry, John, no competition here - however, they do make a cute couple!!!

Last but not least, John and Deb are tearing off the enclosed front porch of their house and have it rebuilt, making it twice as big thus adding an office and additional space to their house.

In between time she has managed to squeeze in some trips to Toldeo, to see family, Greenfield Village in Michigan for their Fourth of July Celebration, and a trip here to Indy with Nancy for our annual sister's get-together.

However, like Cinderella at the Ball, her free and easy summer is coming to an end. School will be starting soon, leading her into new adventures with her students, Grad School to work on her Master's, her oldest two children graduating from college in December, and who knows what else will pop up! One thing for sure, there is never a dull moment at my sister's house!

John and Deb will celebrate 26 years of marriage on August 13th. Congratulations! It is an Enchanted Life!

Two Reunions, A Wedding, and the Cousins

2008-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Karen L, Dale, Jody, Karan S, Cheryl, Me

Stan's classmates at his reunion. Stan is in the back row on the right side, wearing the dark green shirt.

Judy's new gazebo! It is so neat! Screened in to keep the bugs and critters out.

Lovee's Lake Compound

Why does everything seem to fall in the same weekend? Stan's 40th High School Class Reunion had been planned for July 19th for a year. Then in April, our friends, Patti and Garry, told us their son (David) was planning to be married on that date! It would have been busy enough if both events were in the same city, but David's Wedding was in Greenfield and Stan's reunion was in Columbia City - at least 100 miles apart!

We first went to the Wedding, which was supposed to start at 3:30 pm. I think it started a few minutes late, but it was a short ceremony. After talking to many of our friends who also attended, and taking pictures of some of the gals in our old Castillia neighborhood, we headed up to Columbia City around 4:35.

I think we arrived at Stan's reunion about 2 hours later. I am happy to report we weren't the last ones to get there either! Even though only 1/4 of his class showed up, we all had a good time.

The next day was the Schenher Family Reunion in Churubusco. This is an annual event and this year we had a hog roast. The meat was delicious! Our nephews, Andy and Jon, cooked the meat, with the help of a friend.

Kelly and Holly, along with Baby Clare (Grace stayed with Keith's mom, "Grandma Lou") came to the reunion. Keith was at a Leadership Training School all weekend in New Mexico. Kristy and Joel and kids did not make it this year. Joel had been in California all week on business and since they are leaving this weekend for a week's vacation, they felt they needed a weekend to catch up at home.

Midway through the afternoon, Kelly, Holly, Clare and I headed to Albion to see my parents, brother and sister. Poor Clare only got a short nap, but by her disposition, you would not know it at all! She is the sweetest little peanut!!!

After visiting with my family - and enjoying Mom's Ham Salad Sandwiches! - Kelly, Holly, and Clare left for Indy. Stan and I headed north to the Angola area where a couple of his cousins have lake places.

We were invited to stay with Horse and Judy at their place (or us Horse calls it "Lovee's Lake Compound) for a few days. Judy's sister, Rita, and her husband, John, were also there along with other cousins, Shirley and Bob, and Jack and Marilyn.

We had the VIP treatment! Judy and Rita wouldn't let us lift a finger. They had prepared wonderful meals and we awoke to cooked-to order breakfasts by Horse and ended with fresh fried bluegills from John at dinner.

In between time, we talked, and talked, and talked. I don't think anyone can out-talk these cousins!!! On Monday, 3 more cousins showed up and the party continued. Stan and I decided to come home Monday night as he had a lot of things to do for church on Tuesday. The cousins were staying on, but we had to come home and re-cuperate! I took three separate naps on Tuesday - I was sooooo worn out! In February, a bunch of these cousins went on a 12 day Carribean Cruise. They had a ball and they really want us to go on their next one in 2010. Honestly, I am the "baby" of the group and I can't keep up with them!

Toddlers to Teens to Twenties and Thirties...

2008-07-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Front Row L-R: Kelly, Holly, Shelby, Kristy, Laura

Back L-r: Kim, Tracy, Shannon, Ashley, in 2000

Kelly and Kristy get together regularily with friends for playdates. I don't know if playdates are for the kids or the moms. When my girls were young, I was in several play groups. The one that lasted through the years was definitely more for the moms! We all had little ones and husbands who worked long hours. Also, we were all transplants from other areas, so we didn't have grandmas or aunts who could help out on a moment's notice. This group was made up of my friends in our first neighborhood in Indy (Castillia) and with whom we have remained good friends for over 28 years.

We usually met at McDonald's on Friday in Castleton, across from Castleton Square. The kids would play on the playground and us moms would chat for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. At some point, it become Thursday, as well as Friday. When it started being 3 days a week, it was time to move on...

Over-worked and underpaid (hey you young gals out there - the dads of our generation didn't routinely change diapers, cook dinner, and bathe the kiddos!) I remember one time, one of my friends looked at me very seriously and said, "and these are the best years of our lives???"

Well, they were!

We have watched these girls go from babies, to toddlers, to preschool through college, and even grad school. We have rejoiced at graduations, marriages, and now, are thrilled they are starting their own families.

Kelly, Kristy, Holly, Kim, Shannon and Ashley all graduated with Elementary Ed degrees. Ashley has published a book as well and her sister, Shelby, has her Master's in Speech & Hearing. Tracy graduated last year from Ball State and works for a company here in Indy. (Laura is a friend of Shannon's from College.)

Shannon, Kelly, and Shelby had daughters last year around with 3 months of each other - Faith, Clare, and Delaney. Of course, Kristy has her two, Reese and Ryan.

When the girls were young, they loved playing with their Real Baby babydolls and playing school. How appropriate that many of them became teachers and now, mothers themselves!

Too Close for Comfort!

2008-07-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Early yesterday morning I heard a horrendous crash and saw lightning at the same time. I said to Stan, "wow, that was close!" Well, this morning I saw how close it was when I picked up the newspaper. This house is in our neighborhood, across the golf course and another block off, from ours. We actually looked at a house across the street from this one when we were house shopping 2 yrs ago. This is the 4th or 5th fire in either our neighborhood or very closeby, this year. According to the Fishers Fire Dept, part of the problem is with Fishers being relatively new and not as many mature trees, the houses are just good candidates for strikes. Also, we have had more than share of storms this year! I guess we have been lucky (knock on wood) as our worst damage seems to be going without electricity for a short time. As to the above fire, the family escaped without injury...thank goodness!

Like Mother, Like Daughter...(or the Show Must Go On)

2008-07-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Holly, Kristy, and Kelly "performing" for us, using marigolds as "microphones."

