Graduation Day

 A week ago our youngest son graduated from seminary with his Masters in Divinity.  What an accomplishment!

 It was a three year program and three years ago it seemed like graduation was a long way off - but the day arrived in swift fashion, it seems!

 Here he is receiving his "hood" to signify his degree.  Next stop is a Ph.D.  I wonder how many blog posts will happen before that day?

 We were priviledged to host a reception at our home for Daniel and his wife and children.

 It was perfect evening for company too!

 The weather was perfect for sitting outside enjoying our rare beautiful weather.

 The evening ended with a quiet fire, taking the chill off the air.

Our boy.

Canal Park Mini Vacation

 It's time for me to catch up here on my blog!  I have been remiss about posting here and I don't want to have a blog that just "sits" there.   So I am going to back track a bit and post about a little "mini-vacation" we took last month to one of our favorite spots - Canal Park in Duluth, Minnesota.  We go here often, it's only a 4 hour drive from our home, and we find it so relaxing.  We always stay in a motel right down in the Canal Park area close to the aerial lift bridge, trendy shops and good restaurants. 

 Our room had a great view of the magnificent, large Lake Superior.

 On our second night there we had company!  Our son John and his family joined us; we had booked a nice two room suite, and it was perfect.  Grandpa and grandson enjoyed some reading time.

Here is our youngest grandchild with his momma.

Not far from Duluth, going up the "north shore" are so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.  One popular spot is Gooseberry Falls State Park.  We recommend it!

 Of course, eating is always a big part of vacationing.  Our favorite spot is the Lake Avenue Cafe.  Wow, the chef there is amazing! Everything is unique and most delicious.

 In front of our hotel is the lake, as I already mentioned.  What could be more fun then throwing rocks into the lake?  Here is grandpa and Tobias doing just that. 

When I got home I pulled out a photo album from 1985 when we first started to visit this area and I found this picture of Wally and sons throwing rocks into Lake Superior in the same spot.  I loved the fact that Wally was enjoying his sons in 1985 and the next generation in 2012. 

It's just a cookie

 Last weekend I taught a little class on decorating cookies.  Since I had extra cookies and icing ready for decorating, I thought some grandchildren would enjoy decorating some cookies any way they wanted.

 It was fun to see them all get into it - and fun to let them do it their own way.

 I love the fact that this sweet granddaughter is so adept at this.

 She is very creative and made lots of different designs.

One of her brothers had his own idea on how to squeeze icing onto his cookie.

As I told the class I was teaching "remember - it's JUST a cookie" - don't fret about it being perfect.

Yup.  It's just a cookie. 

Thud Thud Thud

For hours today this aggressive robin continued to fly into our living room windows as he was determined to protect HIS territory from the "robin" he saw in the reflection of said windows. Thud.


No matter how many times I tried to scare him, going outside also, in an effort to send him elsewhere, thus preserving his little head... it was to no avail. Back he would come .. slamming into the window again and again. Thud.

I felt like we were hosting the "stupid robin convention."

Thud

Thud

Thud

Sweet saturday evening

The weather was calm and the temperature was perfect.

The evening was just calling for a cookout and a campfire.
There is nothing better then sharing the warmth of a fire.. and the warmth of family...

Someone loves to swing!

While someone loves the magic of fire..

And someone loves to watch.

He doesn't miss a thing these day...

Oh, the cuteness..

Seriously, isn't this just super cute? This is our second to youngest grandchild (number 11, if you are counting) - and he was looking quite dapper today for Easter Sunday! I just had to share it!

Happy Easter!

He is Risen! He is risen, indeed!

Birthdays x3

Three of our wonderful grandchildren celebrated their birthdays - the three of them have their birthdays within 10 days of each other. When they visited recently, we enjoyed celebrating all three birthdays at once! Efficient! Happy Birthdays!

the 12 of '12

Finally - our first time together with all 12 sweet grandchildren.

Fun times ahead.

Welcome spring!

Welcome spring! Winter is past (we hope...) and spring temperatures have arrived much earlier then in the past. Everyone seems to have a smile on their face these days. I had to add some color on my blog today - these pictures are not current, but from last year. I look forward to seeing more bright colors in our world now that spring has arrived!
This picture is a reminder of the colors soon to be part of our everyday world! This is just a treat for the eye and refreshment for the soul when I walk into our local garden center! I can't wait to go there again in a few short weeks....!!

The River Room

You may have noticed or heard us refer to our "river room" - it is our made-up name for the all-season porch that hubby built onto the back of our home a few years ago. We just didn't know what we wanted to call that new room and because this is our view from the large windows...
we decided to refer to it as the "river room." (The river that flows past our property, however, is really only visable to us during the months that the trees have no leaves. Once the leaves are full and lush, we feel more like we are in a tree house.) Notice the cute gazebo hubby built down by the river... we are remiss in making good use of it though! Maybe this year we will take more time to relax in it with the soft sound of the moving river...


There is a sweet path to walk down to the river. We have two light posts to guide us and sometimes it reminds me of the lamp posts in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" because they seem to just appear in the woods as you walk to the river. (the other light post, not in this picture, especially has that feeling.)

While looking through my lens, I spyed this interesting tree - full of hollowed-out "apartments" for many of natures little friends.. this time of year is really quite interesting once you take the time to look around! Happy Spring! (almost)

Happy Birthday Meghan

Happy Birthday today to the lovely woman whom God has placed in our family as wife of our youngest son. We are so blessed by you and think you are a perfect fit in our family!

Just some candids

This past week we were getting back into the routine following a little vacation and I haven't paid much attention to my blog. We did have a nice evening in the middle of the week with some company for supper and relaxing in the evening. Our sweet grandson B. was introduced to this new (new to him) activity center and he loved it!
It was sensory overload for him. He didn't know where to look first!

Everything was new and exciting. He is growing up too fast!

Talking about growing up ... now some of our grandchild (and adult child) are happy to settle down with my kindle fire or my ipod touch to enjoy a little time with those "angry birds."

Grandpa's lap is another good spot for some fun with the electronic games..

Daddy and little daughter had a little fun goofing off...

It looks worse then it was! Poor daddy!

A good time was had by all.

Tea at the Chateau

Such class

Such beauty

Such symmetry

Such silver

Such delight.

Double vision

We just returned from a vacation; we drove to Calgary, Alberta to visit family. A visit to Banff and Lake Louise is always on tap when we go to Calgary. The brief time at Lake Louise included some photography - and here to the right is Lake Louise in the winter.. . the photograph to the left is one I took a few years ago in the early fall. I thought it would be fun to put them side by side. It is a fabulous place and we are considering booking a room there next year...