random pictures from the party

 Okay, here's the graduate with her cake.

When I went to pick this sucker up on Thursday, the bakery people realized by our conversation that the party wasn't until the next day, over 24 hours later.   

They asked if I had a refrigerator big enough to house this cake?

Nooo. I have two refrigerators, but neither one is this big.  Julia suggested the freezer? But that's a last resort.

So we went back the next day to fetch this beauty--cream cheese layer and all.

The big kids said something smart alecky to me about this cake.   (Surprise, surprise.)

I said, "Why you hatin' on my $100 cake?"

Whoa, no, not hating on the cake.  Impressed. We are impressed.

 Maria and Heather above.  Lydia below.

 Here's Maria with Jody leaning on her shoulder.   Jody has been a friend to Maria ever since she was a small and grumpy child who struggled to find a smile and say hello.    (Maria adores her. We all do.)

Maria and her godparents below:  These two are now grandparents to FOUR children, and life is not at all quiet.

This makes me very happy.  No kid could have a better godparent or grandparent than these guys.

He told us about a day when he was under a cabinet that was too small, poor light, trying to figure something out, and a  kid was all over his back and head yakking in toddler-speak, hard to understand.

Finally he realized the child was asking him for a high-five, so he extracted his hand and the kid slapped it and ran away.  He says he remained on the floor under the cabinet, grinning.

 Jay's big brother and Maria in the kitchen.

 And a yard full of easy-going guests.

Alicia's little brother and his wife had a baby a few months ago. Here he is: cousin to b.g. and t.g.  His parents were my very first real estate clients some years ago.  That they were brave enough to trust rookie me to assist with the purchase of their home?

Yeah, I have a big soft spot for them. And this kid is just too cute.

 More cousins and uncles in the yard, having fun.

 Heidi and Joe:

 Okay this is my good-natured mother in law with a couple of my grand kids--her great-grandchildren.

Oh, gosh, they're fighting.  Look at her laugh.

I love her.

It was a great party, and I wish we had more pictures, but we do not.  We distributed leftovers and ate leftovers today.  That's a good part.  Nobody wants to host a party like this and run out of food.

Jay cooked while I was at work last week, and others brought food, and we ate well.

And Maria?  You beautiful girl?

Congratulations on a job well done.  You worked hard and made the most of these four years.

I hope the next four will be even better.

love you so,  MOM and DAD

maria's graduation day

Here's the graduate:

The ceremony was outside, though that seemed like sketchy plan with the clouds, cold, and rainy mist.

The principal spoke.

The band played.  James is there somewhere, but I can't see him.  There was quite a search for the black dress pants too, but they were finally found, right in the closet in the room.

This is afterward, the gang exiting the field.  Some lady would NOT let anyone cross the field, walk on that turf.  Pretty sure people run around on that turf constantly.  Why nobody can touch it tonight?  We don't know.

 James about froze to death, no jacket, sitting in the band.

 Here she is:

 Here's a bunch of them. Heidi took p.j. and made an exit at some freezing cold point.

And her dad wasn't here because his back is trashed. Trashed, I tell you.  He's walking like a duck, can't walk up and down in the cold or sit on bleachers.  He stayed home to cook, with Tim as his trusty sidekick.

The refrigerators are full of salads and bbq pork for sandwiches for the party tomorrow night.  Today after lunch I told b.g., "Do you know you're coming back tomorrow for a party at this house?"

He didn't know, but his eyes were wide and surprised and happy.

I named many of the people who will be here, and there will be lots of food.  "Tell your parents.  Tomorrow you have to come back for the party."

He finally asked, in his own preschool way, what the occasion was. Why the party?  I told him it was for Maria.

Well, I guess he told his parents, but couldn't remember why. Just know: Party.

Little Jay babysat those guys today.  He went over there early before they went to work and then came back here over lunch to mix it up a bit, then went home again for naps.  (Unsuccessful, btw.)  Anyway, watching him today, hugging with the baby, encouraging b.g., I mentioned to him where had he learned his fine baby-wrangling skills?

He snickered, "Mother, I've been preparing for fatherhood since I was a little child."

Probably true.

There was a time when a little brother sat on the toilet and then kicked his underwear off and Jay was searching for the turd among the bath toys.  He was so unamused.

The laughing kid on the toilet finally told him, "It's still in the underwear."

Yah. Laugh it up, Chuckles.

(He was well prepared for whatever this day of babysitting might bring.)

Anyway, on that fine reminiscent note, CONGRATULATIONS MARIA.  You've done did it, and the future is all yours.

love you forever, MOM and DAD

are we having fun yet?

love,  Val

going for a ride

 The kids are happy they're big enough to drive the tractor.

 Wow, everything turned green all the sudden.

 The bikes were out too.

 Not sure why t.c. and Julia are walking their bikes here.  This summer he's no longer even like a little kid anymore.   He's seven now, still waiting for his front teeth to grow.

June is finally here, and Maria's high school graduation is tomorrow.   She's babysitting for Dan and Alicia today and she is on my bed with b.g. explaining to him how to play Tree Town on her Ipod, going on about bunnies and ferrets and dolphins.

(I don't get it.)

Onward

June is looking fine.    love, Val

a quick trip to the farm

On Saturday we went to my parents' place in Wisconsin.   My parents made lunch for all this crew and we had a really good time.

Inside this old log cabin are the toys--the dress up clothes and jewelry, the trucks and balls and pogo stick and who knows what all else.  They keep busy for hours going in and out of there messing around.

 There they are in dress up clothes.  m.c. has on a fancy old Gunne Sax dress that my cousin once wore to a special occasion.   It's very pretty, all her old dresses are.

 I wonder what they're talking about?

Later in the afternoon, we all headed back to the lake again.  It's not a far drive from one place to the other.

Thanks Mom and Dad for a great time.  love, Val

no time tonight

It's too late to sift through all the pictures from the weekend.  (It was fun.)  Tomorrow maybe.

But this picture made me laugh right out loud.   That's Dan, standing in the bathroom doorway supervising his kid in the tub.

See the kid? The grin? The big red goggles?

Oh my goodness. 

Yes.

love you all so, Mom, aka Grandma