Kristy's post today on Reese reminded me of all of the times that Kristy, Kelly, and Holly dressed up and did "shows" for us. This picture was from the summer of 1982 or 83. If you look closely, on Kelly's right hand you will notice a cast. She had fallen off of a playyard at Vacation Bible School and broke her arm. What a trooper, though! The teacher wanted to call me because she had fallen, and have me pick her up. Kelly insisted that her arm didn't hurt and wanted to stay and finish the morning. When I picked her up, the teacher told me what had happened. I took Kelly directly to our doctor in Castleton to have it checked out. Sure enough, it was broken and we spent most of the afternoon at Community East Hospital to have it casted. Since it was Friday, it was the last day of VBS and the program was that evening. Kelly wanted to go, so we did. Imagine how her teacher felt when Kelly showed up in a cast!

Secondhand Lions

2008-07-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

There are not many movies that I can watch over and over again. For me, and my sisters, Secondhand Lions is one we have watched numerous times and still enjoy. If you have not seen this movie, I promise you will love it.

The movie stars Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Haley Joel Osment in a heartwarming tale of a young lad in the 1950's or early 60's, who is sent to live with his eccentric (to say the least) bachelor great-uncles.

One of my favorite parts is the first night, where Uncle Garth (Duvall) and Uncle Hub (Caine) tell Walter (Haley Joel) that he will be sleeping in "the tower." Then, they add:

Caine: "we don't know much about kids."
Duvall: "so if you need something, get it yourself......better yet, do without."

I don't want to spoil this if you haven't watched it, so put it on your list and check it out!

Feels Like Home to Me...

2008-07-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

< WELCOME!

It's now been two years since we moved to our new house and as the song says, "it feels like home to me"! Moving to Fishers (Hamilton County)wasn't too big of a change since we lived less than a mile south of the Marion Co/Hamilton Co line. Also, since the girls live in "HC" it seemed liked a natural move. I realized the other day that I haven't posted pictures of our house, so here goes....

The waterlillies are blooming...

in our Koi Pond, where Tony, Goldie, and Dorothy live

along with two baby fish!

The big window is the great room, to the right is the Master Suite.

Our screened porch and to the left, the Hearth Room
The window on the bottom is the lower-level family room.
The view from the backyard-the eighth hole-where we saw Michael Jordan playing the first week we moved in!
View from our front steps....

Yes - to quote another song - our house, is a very, very, very fine house! Thanks for stopping!

Spending the Night

2008-07-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

On July 3rd, we had the kids over for dinner, games, and to watch our neighborhood's fireworks. Since the fireworks did not start until 10:00, we offered to keep the grandkids overnight. Kelly felt they needed to take Clare home since she wakes up in the night, and Kristy opted to take Ryan home. They did put all 4 kids down and they did go to sleep and through some miracle, they slept through all the booms and bangs. Reese and Grace spent the night and in the morning, it was so cute to hear them talking. We have a toddler bed in our master bedroom for Reese, and in the morning, Holly brought Grace in to our room. Reese got up and started to make her bed and Grace offered to "help" her pull the blankets up. Reese said, "it's okay, Grace. I can do it...but I really appreciate it." They went on to have a grown up conversation. Of course I was pretending I was still asleep and had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud! It was so precious!

The Prince and His Princesses

2008-07-13T20:12:00.001-07:00

Kristy and Joel

Reese

Recently, Stan and I kept Reese and Ryan overnight while Joel and Kristy attended a Fundraiser at Conseco Fieldhouse. Clark Kellogg and Oscar Robinson were speakers and there was also a silent auction. Before they left, I took a picture of them in the foyer. A second later, Reese came out of my bedroom wearing her princess dress-up clothes. Looks like their family is dressed for success!

Black Pine

2008-07-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

Reese (L) and my great-niece, Libby (R)

Just outside of the town of Albion, where my parents and two sisters live, there is a park called "Black Pine" with various types of exotic animals. They have in residence lions, tigers, bears, ostrichs, pot belly pigs, chimps, monkeys, alligators, snakes - you get the picture. Most, if not all, of these animals were rescue animals or retired performers. Black Pine hasn't been around too long, so they are just in the development stages. Jack Hanna, who is a frequent guest on TV, visited the park recently and between 10 and 14,000 people visit annually.

A couple of weeks ago, Reese and I visited my family and also made a trip to Black Pine. We enjoyed the park and we were able to get up close and personal with many of the animals - more so than an ordinary zoo.

Rollin' on a River (sort of...)

2008-07-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

Reese

Ryan

Grace

Clare

Anchors Aweigh!!!

2008-07-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Reese and Grandpa Stan

Say Cheese! Grace with Aunt Holly

Capt Reese and Co-Pilot Grandpa. Kelly, Keith & Clare

Kristy, Joel, and a perplexed Ryan

Ryan, Clare, and Grace

The weekend following St Louis, we rented a 3 bedroom condo at The Pointe, on Lake Monroe, just south of Bloomington. It is a tradition to take a family vacation together once a year. Up until a few yrs ago, we enjoyed vacationing at Hilton Head. However, with a 4-yr old, 2 - 2 yrs olds, and a baby, the 15 hour drive is stressful, to say the least! So we have been staying closer to home and this year we decided to go to Lake Monroe. We once owned a condo there and the girls and Joel all went to IU, so it is a special place for our family.

On Saturday we rented a pontoon a took a spin on Lake Monroe. All of the rain we had this spring and early summer had caused the lake to be up by quite a bit. We were worried about the kiddos liking the boat, but they were great about wearing their life jackets and enjoyed the ride as much as us!

Meet Me in St Louie...

2008-07-13T15:09:00.001-07:00

The weekend of Father's Day (June 14-15) Stan and I went to St Louis with friends Dan and Debbie. Of course we took in two Cardinal's game and on Saturday evening had dinner with our niece, Emily, who lives in St Louis. We ate at the "Top of the Riverfront," which is a revolving restaurant at the top of the Millennium Hotel, just across front the Arch. Stan and I had stayed at the Millennium on our honeymoon (back then it was Stouffer's) and we actually stayed in the same room on this trip.

Despite being a hot and humid in St Louis, we enjoyed the games - especially on Sunday when we sat in an air-conditioned suite at the ballpark!

Happy Birthday, Holly!

2008-06-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Holly! I hope you had a great day.

Goin' to the Chapel...

2008-06-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 31st, was our Wedding Anniversary and also the wedding of Keith's brother, Dean, to Melissa. Grace was a flower girl (along with her 4 year-old cousin, Maggie) and we were all holding our breath as 2 year olds can be quite unpredictible at times! Especially when they have had a busy couple of days and gone with a nap! Well, not to worry, Grace carried this off like an old pro! Of course she looked so adorable, too!

