Let's Clean Up!

 I know that I have so much to talk about

but I'm still playing 'catch up' after being out of commission for all that time...

But I want to keep in touch, and I want to share my family...

Now I don't know if you know, but I'm a Norwex junkie!

Just before Ashley was going back to work and I was going to watch Locklan

My neighbor introduced me to the products that would clean your house with just water...

No Chemicals!

I fell in love.  I had a crawling baby...I didn't want chemicals on the floors!

It took a while, but little by little Ashley fell in love with them too.

She's now a consultant, which means we own at least one of everything they sell...

But seriously, after 5 years...

She posted these photos...

Now I don't know about you, but if I found a 'magic' cloth that would make my kids want to clean...

I'd buy two!

Seriously...

My boys were very helpful around the house.

Once, when my dad was in the hospital, his pastor said the would stop at the house for coffee.

Before leaving for the hospital, I wrote a note for the boys...

"Pastor Jeff coming.  Please do not leave your dishes in the sink."

That afternoon I came home to find the sink full of shoes and the dirty dishes on the floor beside the back door...

Kids...and you were wondering why I stopped at 4?

Okay, time to get busy...

Love to all...

Back to Back Weekends!

Whew!

Seems that I no sooner recover from one weekend, 

here comes another one!

This one was a little easier, 

We stayed at home on Saturday and got things done around here.

Early Sunday, we got a text from Tony,

He was at camp, ready to install the ladder on the new dock.

Later, he sent photos...

We were happy that he got that done.  

So much work to be done this year, 

The new dock, reworking the ramps,

installling hardware,

I'm so thankful for all the work the guys put in so we could enjoy ourselves.

This week, Mindy invited her family to come up and kayak.

There was Mindy, Tony and Henry; Dawna, Mindy's mom, and Mindy's sister, her boyfriend and dog were already out on the water when Mr. K and I got there...

just coming in...

Henry LOVES to kayak, in fact all three of our littles love it. 

Locklan got his own kayak this spring and when Teagan saw it, she had to get one too.

So far, she's not ready for the open water, she practices in her Great Uncle Mike's pool!

After we got everyone ashore, we ate (too much)

and caught up.  

I hadn't seen Dawna in nearly a year!

Then we decided that it was time to take a boat ride!

Henry was so excited.  He loves the boat.

He did get to help his dad drive...

Ashley (Mindy's sister), her boyfriend Kyle wanted to go tubing.

Looks like fun, doesn't it?

Of course, you were never towed by Tony...

He can be brutal!

Finally, we were on our way back to the dock.

Kyle was in charge of making sure the tube didn't blow away.

Forrest made sure her daddy didn't blow away...

~sigh~

It was a good day.

Henry, who is usally on a schedule, did not nap.  

He was so excited to have everyone around at his beck and call...

It was almost 8 when we left.

That's his bedtime when he has a nap.

He was still going strong as Tony strapped him in his car seat.

Two minutes later...

What a great day at Camp Manfred!

In My Life...

Every year I say I'm not going to think about it...

Talk about it...

Write about it.

Then this morning, Michelle, my sister-in-law, posted this oldie but goodie

of Mark, Tori and of course, Tony.

Of course, it brought back so many memories...

Like this day...

I know I'm not alone in missing him...

We'll get together again some day...

RIP Mark and Arnie on your 62nd birthday!

I Did Not Melt in the Heat!

So much happening, all so quickly.

I bought a swimming pool last year at the end of the season...

We finally got to set it up!

Of course, the kids spent lots of time here.

We managed a visit to Mom's house where all the little kids played...

Teagan and Henry really enjoy each other's company! 

My brother even came! He's so much like my dad, this is the only photo I got of him, (look carefully, he's in the white shirt).

playing with the kids. It was the first time Teagan and Henry met him. Locklan didn't remember him at all. 

Mom pulled out all the toys, but they were more interested in the lawn mower and wheel barrow.

