We wish you a happy birthday....

We wish you a Happy Birthday,

We wish you a Happy Birthday,

We wish you a Happy Birthday,

And ma-a-ny more!

Happy Birthday, Tanner! 

Make sure you get the carrot cake leftovers this time, instead of Will!

New phone, new apps

I've shared the sad story of the recent demise of my android phone with some of you, so anyone else just finding out will get the abbreviated version. My phone died. I now have an iPhone because I've been obsessed with having FaceTime. My personal tech assistant was a HUGE help! I fed her family supper to con her into setting up my phone. And, also thanks to Angie (if you haven't figured out who my personal tech assistant is by now) putting the "AppsGonefree" app on the phone, I have been playing around with Poetics, a photo editing app. I'll have to see what else it can do.

School

September = Time for School. To be fair, Hannah started in August, so she is into the routine by now (that is, if the school bus has started showing up on time).  Although these photos have been shared elsewhere in the social media world, I want them here, too!

Hannah and Vivian look ready to go on Hannah's first day of first grade. She's in a different school this year because of some changes in the school district. She is lucky to have two teachers--a Spanish-speaker and an English-speaker--and to be learning in two languages. Vivi is a preschooler at her Spanish immersion daycare. She must be in charge of the place by now!

Miles is a kindergarten student in the same school he attended for preschool and daycare. Westy is there, too, and we KNOW he's in charge!! Miles reported that he wouldn't be having any homework the first week of kindergarten. His teacher must want the kids to get plenty of rest and not be awake all hours of the night doing calculus and writing essays. :o)

Ethan and Owen have the fun of riding a little bus to preschool three days a week. Please-- no references to Annie and the short bus, Charlie! Or to helmets, which you know your boys love to wear!  They've had two-out-of two good days of school already, and have made new friends. The preschool is church-affiliated, so it was no surprise that the boys already know that God worked hard for six days to make everything on Earth, and on "seven day" (E's phrase), he rested.  He took a day nap.

In some ways, it's hard to see these kids old enough to be in school. In most ways, however, it's a joy. They are all growing up, and they are all happy, busy, smart, sweet, and enthusiastic. Larry/Dad/Gpappy and I are a bit wistful watching each innocent grandchild step little by little into the world, but we know they have great parents who have the instincts and knowledge to encourage or protect their kiddos at the right times. Smooches all around.

August adventures

I'm adding the first three photos for the record, so when I print my blog at the end of the year I'll remember that we did this. On June 16, Annie, Angie, Mary O., and I joined a bunch of Gustie education graduates at a taping of Twin Cities Live. Lots of fun to see former students and catch up on what they are doing, how many babies they have, etc.

Annie and Angie didn't miss the chance to have their photo taken on the set with the co-hosts.

Nor did they miss the chance to TAKE OVER THE SET at the end of the photo sessions. Yup, that's Angie and Annie. Mischief is their #1 goal. Thanks for the pictures, Angie!

 

On the 22nd, Gpappy/Larry, Uncle Don, Aunt Janet, and I met in Lake City to cruise Lake Pepin on the river boat Pearl of the River. The weather was perfect--low 80's and sunny--and we had a great time. Afterward, we went to a restaurant in Red Wing. Beautiful day for driving, too.

Yesterday Annie and Tanner were here with Miles and Westy. They all went to a wedding reception up the street from us, and it turned out to be so much fun for the adults that they decided to stay longer, returning Miles and Westy to our house to run through the sprinkler. It's the first time we used the worm sprinkler, which isn't much for water height, but fun just the same. Miles and Westy had a lot of fun throwing balls through the water and pretending to be guys who jumped out of the crowd to run through the sprinkler. The "crowd" was rather sparse--just Miles, Westy, Gpa, and me--but I'm pretty sure Miles had a bigger crowd in his imagination.

While drying out, Miles discovered an inchworm. More like a quarter-inchworm...a tiny little guy. Miles was fascinated by it, as you can see here.

After supper it was time for pj's and some stories.

This photo is from the previous weekend, but I couldn't resist a shot of a post brotherly smooch from Westy.