Flower girls, Grace and Maggie, with Reese

Hey, Ryan! Want to dance???

Joel, Ryan, Kristy, Clare, and Reese

Gone, But Not Forgotten...

2008-06-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been "gone" from blogging for about 6 weeks. It has just been busy with spring flower planting, watching the grandkiddies, and the usual. Anyway, I decided to give my blog a new look and title to celebrate my return!!!

Fast Friends

2008-04-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

My friend, Becky, and I thought it would be fun to get Becky's niece, Emilia, (above, left) and Reese (above right) together for a Play Date. Emilia will be 5 in June and has a brother, who will be 3 in August, and a baby sister.

We first went to lunch, and Reese was a little shy. Emilia's brother has some food allergies, just like Ryan, so the girls were comparing notes as to what their brothers could or couldn't eat. However, by the time we were finished eating, she started warming up. We then went to Play-a-Lot and basically had the entire space to ourselves. Reese and Emilia soon became good friends and had a lot of fun playing together. By the time we left, they were hugging and Reese talked all the way home about wanting another playdate with her new friend!

I should mention that I first meant Becky in Fort Wayne, over 32 years ago, when both of our husbands worked at UPS. We moved to Indy (their home town) and shortly thereafter they moved back here. Then, after a few years they moved to Muncie, Granger, finally returning to live in the Geist area until Larry's retirement a few years before Stan. Now they live near Noblesville.

Kelly was just a couple of weeks old when we met and Becky's children were 3 and 5. Now we both have 2 year old granddaughters. We plan to take the 2 year-olds and get them together - soon! I'm sure we will have to plan our outing around naptime - not the kiddies - ours!

Dancin' in Branson!

2008-04-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Last week Stan and I went to Branson, Mo. We stayed at the Big Cedar Wilderness Resort, which was about 10 miles south of town. We were very close to Arkansas, so one day we drove over to Eureka Springs, a historic little town much like Galina, Illinois. While in Branson, we also saw 4 shows: "Spirit of the Dance," (Irish dancing), "Broadway Celebration," a group of 6 brothers a la "Straight No Chaser" called "SIX," and "The Twelve Irish Tenors." While we enjoyed them all, I think our favorites were the Irish Tenors and the Broadway show. I wanted to take an Irish Tenor home for Holly. They were so cute and delightful!

On the way home, we stayed in St Louis and enjoyed a nice evening with our niece, Emily. All in all, it was a very fun trip!

Busted!

2008-04-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

Today, after church, the entire family (except for Stan, who had to work at an Indians game) went out for breakfast. Kristy and Joel wanted to go to the Mall and do some shopping, so I brought Reese and Ryan back to my house. On the 15-minute trip from the restaurant to my house, Reese talked continuously. I mean, she hardly stopped long enough to take a breath. At one point she talked about visiting her great-grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Young, this week. She talked about playing at Grandma's house and helping Grandma with a puzzle. Poor little Ryan, I think he was tired of her talking so much that he piped in with, "I play, too. I play, too!" to let me know that he played at Grandma Young's house, also!

On another note, Reese apparently was impressed by the food that both Grandma Young and Joel's Grandmother, Grandma Sheets, prepares when the family comes to visit. She said that her Grandmas make the food, but they have to go to the store to get the ingredients. I was impressed that she was putting this all together...you go to the store, buy the ingredients and then make the food. She said Grandma Young and Grandma Sheets make the food, they don't buy the food at the store. I guess what she meant was, they make things from stratch, instead of buying prepared foods at the store. Oops! I guess I had better quit serving things from the deli containers. From now on, I'll at least put them in my own serving bowl and make it look like I went to the store and bought the ingredients to make the food...not just buy it already prepared!

Heaven Made

2008-04-06T16:39:00.001-07:00

Saturday, Stan and I traveled to South Bend for a wedding at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the Universtiy of Notre Dame. The wedding was for Alisa, the daughter of one of Stan's cousins, and her fiance, Kevin. Alisa is a graduate of Notre Dame and Kevin is a Purdue Alum. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and was followed by a wonderful reception. Here are a few pictures. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the groom!

Stan and I before the ceremony

The inside of the church

Alisa arriving for the ceremony

Alisa and her "Man of Honor" - younger brother, and best friend, Jason

Congratulations, Alisa and Kevin!

Gym-Dandy!

2008-04-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

I remember when Kelly started Preschool back in the fall of 1980, all parents

had to attend a number of educational classes about learning, parenting, etc. One thing we were told has always stuck in my mind. Mrs. Erne, one of the teachers, talked about how play was so important to kids. Not just fun, but through their fun they were actually learning. To quote her, "kid's play is their work." So today, when I went to Play-a-Lot with Reese and Ryan, and saw this sign, I had to take a picture!

Play-a-Lot is a kid's heaven. It is a large area inside "Pinheads," a new Bowling Alley/Game Arcade/Playarea very close to Kristy's house. Reese and Ryan were instantly drawn to the large MacDonald-like playground and spent their bulk of the time on that. Ryan went all the way up to the top level and went down the enclosed, twisty slide. Reese was too scared of the slide and said that maybe when she was 10 she would try it. Ryan has no fear and went down so many times we couldn't keep track!

Ryan - running from one thing to another!

Reese had a great time, too. She loved the climbing, but there were also other play areas - a corner with a kid's kitchen and play food, tables with games, and a small rock climbing wall. Reese and Ryan both tried that and guess who liked it best??? Ryan!

Reese - stopping just long enough for a quick picture!

Earlier in the day, I had gone with Grace and Clare to see Grace at her gym class. Kelly and Keith had enrolled her in a children's fitness facility called "My Gym." It is another toddler's heaven! There are so many different climbing gyms and two instructors who lead the kids in different songs and activities. Grace seems to love every minute, although she likes to "do her own thing." She definitely has a mind of her own! The most important thing is that she loves the gym and has a great time while she is there. I'm sure as she gets a little older she will start listening. Right now she wants to do what she wants to do!!! As Kelly said, it has to be her idea.

I know it is a little stressful for her Mom and Dad when she won't do what the instructors want her to do. I think it's great she has a mind of her own...then again, I don't have to live with her 24/7!!! We love you, Gracie Girl!

Grace on one of the climbing gyms with Mommy

One of Grace's favorite things was the ball pit! This was at the end of the class and I think she was getting a little tired by then!

Who could forget our darling Baby Clare? I think she enjoyed getting out, too.

It won't be long before she is running around and climbing and wanting to join her big sister on the play gyms!

