end of the year

 All the programs, celebrating the end of the year, fun, hot, wild.

 The dance recital was fun, good music, great dancing, paced to keep moving.

 She was not scared at all, danced beautifully.

 Yes, she's laughing at him on the floor.

 Apparently other people find that silly kid funny also:

And that's the end. 

So much love, Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

spring morning

 The morning was fresh and bright after the rain.

Love, Val

scared of thunder

The dog is scared of thunder, came running to our room in a panic and threw herself down on the leftover nests on our bedroom floor from when the little granddaughters slept over.

(I hadn't washed the blankets or put any of this away yet.  It came in handy.)

The man who has said he's not a dog person hopped in the nest to comfort Elin.

She was glad.

Later in the night when the thunder came around again, she appeared in our bed standing between us, barking at the lightening out the window, pretty disruptive, but that's okay.

Spring is here.

Good thing she's cute.

Love, Val

eighth grade band concert

 It was her concert, and it was beautiful.  It's fun to be in that very old auditorium, all that middle school energy.

They did a great job.  Julia won an award.

So much love, MOM and Dad and Everybody

cousins sleepover

 There aren't usually Sunday night sleepovers, but we had to get up very early, so this seemed like a good idea.

It was a beautiful morning.

It was a great cousin day, so much fun.   You girls are so sweet.

So much love, Grandma

flowers!

 We dragged the kids to Malmborg's and bought flowers.   Last year I bought many from the home center near us, and they never looked as good, even after all summer, as the Malmborg's plants do from  the first day.

Okay, look at this.  That's a dog dish filled with sand and water.  Things tend to go off the rails.

Yeah.

 We got it done, and everything is looking beautiful. When we were done with the flower pots, I got the hose and some laundry detergent and we scrubbed the patio again.

 She's working.   And this amazed me:  She remembered this place from a year ago, and remembered they had child-sized fancy shovels, and asked for a new one.

I mean, of course.   Yes.  Any shovel you like.

 Candy Corn Vine!  A few years back when we were at the nursery buying flowers, I told the kids they could each choose one of their own.  Tim picked Candy Corn Vine. 

And it was adorable, grew and blossomed all the way until frost.

He's big now, and beyond trips to the nursery with me, so I bought two for him anyway.

It was a lovely Saturday.

Love, Val

mother's day, 2018

It was a lovely day, hosted by Heidi and Joe, and also Kirsten this year.  Everybody brought food and it was a feast.

 The usual crowd was there, and also Jay's parents and mine, which was extra nice.   I wish I'd taken more pictures.  But then I don't want to be the intrusive person shoving a camera in everyone's face either.  You know.

They all love to get in her room and into all these trinket-y toys, all the Shopkins and LOL Dolls.

 Here they were playing family, putting the babies to bed.

 Awww. buddy.  I sure do love you.

 It was warm and beautiful outside.

And we all sang to this girl again.   Maria baked that masterpiece of a cake.  It was seriously very, very cute.

Onward.

Kari is home, done with her semester and James will be home in ten days, and also Aaron will be here the summer too.

Thank you guys for this lovely day, and Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Mom