happy birthday

It was a great day to be eleven.

Gifts and cake

Girl, you have gotten so grown up.  This has been a great year of you turning from a kid into a very grown up type of person.

I hope the year ahead is absolutely as wonderful as you are.

Happy birthday, with love forever, Grandma and Grandpa

monday guys

They were impressed with the sand box and stayed outside playing in the cold morning for quite a long time.

Of course the dog thought this was the greatest EVER.

My friend Elaine gave me this little track and box of cars last week.  She said her grandsons had outgrown it and thought mine might like it.

He really did.  He stopped crying about having to eat lunch and happily munched on his chicken nuggets while he worked.

He said the cars were, "Way cool."

And this guy, he's just so doggone cute.

Julia said during the baby's nap he was still at the table working. She said the cars were having an argument, some elaborate storyline he was creating.

Pretty sweet, Elaine.  You made this guy very happy.

Love, Val aka Grandma
 

tornado at kirsten's

She got gorgeous clear photos of this thing, scary, spooky sirens.

This picture is just for the cuteness of it.  Cooper, on the right, passed on last fall, but what a great guy he was. three buddies.

Love always, MOM aka Val
 

lacrosse

These two, cutest players ever.  This game tonight was cold, stiff wind blowing, but it didn't stop her. It was a tough game, but they play hard.

This one was player of the week while we were at the cabin.

Way to go, Girl!

So much love, Grandma
 

spring at the cabin

This bleeding heart was from John and Dannell's front yard.

The sunshine on the water is so uplifting.

Dani ran straight into the lake, happy to be there.

We were told last spring that Bernese are not necessarily water dogs, but if they're introduced to it early, they don't mind it.  We put effort in last year to encouraging her in the water, feeding her treats, telling her how wonderful she was, playing with her in the water.

It worked!

John was there, and so were one of the brothers and some of his friends but unfortunately I didn't get one picture of the fearless fishermen.

This girl was there and I think she was a bit bored. We're not very exciting, but she makes her own excitement too, worked on some art, kept company in the nicest way.

She was also present for the holy disaster where Dani killed a squirrel.   I let her do it, tossed the leash loose. I thought it'd run up a tree and laugh, but it didn't.  She got it by the tail and threw it high in the air. It was an awful scene. 

Poor squirrel. He was just doing his squirrel thing in the woods, didn't deserve that.

When we got home, Dani greeted the cats casually, "Hey, what's up?"

She could toss them ten feet in the air, but no.

I do not understand.

But it was still a really nice weekend.  Love you all, MOM aka Grandma

arsenic and old lace

Our guy was Reverend Harper and only had lines in the first scene, but there were a lot of lines and he's a phenomenal actor, one of those one in a million people who don't get stage fright.

Doesn't bother him a bit. He's a natural.

This was so well done too, the scenery was beautiful and since the whole thing takes place with this one set, they really could put everything into it.

Final bow at the end:

 

Nice job, Buddy!

We're proud of you.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

frisbee!

 So cute.

Love, Grandma