I can't vouch for the grandkiddies, but Grandpa and I were certainly worn out after our day

with them at the gym!

The Sign Says it All....

2008-03-27T20:40:00.001-07:00

Yes, after nearly two years on the market, our "winter" home finally sold! We closed on the deal yesterday and turned the keys over to the new owners!

When we decided to move two years ago, we never dreamed it would take this long to sell! It is a lovely home in a great neighborhood. I guess it was waiting for just the right family. The new owners have two young children, so the house should be perfect for them. They were very excited about the house, so I hope they love it as much as we did!

2008-03-27T20:39:00.001-07:00

A Life Out of Balance!

2008-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

Reese

Ryan

Grace

My life has certainly been out of balance this month! You know it's crazy when I am too tired or don't have the time to even post comments to other people's blogs. Hopefully things will start to get back to some sort of manageability soon. I started today with cleaning out my closet. That always helps...getting organized again. So look for some more posts soon!

No Laughing Matter

2008-03-01T03:55:00.001-08:00

Our good friend, Patti, invited us and Gary and Dale, to attend a Fundraiser Event for the Wellness Community last evening at the Robert Irsay Party Pavillion. We were also joined by Patti's husband, Garry, and treated to yummy food catered by Bonefish Grill. There was a silent auction, a live auction, and raffles, but the main entertainment was a juggler/comedian/cancer-survivor, Scott Burton. He had the crowd practically in tears (from laughter) through his act. He is an amazing person and has a wonderful outlook on life. One of the amazing things he did was to balance a chair on his chin. While we all thought that was fantastic, he went one further by taking a long, cafeteria table, lifting it overhead, and balancing that on his chin! It was a great event - thanks, Patti and Garry, for inviting us!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

2008-02-20T20:07:00.001-08:00

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!

2008-02-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

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'

2008-02-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-14T05:43:00.001-08:00

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....

2008-02-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-02-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

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!

"Deer" Clare Bear

2008-01-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

The grandkids have been blessed with some lovely outfits from friends and family. Not long before Christmas, Kelly received a package from our friends, Don and Linda, for Baby Clare. It contained an adorable little velour outfit with the cutest black pants - complete with ruffled trim around the pant legs - a velour skirt in a coral/rusty tone - a onesie with a little deer on it in coordinating colors - and a precious little black velour beret.

Kelly had her dressed in the skirt, onesie, white tights, black Mary Jane shoes, and the beret for church. I proudly carried her up to Communion and I think nearly every eye in the church was looking at her as I carried her. She looked like a magazine ad! Thanks, Don and Linda, and all of our other friends and family, who keep my grandkids looking so spiffy!

The New Man in My Life...

2008-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, it has happened. After almost 33 yrs of marriage, I have fallen head-over-heels for a younger, handsome man. Even though he is a man of few words, we get along great. He never complains and will usually do what I tell him to do. He loves to give me hugs and just cuddle while watching TV. Even though he is young, he still enjoys an afternoon nap and is in bed early, giving me time to watch my favorite TV shows or be on the computer.

His disposition is almost always pleasant and he seems to have alot more energy than my husband. He may be short in stature, but he is tall in personality!

"So," you may ask, "who is this mystery man?" This is his most recent picture. I'm sure you will understand why I love him!

Grandson Ryan's 2 Year-old Picture

Play Date

2008-01-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

Terry, Kathy, Me, & Stan at the Rathskellar

Stan, Me, Debbie & Dan at Charleston's

Since the grandkids often have "Playdates" with their little friends, I thought we should have some, too! So, Saturday we decided to make a "Play Day" with friends and family.

We started the day off by picking up our friends, Kathy and Terry, who were in town for a few days so Terry could attend a Veterinarian conference. We picked them up at their hotel at noon and headed to the German restaurant, the Rathskellar. Talk about atmosphere! How often do you eat lunch surrounded by moose, elk, deer, and big horn sheep heads! After some tasty food, we took a little driving tour of downtown and then stopped at Buggs Temple. This is a relatively new place, located at the end of the downtown canal. It affords great views of the canal and of the Indianapolis skyline. The building was an old African-American Methodist Church, now renovated to house a casual eating place (The Grillhouse) and and upscale restaurant (The Tavern) on 2 of it's 3 floors.

Our next stop was Champs at Circle Center Mall, so we could watch the Purdue-Wisconsin game. (Purdue won!!!Yeah!) At half-time, we dropped Kathy and Terry back at their hotel with promises to do this again soon!

We then met friends at Charleston's Restaurant in Castleton - Dan and Debbie - for dinner. After a nice dinner, we all went to Carmel to watch our nephew, Gabe, play hockey. His team, New Haven, was in town for a couple of games over the weekend. Unfortunately his game didn't start until 9:15 pm! His team won and we enjoyed seeing him play. His parents - Jim and Sally - as well as his two sisters, Abby and Lyndsay, were there, too, along with Lyndsay's boyfriend, Steve.

We got home at 12:30 am and I spent all day Sunday re-cuperating! I woke up with a scratchy throat and voice, plus a headache and slight fever. Good thing we don't have "Play Days" every weekend!

Back in the Saddle Again!

2008-01-24T17:22:00.001-08:00

Reese: I'm so glad I could stay in my house today in
my cute new PJ's!

Ryan: Now Grandma, tell me why you keep

buying shirts for me that say things like "Trouble is

my middle name?" I'm only 2!

Finally bit the bullet, so to speak, and bought a new camera yesterday. I haven't had much time to play around with it, but I took it with me this morning when I was watching Reese and Ryan. I was awakened this morning by a phone call and a sweet little voice on the other end saying, "Grandma, can you come and watch me and my brother today? My Mommy and Daddy have to go to work and my Mommy wants to know if you can watch us?" Then Kristy got on the phone and explained that she had received a call at 5:30 am from her sitter, who said her kids were sick. So Kristy had to institute "Plan B." As every working mom knows, you have to have a Plan A, B, C, and even a D sometimes! Obviously, Miss Tonya is Plan A, I guess we are Plan B,Plan C is usually Kristy or Joel has to stay home and in a real pinch -although Kelly has her hands really full with her two kids right now - Kelly is probably Plan D (sorry, Kelly, did you know that??? Tee hee! So if Kristy asks, you know she is really deseperate!) Now girls, I don't want to start any fights here and honestly, Kristy has never said anything about her alternative strategies...so I guess this is all of my assuming (and we all know where that gets you....)

Anyway, Reese and Ryan were good this morning. Ryan was actually tired and crawled up on the sofa and slept for about 45 minutes! I did get to try out my new camera, too!

