Fun at Flora

While waiting for Mama Jo to get her hair done, I took the kids to the local park. It's a great park for the size of the town and one my kids loved to visit when staying with their grandparents. The next generation has fallen in love with the same park. Here are a few of the pictures of Sparkle and Junior. Brings back memories, huh?

Uncle Deke Does it Again

Good-bye, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu to You

They left this morning. Sad day for me. We were so privileged to have them here for these weeks and for getting to know C-Bear. Deke has always hated giving up his most favorite job in the whole world-raising his children, and these past few weeks gave him that old feeling of being needed and loved by someone who is totally dependent. Awesome responsibility.

Anyway, they are off again and will be at their next assignment sometime this next week. Deke left in the early morning hours for Iowa to take his PPG motor to the guy who sold it to him to fine-tune something that is not working correctly, so he missed their good-byes. However, we'll be in NC soon as our 7th grandchild should be making her appearance in another couple of weeks in the Varnell household, while Lori and Mark's little boy will be #8 and due the middle of September. The Lord has indeed blessed us with wonderful children and grandchildren.

That's what's called "packed to the gills"




Getting buckled in




Bye Nana




Nana trying to take a picture through her tears

Runnin' Around

For the past few days, we've just been running around doing fun things. We visited Mama Jo at the assisted living apartment, saw all the animals at the local county fair and swam in the Lafayette water park. Mark, Lori and Claire will be with us for a couple of more days so we've been trying to get everything done that we planned on doing. Mark is loving being with his family again and things like vegging at the water park are icing on the cake.

Going Home

Guess what. Nana just told me my mom and dad are coming to get me.




Oh, well. Might as well sit down and have a snack while I'm waiting.




Got to get in a Jeep ride with Nana




One final tour with G-Pa and Nana




Enough of that; I've got my own ride!




Whoa!




They just told me I have to leave Nana and G-Pa




Do I really have to go?

Oh, well. They're mean and cruel and horrible, but I'll be back, Nana and G-Pa. I promise.

PS That next to the last scene was actually a melt-down just as the happily reunited family was packing up to leave. I imagine she was asleep five minutes after pulling out of the driveway. But they are coming back for another few days just as soon as her Daddy gets out-processed from his old job. We miss you already C-Bear...

Ahhh Summer

Can it get any better than this?




Yep!

Oh, yes!

PS Yes, I do have on a swim diaper
PPS Yes, that's Nana's murky well water but I don't care- it feels great!

The Fourth of July

To celebrate our Independence Day, we went to Max and Dianne's house. Since C-Bear had a red, white and blue dress hanging in the closet, I thought I'd dress her to commemorate the occasion. We had a wonderful time eating traditional fare and being together with family. Lori isn't with us because she flew to be with Mark for a few days. They are loving being together!

All dressed up and ready to go














With Auntie Dianne




Grandma Mary




Dianne's mom, Ann




Uncle Max




Posing in our celebratory garb

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Many of you have asked, "What about the landing?"

One thing for sure, for every takeoff there is a landing -- for sure! It is a question of when, not if. So when I finally got my nerve up, I brought it around for a try.

Here's the procedure: At about 100', you put the landing gear down (get out of the seat). Then at about 50' you kill the engine (at least beginners do) -- there's no going back! At about 3-5', you kill the forward energy by pulling the brakes. This literally bends the curve of the wing downward which simultaneously breaks the descent and dramatically slows forward speed. See, nothing to it!

P.S. Beginners don't always make good landings.

P.S.S. Don't ask me how I know this.

A Real Happy Birthday

The days are going so fast I can hardly bear it. Already Lori and C-Bear have been here a week and it just seems like a day. Yesterday was a grand day but one that C-Bear won't remember even though it was her second birthday. The weather was perfect so we decided to take in Columbian Park. We first visited the zoo, which is very nice and super kid-friendly. On our way to the pool, we passed the train but it was just sitting there waiting for enough people to show up to make a trip around the park worthwhile. The pool was wonderful because we were one of the early birds and we definitely got our worm! We found some lounge chairs and staked out our territory right away then hit the zero-entry baby pool. C-Bear was ecstatic! What a pool. It's perfect for little ones and our little one was in heaven. She ran around and splashed and went down the kiddie slide and stepped off a little ledge, and stepped back up the ledge, then stepped off the ledge again and... Well, she loved it! The one thing she didn't especially like was "The Lazy River." She didn't like the life jacket. Bawled and balked the whole trip around so that adventure was short-lived. We went back to the slide and ledge-walking.

We left the pool a little after noon when it got so crowded that the lazy river was in log-jam and the only room for lounging was on the hillsides on blankets or towels. C-Bear fell asleep in her carseat even before we got out of the park area.

That night, after dinner, she opened her gifts and ate her Dairy Queen ice cream cake. It was a big celebration for a 2-year old, but alas, one that she won't remember. However, her mom and grandparents will keep the memory fresh so that when she hears about it for years and years, she'll wonder if she really does remember her second birthday.

At the zoo







Now, what's this do again?







I wish I could get in there



Whee!



ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ



Hey, this card sings!



This book was made especially for C-Bear from her Daddy. He recorded his voice and ad libbed the words to fit a 2-year old situation. It was a real tear-jerker.
"I miss you too, Daddy"



Mommy misses Daddy too



You want me to eat that whole thing?

Hey, this is pretty good!