Taking some steps...

Someone decided to show off a little bit during her first birthday party....

Party party

Today was the party for the birthday girl!

She was ONE!

Her mommy made some yummy cupcakes and

grandma made some cupcake cookies.

There was a sparkly banner that said
Happy Birthday!

The birthday girl snuggled up with her bumpa (grandpa) and her godparent (Uncle Norman).

The birthday girl's mommy made some fabulous chili...

and Auntie S. brought some bread and fresh veggies.

Yum.

There were lots of grandparents, great grandparents and a few Aunts and Uncles,

all there to celebrate!

The birthday sweetheart was ready for her cake...

She wasn't sure what to do with the candle, which was kept a safe distance away

from her little finger...

But she knew just what to do with that cupcake!

This is a fun party!

Mommy, Daddy and the birthday girl...

and some brothers and a sister too!

Now on to the presents!

Something soft to hug.

Something cute to wear.

A new hair thingy...

A new red top.

Very soft and cuddly

And brand new cowgirl boots!

It's all about the shoes.

She knew she was the center of attention.

She didn't mind a bit!

And, just to show off, she showed us how she can stand - and then she walked a good number of steps all by herself.

I think she knew we would all be cheering.

We did.

She loved it.

Happy Birthday sweetheart!

The mighty oak...

We are most fortunate to have this beautiful oak tree on our property in front of our home.

I love it in all seasons... and here it is in its glory .... all the branches... but where are the

leaves???...

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Of course. You knew that.

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And one of the perks of having the leaves fall from all our trees (we have lots between the back of our home and the river) is actually seeing the river again!
That's why we call our "four season porch" the "river room" - however, during the summer months we perhaps should call it the "tree house room."
Once again, it is living up to its name: the river room.
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And before we know it, all these branches will be laiden with snow-
oh, so pretty!
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The last vestiges of summer... waiting for the first hard frost...

How long ago??

It's reunion time!

We were the first freshman class to ever attend our brand new high,

and thus, the first class to have completed all four years in the new

school.... so we had to come to the football game to see how things have changed.

Well, lots had changed, including a football field with artificial turf;

and as many cheerleaders as all the senior girls in our class...

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My, how time flys!

We were the class of 1965!

Do the math..... we graduated 45 years ago!

okay, that can't be true...
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Oh... I guess it IS true.

There are pictures to confirm it...

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So, my dear spouse willingly dressed up and took me to a

wonderful reunion, meeting many classmates for the first time in all these years!

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We posed for pictures in our fancy clothes....

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Including, of course, the shoes.

It's all about the shoes.
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The room was set beautifully, thanks to the hard work of

my dear classmates.

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It was just the best to see former classmates!

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On Sunday, which was the tenth day of the tenth month of the year 2010...

at 10 seconds after 10 o'clock in the morning..

We met again for a delicious brunch.

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(it was not the whole group from the previous evening, but a pretty big group, none-the-less)
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The guys posed.

Ah, yes,

there would have to be a favorite picture from the weekend...

and this is it.

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Just a bunch of hot tamales.
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It was a weekend that couldn't have been better.

Someone just turned ONE

Oh, how fast time flys! This little sweetheart is now one year old!

How did that happen so fast??

Happy Birthday!

Grandpa and I love you to pieces!!
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John Deere, the old and the new...

Here is W. on my brother's restored John Deere 820...

it's a beauty...

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but it was the brand spanking new John Deere that was used to pull the hayrack today.

(Gus and Harley, the new Belgians, had a Sunday afternoon to relax.)

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Ah, yes, .... you know the words....
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A. Good. Time. Was. Had. By. All.
:)

A beautiful day

It doesn't get much better - today was near perfect:

sunshine, warmth, picturesque land...

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The views in all directions on brother John's farm were

just dandy for pictures...

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However, it was the people that made the day special!

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A good time was had by all.

Again.

Bonus

Unplanned family time - what a bonus!

We headed east on a trip and it worked out perfectly to meet this happy group of grandchildren for supper at a town close to the interstate where we were traveling.

We were all happy about it too!

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It was an added bonus to see this little bundle of joy!

They change so fast and we hate to miss any of it!

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Grandma and grandpa with sweet little grandchild number 10.

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