Yesterday, I took Grace with me and we ran errands. She was also very good for me, which I am sure her Mommy will be delighted to hear! Hopefully when it warms up a little, we will be able to do more!

36 Scrunched-Up Cups on the Floor.....

2008-01-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

Look at that sweet little face? How can she be guilty of the crime charged???

Kelly spent Saturday night with us as Keith was out of town. After church, I was checking my email, Kelly was busy was Clare, so that left Grace free to roam. I thought she was playing in the family room, but then I heard little footsteps coming down the hall from my bedroom. As she passed the office, I said, "Grace have you been in Grandma's bathroom?" She stopped, innocently looked at me and said, "Mess."

Well, that comment, coming from a 22-month old, was enough to make me go in and check. Sure enough, she had opened the cupboard under my sink and proceeded to rearrange things. She also found a box of Dixie Cups and took about 3 dozen of them out, crumpled them and put them back under the sink. Here is her finished work. I promise it wasn't that messy before!!!

It could have been worse! There was a big container of Baby Powder there. Had she dumped that, I am sure I would still be cleaning up!

Dressin' Up

2008-01-22T05:24:00.000-08:00

Reese in Holly's Halloween Costume

When my girls were younger, we had a big box of dress up clothes for them and their friends. Nothing fancy, just old clothes of mine and even some from Stan's grandma. At my mom's house, she had a big box of Halloween clothes that they used to get into when they were there. They always had so such fun, that I decided to get Reese and Grace some dress-up clothes. They now have a small collection of Disney Princess dresses, shoes, and accessories. Reese is particuliarly into bangle bracelets right now and both girls are taking after Grandma Linda with their love of purses. I know Great-Great Grandma Thomas would be proud!

Born to be Wild...

2008-01-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago Stan's cousins from Ft Wayne, Horse and Judy, and Judy's sister, Rita, and her husband, John, came for a visit. Judy and Rita's brother, Don, lives in Bristol, but he was in Indy for the weekend with his wife, Maureen, helping their daughter, Alisa, organize her house. Alisa is getting married to Kevin in April and has had several showers and lots of gifts to find places for, so they worked several days putting up new cupboards in her laundry room and re-organizing and sorting. Don and Maureen's youngest son, Jason, also lives here in Fishers with his wife, Laura.

The Fort Wayne group arrived at our house around 10:30 in the morning and dropped us off at 11:30 that night - then drove home! I don't know about them, but I was exhausted! Horse and Judy treated us to dinner at Loon Lake Lodge with the family. We really enjoyed seeing them...we love our cousins!!!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!!!

2008-01-17T00:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, as usual, I am a day late and dollar short. Yesterday was Ryan's 2nd Birthday!!! Yeah!!! He was so proud of being 2. I saw him on Tuesday afternoon at Kelly's and the first thing he said when he saw me was "two, two." His official party is Sunday, when Grandma Marsha and Grandpa Doug as well as other family members from Fort Wayne, can celebrate with us. We did go out to dinner tonight - minus Holly, who had to tutor - with the entire family. Ryan seemed to enjoy his day!

I know I am bad with these late greetings. I guess I should have learned when my nieces and nephews were little. I was forever late with Deb's kids with cards. Three of the four birthdays were in April (often around Easter) and one in mid-May and the other at the end of May. It was always such a busy time for me due to graduations, weddings, our anniversary, Mother's Day, spring-happenings, etc. I can't remember whose birthday it was, but when she told one of her kids they had received a card from me, they said, without opening it, "yeah, and it says, 'sorry, I'm late...hope you had a Happy Birthday!" At that point I knew I needed to either get better about sending the cards earlier or at the very least, get more creative with the notes I wrote inside!

English Lesson

2008-01-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, kiddies, I can't believe you don't know the Casey poem! It was written in 1888for the San Francisco Examiner and was a fictional account of a baseball team from a fictional town, Mudville. The team was in a big game and it was down to the wire when their heavy-hitter, "Casey," came up to bat. With all their hopes of a victory at stake, everyone was waiting with baited-breath with each swing of his bat. Of course, he struck out, and the hope of winning went down the tubes... Since it is too long to reprint in full, I will just give you the most well-known part at the end:

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

Now you know.....

...for there's no joy in Mudville....

2008-01-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

Grace, last year, cheering for our Colts! What a sweetie!

Reese and Ryan cheer the Colts to a Super Bowl win last year!

As the old poem about Casey at the bat says: "for there's no joy in Mudville, for mighty Casey has struck-out." Well, that is the way our family feels tonight as our Colts lost in their play-off game against San Diego today. Stan and Kelly were at the game, Keith was on Reserve Training, but the rest of us gathered at our house to watch the nail-biter of a game. Guess it just wasn't in the cards this year. Since our team is out, we will have to resort to other activities on Sunday afternoons, like taking a nice nap. That sounds good to me! For my husband, I am sure he will begin counting the weeks until spring training starts. Go Cards!

Baby Face

2008-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

I had been looking for this picture, because I remembered we had this family photo taken in September of 1977. Kelly was 21 months old, and now Grace, at Christmas, was 21 months. I wanted to see the pictures together to compare. At the time, we were still living just north of Fort Wayne and Stan was either just getting ready to go - or had just returned - from a 3 week UPS class in Iowa. I remember that was a long 3 weeks, as he couldn't come home the entire time and long distance was so expensive that I don't think we could talk every day. It's hard to believe that was over 30 years ago now and Stan was at the beginning of his UPS career. Anyway, look and see if you notice any similarities between Kelly and Grace!

New Year, New Purse...

2008-01-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

I decided to change my background and title for my blog. I really can't take the credit for the title, as I saw a book by that name and thought "that is so me!" I love purses and must admit to a bit of an addiction for them. They don't have to be designer bags - in fact, I don't own a real Coach - but I just like different ones. Although I have many colors and patterns, it seems like I always fall back on my old standbys- the basic black bag. I treated myself to a new purse right after Christmas. It is a big, black bag that holds everything! I love it! I must also confess to being a bit of a costume jewelry lover (from my Mom and Grandma Thomas) and shoes, although I don't own as many pairs as I once did.

I am happy to pass this on to my Granddaughters, Grace and Reese. Grace loves shoes (she owns enough pairs to start her own shoestore, I think) and purses. Reese likes bracelets and purses, too.

Grandpa is passing down his affinity for hats to Ryan. He gave Ryan a Cardinals Hat for Christmas and Ryan proudly wears it!

Enchanting....