Those kids were so worn out, I plopped Locklan and Teagan in the tub and they were asleep before we got

out of town!

I celebrated another trip around the sun... Yep, 69 and fine! 

Tony and Mindy invited us to dinner. Mindy (whose cooking I crave) let me choose dinner. I chose her Mongolian Beef and it was delicious! 

Henry showed me his tent... he has the neatest toy room! 

Of course we spent lots of time at the river.

Of course we did, it's been in the 90's!

Henry loves the kayaks.

.

Tony puts him in and they paddle across the river.  The river has been so low that there is a tiny 'beach' on the other side where they go to wade and throw stones

I went with Ashley and the kids to a state park near our house.

It was pretty stinkin' hot and the water felt good.

Lastly, we lost my Aunt Helen, my mom's oldest sister, to Covoid 19 on Sunday.  She was 93.

I can't believe she's gone.

We got to visit with her in February, when it was still safe...

That's my mom, Aunt Helen, My cousin, Mark, Locklan, me, Teagan and Anne, Mark's wife.

Anne lost her mother to Covid-19 this spring.

 Stay safe.  Wear a mask.  Practice social distancing.

Grandma Life

 I was sorting through some old photos and found two that touched my heart...

So much love between these three kids...

This one was taken the first time I baby sat all three at once...

I love being a grandma!

I just realized it's Tuesday.  I have a full day planned...

Oh The Joy!

We spent two days at camp this weekend.

Tons of work being done, I'll show you later,

But first...

This is what Locklan looked like when he tasted his first S'more

 I know...precious, right?

Oh Henry!

Actually it's Henry O. (for Oliver)

and he's quite a character!

More often than not, when they face time me,

he has something on his head...

a bucket, a box, occasionally a hat.

This was last night...

Tony took this one while we were talking...

Apparently, earlier in the day Henry found out that markers don't taste as good as they smell...

Tony found out that washable doesn't mean it comes off your kid.

What a kid!

Last night I heard him say grandma!

ahhhhhhhhhh, grandma life!

Now stay home, stay healthy and stay safe!

She's Sassy, She's Classy and...

She's TWO!

I can't believe it's been two years since I got that 5AM call...

Ashley's water broke!

We got this beauty that day...

Within a year, she was already a hoot...

And yesterday...

Let the terrible twos begin!

Happy Birthday, Princess, Grandma Jan loves you!

The story of Izzy Boyant

When Andy was 14, he saved his money to buy a

15 foot sailboat.

Andy and his Dad spent months restoring it.

When they brought it home, it seemed to be a white boat

But buffing proved it was bright yellow!

They named it Izzy Boyant because they didn't know if it was floatable.

It was!

A few years later, Andy sold her because he wanted a much larger boat.

A few years after that, we saw it for sale in someone's front yard...

Then we lost track of it.

Last week, Andy sent me this...

Yes, Andy got in touch with the seller.  

And yes, it's Izzy!

They spent their honeymoon on her.

Glad to see she is still making memories!

No, we are not going to buy her back.

Two motor boats, 

4 kayaks

a pedal boat

and various floating things...

No room at the dock!

Our Family is Growing!

Yes!  

We added another family member last week...

Meet Lucille!

She's an adorable black lab pup,

added to Andy and Ashley's tribe...

I think she fits right in.

Andy said that every time Teagan sees her sleeping,

She gets a blanket and covers her!

Celebrations!

On Saturday, we celebrated Locklan's fifth birthday

a week early, so everyone could be here...

We ended up with 21 relatives,

6 kids 5 and under...

two guests over 80 and lots of noise and balloons!

He's five?

How can that be?

Andy sat on the floor with Locklan to open gifts...

Of course, Teagan had to help!

People wonder why Mr K and I live in such a big house...

Technically, we have five bedrooms, plus a bunch of other rooms...

THIS is why.  I love family get togethers!

I still can't believe Locklan will be 5!