The Marty-boy turns 8!

He woke up with a smile
and partied with his friends

and ate pumpkin bars (not cake)


and looked like a star in his new cape with his new bike.

Here he is opening his presents from the adoring siblings.

Where have the years gone? Just yesterday wasn't he the tiny, shy boy coming down the escalator at DSM Intl. holding his papa's hand? The one I fell in love with many months before that wonderful homecoming?

Marty-man is growing up, and he's quite a sweetie pie.

The night before his birthday I told him goodnight and said it was the last time I'd have a 7 year old. I teased him about being my baby and growing up so fast. He answered,

"That's okay, Mama. I'm going to live with you forever,

but when you die, I get your house."

Is that not the funniest thing ever?!?

Happy Golden Birthday to my baby.

Progress in the neighborhood

Here is my garden in July. It doesn't look like this now, but it did then (when I had the "seriously wrong-I don't-know-how-to-fix-it" picture problem). When I went out to work in the garden I was watching the house building progress next door. It was interesting, and baffling because...

they trucked in loads of sand and filled the foundations with it. Then they worked hard to pack it down and make it veeeerrrryyyyy smooth. The next day, they came and........

dug it up to put in plumbing. "Hmmmmmmm," says I; "won't that make it difficult to fix a plumbing problem someday?" The next day, I was totally baffled when they came and ............

poured concrete over all of it. I'm thinking my new neighbors will be glad to have my photos someday to find that crazy, leaking pipe.

Which reminds me---before they covered the sand with concrete I buried a St. Anthony medal under the front door threshhold and prayed--"St. Anthony, St. Anthony, come around. A good new neighbor must be found." Why not?

I. am. so. DUMB.

I cannot believe what I've done. I cannot believe how easily Matt fixed the DUMB thing I had done. Suffice it to say that I will be posting more on my blog again because the "seriously wrong-I-can't-figure-it-out" picture problem has been fixed. Just one of the many reasons I love my husband.

Me and My Grama

While on vacation we were able to stop and see my Grama Pluma, whom we hadn't seen in over 2 years. When we left Iowa in '07 I knew that it might be the last time we saw Grama in this world, and I am grateful that we got to see her again. I don't know if she really knew us (she's failed a lot in the last 2 years) but I still loved seeing her. I just realized after seeing this photo, that we have the same hair color--how can that be when she's 96 and I'm 45?!? Anyway, I sure am glad to have this photo of us together, both smiling. She will turn 97 in September.

Back from vacation!

Here's the last photo from vacation-- taken as we drove in the driveway after 1 camper, 8 hotel rooms, 16 days and
yes, 3335 miles.
Time for an oil change!

Creation story--my version

.....and on the seventh load.....











.....there were kleenex.

June happenings around here.

First swim of the year
A silly little mouse I knit. He's hungry!
and he thinks he likes soup!
We had a party for Sarah's end of the season in golf.
Amy's team won the league championship! Wowsa..a great first year of organized sports.

A few pictures of fun.

I've already picked 3 zucchini from our garden. This is the first from last week.
We got a package from Zappos!
One hot day we went strawberry picking with our friends, ShaLynn, Chas and Baby Euin. Lots of fun and good eating!