2007-12-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

Several years ago our family started going to a movie on Christmas Day. Last year I was sick, so we didn't go, and this year, Stan didn't feel well, so he stayed home. Holly and I decided to go anyway, and choose the movie "Enchanted." For anyone who grew up with the princess movies, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc, this is a movie that should not be missed!!! It is an "enchanting" film about a fairy-tale princess sent to earth by an evil stepmom. The princess, Giselle, lands in the middle of New York City - Times Square - and finds the real world much different than "Andalasia" where she lived. It is cute, funny, and McDreamy is in it, too! We loved it!

Technically Challenged Christmas.....

2007-12-26T05:46:00.000-08:00

We had a special visit from jolly ole' St Nick at our house on Christmas Eve. Since the under 2 year-old set is scared of Santa, Reese was the only one who would sit on the big man in red's lap. Good ole' Santa, he left a gift for Grace and Ryan, too, then left to finish packing his sleigh for his big trip that night.

Now to the title of this post, I lost - or hopefully just misplaced - my digital camera in the middle of gift opening. So, I didn't get pictures of the kids as I had hoped. The pictures here are ones Kristy sent me, so I hope she doesn't mind. Then, when I tried to post them here they wouldn't post in the same sizes. I think Kristy must of did something so that Reese's picture as well as their family picture would be bigger. I could not get the others any larger, so I don't know what was going on with them. I give up!!!

Our Dynamic Duo...

2007-12-22T04:21:00.000-08:00

Hey, Ryan, wait until I find the music.....

Okay, Ryan, here is the song I want to play, "Amazing Grace."

I always thought it would be fun to have twins, and they do run in Stan's family. One of his great-grandfathers was a twin, his sister, Susie, has twins, and he has twin cousins. Even though we don't have twins in the immediate family, we do have a dynamic duo - aka Grace and Ryan. Ryan will be 2 on January 16 and exactly 8 weeks later, to the day, Grace will also turn 2. Since they are together often, they get along well. When they first started walking, they were in to everything! What one didn't think of, the other did! Together they were a little de-construction crew. ( Sorry, Kelly and Kristy!)

I am now happy to report that they have outgrown this phase and enjoy such things as playing "Elmo" on the computer, the piano, and playing with toys instead of pulling everything out of drawers and cabinets. Funny thing, we have a basement set up like a pre-school, with a Little Tykes workbench for Ryan, a house for the girls complete with washer, dryer, table, chairs, high chair, baby cradle, and many other numerous toys to mention. The grandkids even have their own bedroom, filled with Fisher Price toys. However, their favorite thing to do is to get in one cupboard in my kitchen and get out a basket where I keep all of their sippy cups. They dump them all over the floor and try to put the lids on the cups and them carry them around. I don't know why this is so much fun for them, but it entertains them, so who am I to stop them??? We are looking forward to Christmas Eve. Maybe I should have bought a couple of extra sippy cups to play with instead of more toys....

At Marsh, We Value You!!!

2007-12-22T04:02:00.001-08:00

Years ago, when the girls were in grade school at St Lawrence, Marsh (the supermarket chain) had a big advertising campaign and their slogan was, "At Marsh, we value you!" Our youngest daughter, Holly, now works in their corporate office. Since she works in the Legal Department, she is on the same floor as the CEO. One of the perks of working for Marsh is they often have little goodies for the workers. Holly has gotten free tickets to suites at Conseco for games, Symphony on the Prairie, Home-a-Rama, and many other Marsh-sponsored events. She also brings home food samples and flowers. Last night, she brought home at least 2 dozen long-stemmed yellow roses. Apparently the CEO had bought a bunch of flowers for his wife and gave the extra ones to the ladies who worked on his floor. Holly and I arranged them in a vase and this morning, they had opened nicely and are absolutely beautiful!!! Wow, I could get used to this.....

Little Debbie...

2007-12-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today is my "little sister's" birthday. I always called her Debbie, as it seemed to fit. She is 10 years younger than me, and very petite, so when I was growing up, she was always little to me. When I went away to Purdue, Debbie was only entering 2nd grade! Anyway, about 10 years ago, she told me I was the only one who called her "Debbie" anymore. To everyone else, she is simply "Deb."

I was looking at some old pictures tonight, when I saw this one of us together, taken in 1999 as I recall. She had the lead part in her community theatre's production of "The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever," playing the role of Grace Bradley. Grace, is a mom who, at the last minute, had to fill in for the regular director of the town's annual Christmas pageant, who had broken her leg.

I know some of Deb's kids - if not all - were also involved, along with their 3-legged dog, Chopper. My family went to see the play and afterwards, we proudly stood in line to congratulate the cast in a fine performance. I think this was Deb's drama debut, but she has since gone on to sing at her church in a small group and plays the piano sometimes for the worship service. Add to that, teaching 3rd grade, raising 4 children - who are all in college!- helping her husband with their business, serving on various school, community, and church committees and coaching Destination Imagination, plus too many other things I can't think of right now....her life is anything but "simple!"

Happy Birthday, sis! Although you are definitely a "Deb," to me you will always be "My Little Debbie."

Watch Out World!!!

2007-12-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

Ryan, with Grace in background

It's been interesting observing the development and behavior of a boy after raising 3 daughters and having a granddaughter first. Ryan - who will be 2 yrs old in one month - has been a little different from the girls. Not in a bad way, mind you, just a little different from the girls. Here is what I am noticing:

1) Ryan runs into the room at full throttle, flings himself onto the chair while you hold your breath thinking he will hurt himself in the process

2) If he gets a shot, ten seconds later, he is all smiles, whereas his sister carries on for---how long???---lets just call her "Miss Drama Queen." She can't walk, it hurts so bad, etc., etc., etc.

3) He is really into trains and is a natural thrower and kicker!

While his parents noticed a month or so ago that he is talking more, we have been seeing this, too. We laughed a couple of months ago when Ryan would make the sign for "cracker" and mutter something which sounded totally unrelated to cracker when he wanted a snack. Then there is little Grace, 2 months younger, who would say, "I would like a cracker too, please, grandma,"

It is fun to watch them all go at their own speed and enjoy the special qualities of each. Now that Ryan is talking more, look out world!

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

2007-12-12T04:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know how I can possibly have a daughter who is 32 years old! It seems like only yesterday - or maybe the day before - that I was in my 30's. When you have little ones, some days seem to go on and on...especially when they are sick or worse yet, when mommy is sick! However, when you look back, it seems like that period of life has gone by way too fast. I guess that is why you savor each moment with the grandkids...it is a way of also getting back your lost youth, too.

I posted this picture of you and me, taken in July 1978, just a couple of days before Kristy was born. We had taken you to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, so if you look closely, you can see animals in the background.

