Archive for the ‘Family - All’ Category

January 1, 2010 – Looking Back on 2009

Seems like everyone puts together some kind of year-in-review (and some decades in review this year). I’m not ambitious enough to sort through the last decade, but I will take a shot at the year in review. So without much further ado – the things we’ll remember most about 2009 in no particular ...Read more.

July 18, 2009 – Final Day of Vacation

Today it’s back in the car for another 10 hour ride back home.

This year’s parting shot is a group shot in the rain – after all we got about 5 year’s worth of rain this week so the next few years should be great!
one year ago…”Visitors from the East”

July 12, 2008 – Rainy End to Vacation

The last few days of the trip were more rain than sun.

The high the last full day was supposed to be 80 degrees, but it struggled to reach 60.

A little rain doesn’t stop the kids from going outside – otherwise it’s time to snuggle up to a board game or deck of cards and be ...Read more.

June 28, 2008 – Des Moines Art Festival

Since Aunti Julie was here this weekend, we went to the Des Moines Art Fair.

Here Martin is amazed by a contraption that moves balls around a series of loops, falls, twists and turns.

You might recognize this guy from the July 21st Wind Turbine Dedication – one week at high hopes gardens, the next at the ...Read more.

January 5, 2008 – Rain in the Desert

The unseasonal weather held off until our last day.  Rain. I was tempted to stay in the house and read or just be lazy, but I ended up walking over to Cathedral Rock to see if the rain brought another mood to the landscape.

Here’s a wet prickly pear cactus with drops of water – a ...Read more.

January 4, 2008 – Hanging Around Sedona

After a bit of driving the last few days, today we stuck to Sedona to look around.  Our first stop was Red Rock Crossing, which was just around Cathedral Rock from our house, but about a 20 minute drive by car because there just aren’t that many roads, and only one crosses Oak Creek Canyon ...Read more.

July 15, 2007 – Saying Good-bye to Kawishiwi

The last morning we leave early and stop about an hour down the road at the Tower Cafe for breakfast.

Notice Claire’s sense of humor on the shirt she and Emma bought together. Written in upside down letters, “If you can read this, pull me back into the canoe!”
one year ago…

July 8, 2007 – Road Trip!

Yesterday, we endured the 11 hour trip from the farm to the northwoods of Minnesota.

Here are the kids the night before with the van all packed up and ready to roll.  Now, the parents get satellite radio and the kids get a portable DVD player to make the long journey much shorter than it used to ...Read more.

June 16, 2007 – All Dressed Up (Kind of)

Today we had the pleasure to attend the wedding of one of the faithful blog readers.  Congratulations to both of you!  It was an outdoor wedding overlooking a lake, so it was a nice setting.  Special commendation to the groom for enduring the 90 degree day in the black tux!  I’ve often heard the advice ...Read more.

April 14, 2007 – Finally a Day!

Today, we finally had a day that wasn’t cold or snowy! We were able to get a few things done outside. GJ dressed up a crowd to do some bee work.  She brought her stepson from CA and a friend visiting from Fiji.

Here is the crew and, of course, the youngest one gets to hold ...Read more.

January 27, 2007 – New Pancake Cutting Technology!

Saturday morning is pancake morning, pretty much year round. This morning was buckwheat pancakes. Martin still has a hard time cutting the cakes, so this morning we gave him a pizza cutter and he loved it and it worked great!

one year ago…

January 22, 2007 – Skiing at Last

The recent snow lets the kids get out their winter toys and number 1 on the list are the cross-country skis. There’s lots of country to cross out here.
 
The girls even found a pair of their old skis for Martin to use.  Emma got new skis for Christmas 2005 and this is the first time ...Read more.

January 21, 2007 – Snow At Last

We finally have a blanket of white after a winter of brown. The last week we’ve had two snowfalls. Just enough to warrant trying out the tractor with the blade for clearing snow.

It sure beats shoveling! I’ve still got some learning to do with the equipment, but right now it is a novel activity. This ...Read more.

January 20, 2006 – 90th Birthday Bash!

Today we celebrated our 90th birthday!  I recently turned 45 and Linda turned 45 a while back, so we added them together, threw in a seven piece live band, cooked a turkey and invited guests to bring a dish to share.

To our surprise, everyone on the guest list was able to come. The band is the ...Read more.