Fourth of July was fun - a church friend who drives a semi cross country - picked up a truckload of fireworks on one of his runs. He asked mom and dad if he could set them off out at the Atalissa farm and invite the church family out. We had haystacks for supper (and some other yummy stuff) and then when the sun started to dip out of site - the show began. It was very nice. That is such a beautiful place to gather - out there on the farm. Some call it the "cottage" - but to me it is the farm and HOME!! - not a cottage. I think that is why I like it out there so much - because it is where I grew up. I never lived at the house where mom and dad live now. All the other kids lived at their current home. (We stayed there when we first moved back to Muscatine - but I'm talking about as a kid.)
The farm was the setting for another event this summer - a farewell soire' for our little Kate - who has moved to Georgia. She is now engaged to her boyfriend Chase and we look forward to their wedding, whenever comes around. She has a job there - and Chase took a different position with the company he was with here in Muscatine.
Tonya - Mark's daughter - had a new baby our most recent "grand" addition to the family. HIS name is Holden. He is the (1. Dayton 2. Reese 3. Jaimee 4. Tanner 5. Holden) FIFTH "grand" addition! Our family is growing! But WAIT -- speaking of growing ... there is another little "grand" perking away over there in Orland Park ... Ryan and Rhiannon are expecting their 2nd child in February - one week before Jaimee's 3rd birthday.
We had a super fun trip to Pennsylvania/Maryland a month ago. Deb and Jill (Randy's sisters) and their families live in Gettysburg, PA and Myersville, MD. We hadn't seen either family for a few years (yes, I said YEARS). Thanks to Rhiannon and Jill's expert planning service - Randy, me, Ryan, Rhiannon and Jaimee all climbed aboard the Kia Sedona Express and drove out! We had hoped Nick could join us, but he couldn't get off work.
It was a long drive but not horrible (about 15 hours) - when we got there we were greeted by sisters sitting on the front lawn of Jill's house waiting for us! What a sight for sore eyes! It wasn't too much longer after we got there and it was time for us to take our SEGWAY tour of the Gettysburg battlefield. I rock at SEGWAY!!! (I say that proudly because I'm not the most physically adept person that walks the earth ... and I knew if there was going to be a hiccup in the plan ... it would be me being involved in a tragic SEGWAY accident.) I envisioned being on the front page of newspapers across the country because of the freakish nature of whatever doom would befall me on that SEGWAY! (and the accident would of course be caused by ME ... of that there was no doubt!)
But I Seg'd this way and that without a problem. I want one!!! I can see me now walking to the garage, stepping onto my segway and riding all the way to City Hall. I'd seg right into City Hall, press the elevator button and ride up - segging again to my office. It would be so cool - and I would LOOK so awesome doing it. Alas! that dream died when I GOOGLED THE PRICE of the Segway ... a mere $6000. Not happening! Sigh!
There were other fun things that we did - a boat ride through a cave and visiting. We were so thankful that Deb and her family were willing to drive to meet us at Jill's so many times. That was nice! We loved every moment of our all to short time!
Last weekend we went up to Red Wing, MN - to Randy's 40th High School reunion. Whoa! That was a LOT of old folks in one location! Uff da! *smile* But a good time was had by all. Thank goodness Gene and Kathy Littlefield were there -- Kathy and I 'hang out' together when the guys have these things. She's fun to chat with and lets the guys flit around and be social without their wife anchors! Note the Mardis Gras beads ... they passed those out to the women, but I gave mine to Randy!
This is Randy and Clark (back) and Ken and Gene (front).
Dave couldn't be there ... but the guys called him and chatted a minute!
We drove to the Twin Cities area after the reunion was done - and checked into our motel - a GORGEOUS place. We were so happy when we walked in - because our Friday night accomodations were not nearly that posh! And imagine our discouragement when the guy said they made a mistake on our reservations and there was NO ROOM for us. Here it is after midnight ...
But they QUICKLY added that they had made us a reservation at the Fairfield Inn that was next door and the night's stay would be FREE!! They were in the middle of remodeling (this was in Eden Prairie, MN) but the room we were in was done and it was okay - and AWESOME when you consider the FREE part of it! SCORE!
The next day was extra fun too ... we met up with another of Randy's sisters (Joannie) and her family at the Mall of America where we had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Joan and Kirk's little girls are adorable and it was so nice to see them. We'd only met Scarlett one time - when we were invited to her ONE YEAR birthday party ... and she is six now! Josie we'd never met. So we felt very happy to spend time with them all. We can't let so much time elapse ...
And then there is our Jaimee -- naturally I think she pretty much tops out the adorable meter ... here are a few reasons why ...
She's going through her "dress" phase ... loves to wear dresses! And don't you love her little flip flops? We got those (Jaimee and me) at JC Penney's cuz they light up when she walks!
Tomorrow we're headed out their way after church - it's been a month since we've seen them and it is time! Gotta get our Pharr-phix!
Love to all!
V
Such a little cutie! We have those same flip flops! We didn't even know they lit up when we bought them...tried them on and everything, had the clerk cut the tags off so she could wear them, then get out in the mall and HEY! your shoes light up! Delainey has had more people comment on them! We went back and bought another pair in the next size up which she has just started wearing.
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