Kelly, you are a wonderful daughter and an outstanding mother to your own two little girls. Enjoy each day with your girls...even when Gracie colors on your sofa, or gets into your makeup... I hope you have a very, Happy Birthday!!!

The Cabbage Patch Kids

2007-12-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

Back in 1984, there was a line of dolls called "Cabbage Patch Kids." They were very popular gifts for Christmas that year and I had relatives scouring the state for them...or should I say, "Santa had relatives scouring the North Pole for them?" Anyway, along with their dolls, the girls each received a Cabbage Patch ornament when "Santa," aka Ralph Bretz, a neighbor, made a visit to our house. This is a picture of my dolls holding their ornaments, which they still put on their trees today!

The Schenher Homestead

2007-12-05T19:41:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but it has been 32 years since Stan and I celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple. At the time, we lived at Ege (pronounced Egg-EE) at the Schenher homestead. This is where Grandma Schenher raised 12 children after Grandpa Schenher died, leaving her with 5 boys and 7 girls. I am not sure what ages they were, but the youngest, Stan's dad, was only 18 months. The older ones worked and helped out on the farm. It couldn't have been easy, but it built a closeness in their family that was next to none. When we married, we moved into the farmhouse, recently vacated by the death of an uncle, and lived there a little over 7 months. Kelly was born while we lived there (December 12) and this is the house she came home to. It hasn't changed much on the outside (other than the shrubs - which need to be cut back or removed!) and when Stan's nephews - Pierce and Taylor - from CA visited in 2006, we took them to Ege and showed them where their grandfather grew up. It is funny, how things have changed...the young couple who bought the farm in 1976 added on to it when they had 2 children. We live so differently these days! Sometimes I think it would be good to go back to a simpler time...

Making Memories...

2007-12-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Today Reese and I went downtown to the Conseco Fieldhouse to see Walt Disney's "High School Musical on Ice." We have both been looking forward to going and I am sure for Reese, it seemed like today would never come! She was a little lady - very well-behaved - and we had a wonderful time. The production was excellent and Reese enjoyed every moment! When it was over, she wanted more! Taking from Kelly's post a couple of weeks ago:

Cost of 2 tickets: $50
Souvenoir Photo: $16
Ice Cream for 2: $ 6

Time spent making memories with my granddaughter: priceless

Girl's Night Out!!!

2007-11-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

For Christmas last year, Keith and Joel gave Kristy and Kelly a gift card to Fionn McCool's in Fishers. This was to be used for a "girl's night out," a break from the usual routine with the kiddies at night. Lucky for us, they invited Holly and I to go with them tonight. We had a very nice dinner, without the usual interuptions when we are all together! All of us actually were able to eat our meal while still hot and no one had to get up from the table to take Reese to the potty. It is wonderful to have 3 loving and thoughtful daughters and to enjoy being together. I hope we continue this and evenutally, include the granddaughters when they are older, too! Sorry, Ryan, you will have to have a "boy's night" with Grandpa Stan, daddy and Uncle Keith!

Make New Friends, but Keep the Old....

2007-11-28T11:38:00.001-08:00

The Girl Scouts have it right: "Make new friends, but keep the old; some are silver and others gold." Today I met a "golden friend," Kathy. We go back over 38 yrs to our freshman days at Purdue. Kathy was from the Lafayette area and I was from a small town in northeastern Indiana. While Kathy "grew up" with Purdue, I had only been there once for a few hours, before being dropped off by my parents. I was terribly homesick for weeks. Kathy lived in the room beside me and it wasn't long before I discovered we had some of the same interests - TV - and we both liked vanilla ice cream with broken saltine crackers on top! I knew I had met a soulmate !

We were eventually roommates our Jr and part of our Senior years, and have remained friends throughout the years. Even though Kathy stayed in Lafayette, and there were years we didn't talk or see much of each other, we always picked up where we left off when we saw one another.

While I was busy with 3 daughters, Kathy had a very successful teaching career. Our lives merged again 7 or 8 years ago when she began dating a high school friend, Terry, who had lost his first wife to cancer. They are now happily married and living about an hour away from Indy.

Terry is a wonderful man and I am thrilled that they are together. This golden friend surely deserves it! (Now, I wonder if Terry likes vanilla ice cream with saltines???)

"The Bachelor"

2007-11-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

I don't know exactly when it happened, I think it was at the end of the season of "The Bachelorette" when Trista choose Ryan. It was at that moment when I became a hopeless reality love show junkie! I was hooked on "For Love or Money," which reminded me of a saying one of my childhood friend's brother told her, "marry for money, love will come later..." as well as "Marry my Dad," or something to that effect, where the children selected a woman to marry their dad, as well as "The Bachelor," and "The Bachelorette." I was there when Andrew Firestone choose Jen, and followed their relationship until their breakup and her subsequent much-touted appearance as "The Bachelorette." Here she had a hand in personally selecting her 25 eligible bachelors, and at the end, didn't choose any of them. Then there was the dashing Vanderbilt Doctor who choose the adorable little teacher, but by the time the last rose was given out, they were already a thing of the past. Of course who could forget the dashing Naval Officer and Gentleman, Andy Baldwin, and his pick, Tessa. Again, a thing of the past.

I thought this season's bachelor, Brad Womack, would be different. He was there to find the love of his life and I thought for sure he had found his soulmate - if even for a few weeks - in Deanna. Alas, it was not meant to be as he picked neither one - Deanna or Jenni - at the final rose ceremony.

Okay... what is up with this??? Could they not just pretend - for the sake of romance - at least until the credits on the final show are over? I mean, this is the modern real-life version of Cinderella. Girl meets her prince, falls in love, and lives happily ever after - or, in this case, until the final rose ceremony.

The Creation of a Fashion Diva

2007-11-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

Many kids have favorite clothes they like for one reason or another. Grace is taking that one step further...the other day, I stopped at Keith and Kelly's to drop off a Christmas outfit I had bought for Grace. She was finishing her lunch in her high chair and as I pulled the outfit out of the bag to show Kelly, we heard Grace say, "that's cute! That's cute!" I couldn't believe she was giving a fashion review at 19 months of age. Look out Kelly and Keith...I think you have a baby fashionista on your hands! Here is a picture of Grace, taken today after Clare's Baptism. Of course she is fashionably dressed in an aqua blue velvelteen dress with brown dots and brown trim, white tights, and the perfect little brown ballet flats! Little Clare was cute in her Baptismal Gown - made by her daddy's grandmother for his Baptism 32 years ago. After the ceremony, we had a lovely luncheon at Keith and Kelly's.

