Happy Birthday to baby sister!

Sister Jo has a birthday today and we wish her all the best. I always envied her having a birthday in July, because the weather was always great. The weather on my birthday in March ranged from snow and 25 degrees to 70:) Photo is of Jo's graduation from Lincoln High School in 1982. It is always a beautiful graduation ceremony which is held outdoors. For years after we went to watch, even though we knew no graduates. Nice memories.

Thanks Krissy!

Thanks to neice Krissy for the cute photos from a recent wedding and from one of her shows.

Marathon days come to an end:)

We have been working SO hard to get the rental (one of them, that is) ready for the new renters. All the hard work has paid off. It looks great. Every room is freshly painted, the kitchen floor is all new (thanks to Paul and a lot of grunt work) and the rest of the house is newly carpeted. Eva, Jon and I also replaced all the window dressings. All that's left tomorrow is to hang a mirror, which was original to the house, back in the bathroom. I honestly didn't think we could do it. It's a great feeling of accomplishment! Tomorrow we head out to Oshkosh to the EAA for a little R and R. Photo is of the Airbus...they say the tail is 8 stories high.

Congrats to Elle:)

Today we celebrated with Elle who passed her driver's exam with flying colors! Here are some photos of Elle on her first solo. She was off to Symphonic Band practice. We enjoyed chicken fajitas and a strawberry pie for supper...Elle's favorites:)

Happy Birthday to Cathy:)

A girl at work had a birthday today and we had a great time. We decorated with balloons and we made cinnamon muffins from scratch. Her folks called with well wishes, and we all dressed up. This afternoon we went to church and then took a drive through a beautiful historic cemetery. I suppose that's weird to some people, but it is such a lovely place surrounded by 100 year old oak trees, that we got lost in the history and the beauty. We also celebrated Henry and Steven's birthdays on the 22nd. and remember our friend Bill Z. on his 50 something birthday. We were happy to have the celebrations to break up the hard work we've had at the rental, which has to be ready on the 31st. of this month. It will be very nice when it is done, and hopefully friends Sarah and Chris, who will be renting, will be happy there:)

So long to Elise:(

Today we take Elise back to Milwaukee for a fight home to Nashville. She'll be joining us again in September, when James has a lengthy trip. I know she doesn't want to be alone in her 7th. month, and I can't say I blame her...wouldn't want the little bundle to be born too soon:) A camping trip is planned at High Cliff, as well as a bonfire at the beach on Jeff's land. Should be a lot of fun.

animal friends

Today we enjoyed a lovely walk along the lake shore, with Jeff as our guide through his land. We also had lunch with Grandma, and briefly saw Jill (our Koko bean) and Andy. They have all kinds of landscaping projects going on, and the house is really looking nice:) After we returned to Fondy, we enjoyed some A and W root beer at Lakeside Park, where we earlier photographed the deer.

Birthday celebrations...

"Happy Birthday" today to sister Jeannine, visiting with family in Connecticut. Today we had a great time at Elle's 16th. birthday party. The grilled alligator and the bourbon chicken were a great success. Here are some photos:)

lovely baby girl

Here's a photo of baby girl Estes at about 20 of 40 weeks gestation. We are SO happy that everything looks to be O.K. I'll send the video link (of the ultrasound) to the local folks. To quote my favorite Motown singer Stevie Wonder..."isn't she lovely?"

Happy Birthday to Elle:)

Today we're celebrating Elle's 16th. birthday with dinner at her favorite Mexican restaurant, and a strawberry pie (her favorite.) Also news from Nashville is that baby Estes is a girl! We received the first sonogram photos today. Baby is about halfway along in the pregnancy at 20 weeks. Will post a photo soon.

Thanks a bunch...

