Congrats Rick:)

Congratulations to Rick for graduating from Great Lakes naval base! Best of luck in your new training/job in DC! I'll miss my flight instructor:)

Swimming:)

Getting the hang of it...

Little Belle is just starting solids...yum. Just a few pics today: Belle eating, and friend Kristin with her baby Kylee in the pool:)

Easy day planned...

Aliyah, Eva, Stacy and friends went swimming all evening and into the night. The water temp rose from 70 to 80 just yesterday, and the solar cover kept it that warm for today. I'm just going to finish putting in the garden, and am already using my basil and strawberries:) Actually have so much basil, (planted indoors in February) I'm giving it away:P Eva is heading down to Chicago with friends to celebrate Rick's graduation, and Paul is busy recording his church choir tonight. Henry spent the entire day outside yesterday, and slept until 10 this morning. Boy, I LOVE summer! Best of luck to Patti, who has a few medical challenges in store in the next few weeks. She has a great positive attitude and things will work out fine. Also continued prayers needed for church friend John, as he continues to recover from his illness.

Happy 6 Months of life to Belle :O

Sunny Henry and Orangey Elle:)

Summer's finally here to stay:)

Eva, Jon and friends are enjoying the end of the school year by boating/jet skiing on Lake Winnebago today. Tonight they're coming home to swim and hang out in the camper. My basil plants, both green and purple are going nuts with this warm weather, and I'm giving away quite a bit...can't use it all right now, and it's so good when it's fresh. Smells SO great too:p Taking a few days off for projects around the house, including scraping and painting the exterior west side. Waiting for the sun to dip down under the trees for some shade first. Photos today are a mix. The harbor at Lakeside, my basil plants, and baby Belle and her Great Grandma from Alabama. Let's all get out there and enjoy the weather:)

Dreary day, but training all complete.

The weather was dull and dreary, but I couldn't have enjoyed it anyway, with my last Alzheimer's and med training today. It was actually very interesting, and well presented. Everyone is busy tonight, with Elle going to Lawrence University for a jazz concert, and Eva is headed to the opera in Milwaukee to see Rigoletto. Aliyah is spending the night, we plan to bake another batch of cheesecake brownies for Sandy's graduation tomorrow:)

Happy Birthday to Grandma Mare!

Great day to be outside:)

I gave Henry a shower today, and put him in his outside cage, which he loves. The kitties followed us out to the backyard, and are busy chasing lakeflies:p The camper is all clean and ready to use, and I spent a little time organizing seeds for the garden. Tonight Paul and Elle head off to Fondy High to practice for the last choral concert. I have 2 more days of training in Oshkosh before enjoying the weekend:)

Getting good at sitting up!

Busy Busy Sunday...

2 more concerts rounded out the weekend. Afterward Eva and friends enjoyed a bonfire, while we grilled out. Looking forward this week to cleaning out the camper and opening up the pool! Always seems like summer then:) I'm enjoying a lighter week with just inservices and training up in Oshkosh.

Congrats to Renee

Had a nice party with the neighbors to celebrate Renee's graduation from Oshkosh. Afterward we watched the Preakness, while Elle went to hand bell choir and Eva went to another grad party. Tomorrow wraps up the Contemporary Choir for the year, so after mass they'll celebrate with a pizza lunch. Elle has her last concert of the season also at Fondy High...symphonic winds at 4 PM. Busy May is slowing down. Want to send Kudos to co-worker Nellie for hitting a triple last night in her baseball game at Woodworth. Way to go!

We celebrate with Kylee:)

graduation weekend

Congrats to neighbor Renee who graduates from UWO this weekend, and also to the Marian University graduates. Eva and Paul are busy playing for numerous pinning ceremonies, and other festivities. Tomorrow we have 2 grad parties and a party for a co-worker's baby who turns 1:) Fun times! Hopefully I'll get some party pics tomorrow. Photo today is of Baby Belle back home in Nashville.