A Somewhat Photogenic Family....

2007-11-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Every year we try to get a family picture taken. Usually we go to Target and crowd in their tiny studio for a few minutes of agony. The pictures are okay, but the girls and I have often talked about having some outdoor pictures taken. Of course my family knows we have a lot of "Schenher Talk" = which means we talk about a lot of things and most fail to happen for one reason or another. Anyway, several weeks ago, Kelly mentioned she had found the name of a photographer and had checked out her website. I promised to give her a call and then...you know how it goes...you get busy and forget. The only weekend we could possibly do it was this weekend and calling last Saturday, at the last minute, I wasn't sure if we would find anyone available. Luckily, our photographer had a client cancel that morning, leaving her free most of the day on Saturday. It was a cool, but sunny, day and all 11 of us posed for various pictures. It is so hard to get 7 adults looking the same direction, with their eyes open, etc....yet alone 4 kids age 3 and under! We ended up with some wonderful pictures, taken in our back yard. By the end of our session, Reese was really working the camera! At 3 1/2, she was old enough to follow the photographer's instructions. Next time she might have competition from Grace and Ryan, since they'll be older....

...Then it's Back to the Real World!

2007-11-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

Not too long after we returned home from Nashville on Tuesday, grandson Ryan had an allergic reaction to something Kristy was cooking. He has severe food allergies and began having labored breathing. Unfortunately, daddy Joel was in Arizona, so Aunt Holly watched Reese while Kristy ran Ryan to the ER. By the time she arrived, he was sleeping and his breathing was better, so after debating a while, she decided to go back home. I was at their house shortly thereafter and helped get the kiddies ready for bed. I don't know what Kelly and Kristy would do without Aunt Howwa! She always seems to be there to help when needed! Thanks, Holly!

The good news is that Ryan was okay and that Kristy did the right thing by taking him to the ER. Even though she didn't have to take him in, she would have been seconds away from getting medical attention if he had needed it. Kristy - if you think about moving, you might consider moving closer to an ER!

The saga continued the next day with Kelly being really ill with a virus. Thankfully Keith stayed home to help with the kiddies. The day after, both Grace and Clare had fevers and again, Keith was able to come home early and help Kelly take them to the doctor. I had mommy guilt (see, girls, it never goes away) by not going over to help, but we had things going on both days and also, the last time I tried to help, I got sick, too! Anyway, after a day, Kelly was starting to feel better. All just had a virus, and today (Friday) they all seem to be doing better. We have a big weekend - tomorrow we have family pictures taken and then Sunday is Clare's Baptism. We can't afford to be sick!

Getting Away from it All

2007-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Monday, Stan and I went to Twin Oaks Lodge in Nashville, IN, for an overnight stay. This was a gift for our Wedding Anniversary (back in May) from our kids, so we decided we had better take them up on it! We really enjoyed our drive down - it was a nice, but windy, day and there were still some trees with color. The lodge is out in the country and was very nice. It is a log cabin and was built especially for the B & B. There were 3 other couples staying at the inn Monday night. One couple was from Toledo, OH, and another from Lexington, KY. We never heard where the other couple came from. If you want to "get away" from it all, I would suggest you give it a try! The setting was nice and there was a nice gathering room with a wonderful fireplace where we visited with the Ohio and Ky people. No TV's - but since we had such a nice time talking to the other guests, we never missed it! Of course, my DVR was set to record "The Bachelor" so I could see who was received roses! Thanks, girls, Keith,and Joel for giving us such a lovely gift!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

2007-11-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, my three daughters and grandbaby, Clare, headed to the outlet mall in Edinburgh. Grandpa Stan wins Grandpa of the year for watching Grace from the time we left until her daddy, Keith, got home (about an hour.) Then 3 hours later, Grandpa went to the babysitter, picked up Reese & Ryan, and took them back to Grace's house. Grandpa then watched all 3 little ones for almost 2 hours until we got home! Yeah, Grandpa!!! What a brave guy! (Daddies Keith and Joel are engaged in a competition this weekend - the DeCastleton.) Anyway, it was a lovely day to shop and I think all of us - especially Grandpa - are tired tonight!

Happy Halloween/Birthday

2007-11-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, my birthday is on Halloween and as a kid, it was a magical day for a birthday. A big party every year!!! Once I became a mom, the emphasis was on the kids having a good time. Of course, I manged to sneak a little fun in there, too. Especially when my good friend and neighbor, Dale, brought me a water bottle filled with a special "witches brew" and we would walk around the neighborhood taking our kids Trick-or-Treating. Talk about deseperate housewives!!! We were ahead of our time! Anyway, now the focus is on the grandkiddies-Reese, Ryan, Grace, and baby Clare...

Reesie Cup

2007-10-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Our oldest granddaughter, Reese, (Kristy and Joel's daughter) is into "High School Musical" right now. Even though she is only 3 1/2, I think it was more of a self-preservation move by her mother that prompted her fasination. Every time they were in the car, they were listening to Dora, Elmo, and other kid's songs. Kristy had finally had enough and bought the 'High School Musical" CD to have other musical options. Well, Reese decided to be a cheerleader from the movie "High School Musical" for Halloween. Rah, Rah, Reese!

My Punkins'

2007-10-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

Little Grace is so cute! She is so verbal for her age (probably if you ask her mommy, she might say "too verbal sometimes!") Everytime she sees a pumpkin, she points them out and says "punkin." For Halloween, Grace and her little sister, Clare (who was born August 8th) are my little punkins!

My Buddy

2007-10-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

After having three lovely daughters, several female cats, and then blessed with a granddaughter, Reese, in 2004, we had a grandson. Ryan Jacob was born on January 16, 2006. He is such a sweetie and all-boy! So different than the girls - rough and tumble - loves to kick and throw and is naturally attracted to dirt, rocks, etc. Even though his name is Ryan, Grandpa and I affectionally call him "Buddy." Love ya, Buddy Boy!

Bubbles Galore!

2007-10-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

The grandkids had fun with bubbles this past weekend. Funny how you can spend so much on some toys, only to find that the tried and true things are still favorites!

Swing, swing, swing...

2007-10-31T16:58:00.000-07:00

All kids seem to enjoy swinging and my 19 month old granddaughter, Grace, is no exception! Here is Gracie in her backyard, loving her swing. It looks like she could be getting a little sleepy, too!

A Bloggin' Grandma!

2007-10-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Since I have enjoyed Kelly's blog so much, I decided to create one for myself. I am sure mine won't be as entertaining as hers, but I thought it would be fun to post pictures and events to keep friends and family updated as to what we are up to here in Fishers!