Three Blind Mice

One of the ways Gracie shows her affection for her Humans is to slay mice and arrange them for us. Here are 3 all in one bunch. She was feeling a lot of love!

The Event

Here is the family picture with everyone except Josh - we missed you Buddy! You can hardly see the panic of 'guests will be here in 10 minutes and we're not ready!!'
Three of the 100 candles on the tables

A replica of the original wedding cake. The big difference is gold leaves instead of silver in honor of 50 years.

*Photos courtesy of Julia

The Week in Prep

It was a fun week of prepping for our parent's 50th anniversary celebration. Here are some random shots of the preparations.
Me in the kitchen at the church where we held the event.

The brothers setting up tables. Note the shades over the florescent lights for ambiance.

Rachel and me in our matching Cardinals t-shirts

The sign Emma and Rachel made for us welcoming us home. They miss us!

Lois holding Noah up to touch the Mouse

An evening supper at the cabin the sisters rented for the week. Uncle Monroe and Cousin Naomi were able to join us.

Some of the 400+ cookies. We did a lot of cows and airplanes in honor of what we grew up with -- cows on the dairy farm and Dad flying his 4 seater.

Our cousin Glen's cabin where Lois, Julie and I stayed.

http://www.whisperingpinescabin.net/index.htm

50th Anniversary

Tomorrow morning I wing my way home to celebrate with family the 50 years of this couple's marriage. We hope all their friends and family will join us for the open house!

Grandmother Memories

Daffodils always remind me of Maple Shade in the Spring. I also remember Mom having daffodils in this vase that was Grandma Maust's when we were growing up. I just couldn't resist picking them up this morning!

Am I A Good Boss?

Sometimes I wonder with tough decisions that may need to be made. And then there are days like this...

Annual Migration

Thursday marked the beginning of the migration season of Kendall's maternal family visit. His Mom and her siblings have been coming to Arizona for 10+ years the same week every year. Today were also blessed to have his cousin Marilyn and husband Jay join us for lunch and a relaxing afternoon.Marilyn, Lola Faye, Kendall's Mom and Grace.

Lola Faye is engaged to be married next month, so we've also had Bob join us this year with his motor home. We're happy they will be splitting their time between Iowa and Arizona.

Kendall's Mom, Marilyn & Carol (Uncle Ray's wife)

A few desserts have popped up this weekend. This is a lemon angel food cake using some of our lemons from the back yard.

Church Ladies

It was past due to have a meeting of The Church Ladies! They joined me in Indy for dinner Friday night and then an overnight slumber party. We had a suite that slept all of us - well almost all of us. Connie had the couch in the living room that let in a little too much noise from the kids staying there who were in a music competition. The rest of us had a restful night. The next day brought breakfast, shopping, a late lunch and a drop off at the airport. It was a great week away, but I'm happy to be home with my hubby!! My ravioli Friday night - Yummm!!

Lunch Saturday before heading to the airport.

Marge, Jenell, me, Sue & Connie

On the road again. This time I'm in Indianapolis for a week. It will be a treat to catch up with my Illinois girlfriends Friday night/Saturday after the work of the week is done.

Missing the Cabin

Due to our busy schedules we haven't been to the cabin for awhile. A friend of mine was in the neighborhood last weekend and snapped this shot for me. Lots of snow!

Big Test

This morning I sat for the exam for the American College of Healthcare Executives. 260 questions to be done in 6 hours. I finished in under 2 hours and passed!! The last step before being a Fellow. Now I'll be a FACHE; yes, more initials behind my name!

Then I'll be MBA, MSN, RN,NE-BC, FACHE.

Fireplace

The temperature plummeted from the 80's this past week to the 60's over the weekend. It was a great reason to fire up the fireplace in my office and curl up in my chair with my 'homework' reading. If only I had time for it to be a novel instead!

New Carpet

OK, I guess we're over the loss of the Super Bowl. Like I told Rachel, they played well and there is always next year!

Yesterday we had new carpet put in one of the guest rooms. Believe me, it was time! It arrives on a trailer

There is a lot of noise

And the finished product is clean and fabo!

The Shack

This was my airplane reading over the holidays that was a gift from my friend Kathy. It is quite an interesting book and makes you think about the many possibilities of who God is.

When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!
Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus Of Spiritual Theology,Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

http://theshackbook.com/index.html

We do more than watch football...

We enjoyed the company of our dear friends, Doug & Janell from Illinois, this weekend at the cabin The towel Mom gave me in my Christmas stocking found a home
We had a great time watching the birds come to feed

Bob showed up to take his share of the corn on the cob

Doug taking pictures of the wildlife with his camera

Doug and Kendall worked on putting the telescope together

Then they played mechanics; changing out some wires

Sorry no pictures of Jenell! We were too busy playing cards to take a picture

Family Feud ON!!

OK, who is going to join us in the Super Bowl?? Will it be the Steelers or the Ravens? Nothing like all three of our teams at this juncture! Quarterback Kurt Warner

Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt

What a Win!!

What a game! We watched the game with friends and enjoyed great tailgating food as the Cardinals showed what they are made of.


Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) reaches the ball over the goal line for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers' Chris Harris (43) defends during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2009/01/10/warner_cardinals_lead_panthers_27_7_after_half/

Celebrating the Season

It was great to be together to celebrate on New Year's Day. All were present except for Josh who is being a responsible young adult and had to work.

Rachel passing out gifts

Urbane helping Rachel on Lois' exercise ball
Julie with Noah and Whitney with Evan

Nap time in the afternoon for Lois, Naomi, and Daisy. Rachel couldn't resist joining them.

Rachel & April

(our cousin Keith's daughter from Atlanta)

Noah & Whitney

Luke

Uncle Monroe

Phebe & Evan

Emma

Asa & Noah playing with the best gifts - big empty boxes!

The kids were amazed at Kristen's ability to make sound come out of that thing





The morning after - bird watching. A poor bird was stunned when he flew into the window and knocked himself out. They were watching him recuperate and eventually fly away.

Urbane, Noah, Dad, Whitney & Kristen