Happy Happy 6th. Birthday to niece Tatum:)

We love you very much Tatum! See you on Memorial weekend when we'll all celebrate:P

Happy Girl...Sad Grandma

Today we say goodbye to Belle and Elise as they head home to Nashville. Eva and 2 college friends plan a trip there in June for a music festival and will stay at Elise's. Otherwise, we'll meet them again in early July in Philadelphia for the International Barbershop convention:)

Strawberry bliss!

Thanks to Elise for helping me plant a flat of strawberries yesterday...mmm, can't wait for them! Henry and Elle spent some time outside too, which was good for Henry since today is so miserable he's stuck inside:( We spent most of today washing diapers and clothes and packing for Elise's return trip to Nashville. Paul wants some homemade chex mix for the drive:) Also making Grandma Hilde's recipe for cream cheese blueberry torte tonight. Always a favorite...remember Tyler? It's my nephew's absolute favorite dessert. Hey Jeannine, I'll send the recipe!

Early start...

Even at just 5 months, Belle shows a fascination with Grandpa's keyboard. Here we had it set to a rhythm mode, but she also liked chimes and violin. Sure comes by it naturally:)

Happy Mother's Day!

On our way to pick up Grandma Mare today, so she can see Elle's last recital for the year. Then we're having a turkey dinner:p I was texted early this morning by a coworker asking (begging) me to work for her tonight. She has classes and it's finals week, so she's overwhelmed. I said yes, as I always do, but a night shift is going to be very hard with no time to sleep until tomorrow morning. Oh well, I'm lucky to have a job and I enjoy it, so no complaining:) Photo today is a favorite from 2001. No real reason for choosing it, other than it's a great memory from niece Hannah's lovely wedding.

Lunch out with the girls today

We enjoyed a nice brunch out today with just the girls. Baby was very good and quite entertained by a full ketchup bottle:) We dropped off Elle at hand bell practice, and later plan a little mall walking, since it is so miserable outside. Liyah spent the evening, and we all had fun making an assortment of brownies. Elle performs again tomorrow in dance recital, and hopefully Grandma Mare, Jo and Tatum can join us. Shopped a little yesterday for annuals, but they're all inside yet...don't want to tempt Mother nature:p

Kudos to Elle!

Eva makes the reporter!

The following was featured in letters to the editor. I've never met Christina, but thank her for a wonderful review!

We should support local music students
On May 1, I attended the vocal music recital of Marian University student Eva Thelen that was held in the Dorcas Chapel at Marian.
What an extremely talented young lady!
Her vocal range was amazing—everywhere from "the basement" to "the attic," and even "through the roof!"
Eva chose several vocal styles to showcase what she is capable of. Her repertoire included several operatic arias, some sacred pieces, a little American jazz and some light blues.
Eva's father, pianist Paul Thelen, served as her main accompanist. Paul Thelen is one of the most gifted pianists I have ever had the privilege of listening to. His passion for music just seems to ooze from his soul through his fingers and onto the ivories. Eva had several other musicians accompany her as well—a cellist, a bass player and a drummer.
I was amazed at Eva's talent and the caliber of music performed—all at a very affordable, family-friendly price—free! It gives me shivers to know Fond du Lac is home to one so talented.
I hope that area residents will continue to support local music students whenever they perform. It's a gift you can give to yourself and to your family, all while showing support for budding musicians.
I imagine the next time we get to hear Eva Thelen, it will be from the stage of a major auditorium or opera house and we will stand in line to get tickets.
Thank you for a wonderful evening, Eva. Good luck to you in your musical endeavors—you will go far and you will bless many listeners.
Christina Butzen
Fond du Lac

Nice day in Manty!

Belle had a nice visit with her cousins and aunts and Grandma Mare. Elle, Elise and I cleaned all afternoon in the upstairs, and got a lot done. We also visited with Grandma's neighbor, and had a terrific lunch thanks to Aunty NeeNee:p