The Grimmius Group had barely gotten out the door when we had a call from Charlie, who was at home wrestling with the air conditioner. Well, not exactly wrestling with; more like cursing at. He'd tried all the usual tricks to get it to snap back into action, but no luck, and with a forecast in the 90's looming for the week ahead.

Angie and the boys were on their way back from a few days with Grandpa Dean and Grandma Dar at their lake place, and no one was looking forward to attempting to sleep in a hot and humid environment. Fortunately, our basement bedroom was available, so they had a cool, dry place to bunk down.  

This morning while Charlie went back and forth between campus to hand out keys and home to wait for someone who might possibly be able to fix the AC, Angie gave Ethan and Owen haircuts on our patio. The haircuts and the AC repair were both successful. I have pictures of the haircuts, but not of the repairman. Sorry. But I DO know his name is Darryl. 

Owen concentrated hard on sitting still.

Ethan took this picture of clean-cut Owen and his barber.

Ethan's turn to be buzzed.

 

Owen took this funny picture of Ethan.

 

 

After getting clipped, it was time for beach ball soccer in the sprinkler.

Next, a game of baseball with Mommy as the pitcher.

The boy cousins missed Vivi and Hannah. Gpappy and I were lucky enough to see them on FaceTime on Saturday, which was great. We heard about their vacation at the beach, about Hannah's first grade teachers, and Vivi's excitement over having her favorite teachers again at SFFA. We've seen a few of their vacation pictures and can't wait to see more. So far, this is my favorite--Hannah and Vivian expressing their joy over going to the beach! Thanks for the photo, Elisabeth. Love it, love it, love it!

We wrapped up our weekend with dinner at the Mankato Pizza Ranch. Never having gone to a Pizza Ranch, Gpappy and I relied on the expertise of Ethan and Owen to show us the ropes. They're experts. Good pizza! Ethan discovered the mashed potatoes and gravy tonight, too. Two helpings.

40 and fabulous

(A Few of) 

The Many Faces of Evan

Squinty from marathon sweat

Smugly enjoying the coveted balls

 Relaxed and debonair

 

Possible replacement for the FTD messenger  

 Just plain freaky

 Master of All that is Pork

Happy #40 to you!

Love, Jill and Larry

Anniversary!

Smooches to the smoochers...

Happy Anniversary #8 to Annie and Tanner!

(and a Very Happy Birthday to Grandma Doreen, too.)

August comes in like a lamb

While Ethan and Owen were guarding the wedding rings at Unkie Britt and Aaron's wedding this weekend, we stuck around home for the most part, doing yard work and enjoying the perfect weather. By perfect I mean not over 80, not humid, blue skies, puffy white clouds. Weather we might normally see in May or September, but rarely at the beginning of August. Aahhhhhh....delightful!

The ring bearers and their daddy looked dang spiffy!

On Sunday while Tanner played in the City Open golf tournament in Owatonna (and tied for 2nd place... yay, Tanner!), Annie, Miles, and Westy made a trip to Sibley Park in Mankato to play and have a picnic. We joined them for part of their play time and for lunch. Later, they went to Grandma Doreen and Grandpa Dave's house for more fun and a bit of raspberry picking. 

The new play equipment at Sibley Park is outstanding. It has a farm theme, and different structures to climb and play on for kids of all ages.

 The mama cow and her calf continue to be a favorite for Miles and Westy.

These boys and their Grandpappy love the tractors on site.

There are baby goats, ponies, calves, and other real animals to admire, too. Westy was nervous about getting too close to any of them, but he took a special interest in the three baby alpacas--one white, one black, one gray/brown-- that live there. Usually they're outside rolling around in the dusty dirt, but all three looked freshly laundered yesterday, and seemed to want to stay clean by sticking close to their barn shelter. The little black alpaca came out to take a quick trip to the pond to see his friends the ducks, but didn't stay long. The ducks weren't very cordial yesterday.

After Gpappy and I left, Annie took Miles and Westy 

on a climbing adventure in the park.

We didn't manage to Skype with the NC branch of the family. I'm sure they were busy, or maybe they were avoiding us. In addition to everything E and E have to keep up with, Vivi and Hannah seem to have a lot of birthday parties to attend. I hope they had some good cake over the weekend!