Thanks SO much for Jo's help today on one of the rentals. We're preparing it for August 1st. and the new renters. We got a lot done. Thanks also to Elle, Eva and Steve who joined us later. Today's pic is a black and white of Elle from last year's homecoming. On the eve of her 16th. birthday, we celebrate with Elle:)

Happy Birthday to brother-in-law, Big Dave

Birthday wishes go out today to Big Dave, who is 50 something, but I honestly don't know for sure:) They'll be visiting Hannah's family soon, and celebrating all the July birthdays on the east coast. Hope they have a great time. The pic for today is dated July 13, 2008, and is some of the Cinderella cast from Community Theater's production. Elle's on the far right.

Fiddler a success

Fiddler was a great success and tonight the cast is enjoying a party at Lakeside Park. Elle had a sectional today, so we spent much of the morning getting music stands and preparing music.

Thanks to Elise

Here's a recent photo of the french puppy with Elise. She says that he is very gentle with her, almost sensing something is different. All of our friends who are animal lovers can attest to that...animals know when things are changing. I remember how Stan's dog Blackie always stayed close to Val when people were visiting. They just become very protective. We're looking forward to Elise's visit in 1 week, to help celebrate Elle's birthday. In the meanwhile, the alligator meat just arrived from Cajun Grocer, in plenty of time for Elle's birthday party. It's going to be a New Orleans theme, complete with bourbon chicken and hurricane drinks. Can't wait:)

Hen and Elle relax...

Today has been busy, but enjoyable. The day started with an early morning walk through Lakeside Park, followed by some painting at the Rose Residence rental. At 3:00 Liyah finished her day at Taylor Park pool, and I picked her up so she could join me at work. We made chocolate brownies from scratch, and Italian spaghetti with a side of spinach salad. It was very good, and Aliyah told her Mom later that she had so much fun that now she wished she had a cooking show. Funny. Tomorrow is a busy day...12 hours at work and then back to the rental to paint outdoors when it's cool. Paul and Eva are performing in the pit for 'Fiddler' so I'll be on my own at the rental. On a lighter note, for our 27th. anniversary, Paul and I are attending a Jimmy Buffet concert in Chicago. How fun. We're looking forward to it, and a weekend in Chicago visiting the museum and aquarium.

quiet morning

Paul and I walked early through Lakeside Park. It was very beautiful, and the young deer and baby ducks and geese were everywhere. Afterward we painted at one of the rentals, and hauled old carpeting to the dump. Elise called this afternoon on her way to chorus practice. She is anxious to come to Ellie's 16th. birthday party in 2 weeks. She's also eager to share the news of her pregnancy; now almost half way along. We've lots of plans for when she's here. Today I also spent some 'catching up' time with neighbor Esther, as she returned something of Ellie's from a music department locker. Thanks to Esther. She was one of Elise's favorite teachers (4th. grade) but Elise admits to being more social that year than academic:) I think Esther will agree with that. Esther is expecting a grandchild in August. We hope everything goes well for her grand-daughter.

Happy 30th. to Hannah:)

Let's celebrate tonight with niece Hannah, who is 30 years old. If memory serves, my Mom backed into a street cleaner, in an effort to find Hannah's Dad who was fishing. Jeannine, like me and the Rochon girls, always had super fast labors. Funny the things you remember. When Hannah was born, I was in San Diego with friends Karen and Jane, roller skating in Balboa Park. Hannah was baptized a month later, when I came home...I was very proud to be her Godmother. Best wishes to Hannah today. We love her lots.

Happy Glorious 4th!

What a beautiful weather day we have! Paul and Eva have a wedding this afternoon at Holy Family, followed by the Symphonic Band concert on the gazebo at Lakeside Park tonight. Elle is of course in the band, and Paul and Eva are featured musicians for several patriotic songs. This year I'm bringing some of my clients to the fireworks. Thanks to friend John who offered viewing them from his boat:)

sharing the website

For the local folks from Holy Family, and friends from the Methodist Church, Baptist, (Liyah and Minnie) and the Lutheran Church, I'd like to include James and Elise's website here. Feel free to visit. Love to all in Cyberland.

http://jamesandelise.blogspot.com/

cleaning house

We take a break today from vacation photos to thank friend Kim, Eva, Elle and little Aliyah for helping clean one of our rentals. Tonight we're enjoying grilled blue marlin and a big salad. Yum.