Preston gets Grandma time!

Oh, for fun! This morning Preston got to come to Grandma's for a little while all by himself. He was such a happy boy. He loves all the toys and plays so great with them. He tells me everything he is doing and expects me to know everything he is saying.... He loves to hammer just like Daddy and Bumpa!

We made many trips to the toy closet in the basement and now he knows there is this big container of transformers. (I think Timothy and Luke introduced him to the cool things in this big container.)

Hammer, grandma!

And the Sesame Street clubhouse, which is now 29 years old, is still a highlight.

All the Sesame Street characters say Hi to you!

(And people thought I was too much when I would always have to find all the little pieces to our little boys toys before I put them away. Now who was the smart one? I am proud to say I have all the farm animals to the barn, all the people and cars to the Fisher price garage, all the pieces to the "lift and load" depot... I couldn't sleep well if something went missing! So silly but now I'm so happy I was so diligent!)

Sara's shower

On Saturday morning Sara was the center of attention at a sweet baby shower, hosted by her good friend (and maid of honor), Rachel. Here is Sara showing off the little sailor suit from me - I always had the boys in little sailor suits (much to John's displeasure I now learned..) and so I thought this might be perfect for a new grandson. :)

Sara's mom (on the left) and her Aunt came from western North Dakota for the weekend. This will be the first grandchild for Sara's parents and I know they will be wonderful grandparents!

This darling quilt is from Sara's grandma, Julia.

We had a nice brunch. Thank you, Rachel!

The all important "diaper genie!!" No more odors!

Hannah was all decked out in a pretty dress, fancy shoes a necklace and her hair adorable!

Josiah was as good as gold; happy to be on the floor playing, rolling, crawling (sort of) and just the most contented baby I've ever known.

Any advice?

I'm having a hard time deciding what goes where. I have more things then necessary for decorating and I know "less is more" so I am trying to make it look ...ah.... artistic? Here I have switched to pewter and took off the brass and hummels and vase. I would like to have a different picture but that will just have to wait until I find it. (I was going to check one out of the library but none of them were right.) I do like my great-Aunt's mantle clock there. Is this too symetrical? Too boring? I'll keep trying...

What do you think?

I'm in the process of moving things back into the living room; I'm still deciding what goes where - on the mantle, on the walls, etc. but here is how it looks right now. I think it's a nice change. We are on the look-out for new furniture but so far nothing has felt right. Most of furniture out there is just way too big and bulky. What do people do who live in small apartments?

Today the piano is getting tuned! Hooray! It really needs it.

I've already changed the things on the mantle after I took this picture. I left the clock there but now I have pewter candle sticks and a pewter teapot on it. I think I like the pewter better.

Wally is working on completing the french doors that open into the river room. They still have plastic wrap on them in this picture. They will be stained to match the rest of the living room. And once the trim is on, I will put the china back into the curio cabinet in the corner. Do you like the cabinet angled like that? It used to be against the wall but I think this is better. We are also getting a new floor lamp and removing that dark green one. Also, no coffee table - ours was so heavy and I didn't want it marking the new carpet. So we'll go without for a while until we find something that we like. Anyone need a coffee table?

Getting closer...

My feathered friends

This is just the best time of year for birders.... (folks who watch birds)... without the leaves yet compromising our view, we get to really enjoy the migration of our birds. They return just like clockwork every year. Today was an especially good day for hungry birds!

Can you identify all these birds?

Time for a new post

Four generations - and me. This picture was taken last week at Brooklyn's preschool program - isn't it great that she had her mom, her grandma and great grandma - and me, the other grandma all there to watch her?

A cute picture of Brooklyn singing and doing the motion.

Yesterday, for Mother's Day, I enjoyed a nice cook-out at Daniel & Meghan's - along with her family. The weather was great and so was the visiting. Here are two current pictures of Sean Patrick, almost 5 months old. He has lots of personality.

Big blue eyes!

A new music room? How did the piano get into the river room? Why?

Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I Peter 1:3

The wind beneath my wings...

Did you ever know that you're my hero?

Happy Birthday to my best friend, my sister!

We hope you have a perfect day! ALSO.. birthday greetings to...

our dear sister-in-law Debbie! We are so glad you are part of our family and we admire your strength of character as you go forward in life. Much love!

Thirty years ago....

Happy Birthday Adam! It's hard to believe that you are a grown man with a family and career. May God richly bless you today!

Keeping a sense of humor...

It's important in Minnesota to keep a sense of humor - and not get tooo crabby over the sudden weather changes... Last week felt like spring; lawns were raked, new spring flower flags were hung, gardens were rototilled...

tulips grew taller with the promise of pretty blooms...

and even the grass turned nice and green!

So, what happened after that? 15 inches of snow!

(but we missed the big storm since we were in Minneapolis!)

Someone's getting tired...

Opps! Something doesn't look right here... hubby rehung the shelf for me but..

He must have not noticed the heart shape is upside down - or that in order to hang things on pegs, you would need them below the shelf, not above it!

Making progress..

This may not look like progress to you but it is too me! The walls are painted and the french doors will be installed to the river room next.

The airlock (entry) has a new look...

Another look at the color. It's called "cayenne".

Good bye slider...

Another change in the mix.... no more "step over" the threshold...