We Got Them Going!

Back in July I got a kick ass deal on digital photo frames...

So I got everyone one, even me!

During the holiday season, they were the farthest from our minds...

But Mindy being Mindy, she's always busy, as soon as her tree came down 

(Mine is still up), she started loading photos into hers.

Henry LOVES photos, especially of him, but he loves Teagan and Locklan too.

So it was a huge hit with him...

He even talks to it!!

I got a text from Ashley...

Her kids were fascinated as well!

Of course, I had to set mine up too...

Now last year I bought my mom one but since she didn't have internet access, you had to load the photos into hers...

Ours has wifi...we can send pictures to each other's frame.

Oh what fun!  Mindy got to see Tony's second grade picture!

Simple pleasures...

 

Rolling on the River!

The weekends are flying by,

I'm never going to find the time to sort through stories and photos...

We've had two fun filled weekends, lots of kids playing in the yard...

A plugged up toilet...

If you've been around here for any amount of time, you know that when my family gets together, we get crazy!

Of course, we had Cody and his family there...

And Locklan grabbed my camera and snapped this photo of a giant flag...

Teagan loves the boat!  When you ask her if she wants a boat ride, she says, "Go fast!"

She'll sit with anyone as long as we go fast!

Of course, we have to wave our arms and scream...it's a tradition, you know.

Locklan loves to drive, with Andy's assistance, of course!

It took Henry a while to get used to the wind and sound, but by 

the second time he went out, he loved it!

 This last Saturday, Andy and kids ventured out on the raft.  Not me, way too cold!

~sigh~

The only thing I like more than boating season is Christmas!

Ahhhhhh!

What a weekend!

I had the kids on Friday while Ashley did the grocery

 shopping for the weekend.

Locklan 'invented' a new kind of face mask...

Teagan was her usual spitfire self, but late afternoon, she just got quiet...

Oh my, isn't she cute?

Ashley posted a photo of her and Griffin, their yellow Lab a year ago.

Griff was so tiny and Teagan didin't have any hair!

Mr. K and I had two very busy days at camp,

Andy and family had three!

Tony and Mindy and Henry came on Sunday.

I'm sorting through photos

(I let Locklan use my DSLR as long as he keeps the strap around his neck)

So far, I have deleted 120 photos of Cody on the jet ski!

We can talk about it tomorrow.

Until then...

Stay home, stay healthy, stay safe!

Where's January?

I can't believe January is almost over...

I was just getting started!

I want to thank those who have reached out, asking if I was okay.

The truth is, 

I think so.

Changes, that's the theme around here.

Effective January 1, Mr. K (almost) retired at age 78.5,

after working more than 20 years in his current position

after more than 50 years in the water meter industry.

He did retire in stages:

When he worked full time, he worked 90 hours a week.

When his late wife got sick, he went part time,

that was 40 hours a week.

That's what he was doing when I met him.

Now he's a consultant.

To be honest, the only difference is that he gets a smaller paycheck 

and he comes out of his office at odd times for strange reasons.

He's often in the way, but occasionally I find him useful.

The other day, Teagan wanted to watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.

I wanted to watch Ellen.

Mr. K offered to take her into his office to watch the TV in there.

It worked out...Kinda….

Isn't it adorable?

Speaking of adorableness...

We had art day at Grandma Jan's/

Teagan made scribbles...

Locklan made lollipops!

He put him in a jar and took them home and gave him to his mom!

Oh...

Speaking of Locklan, he slipped in the tub on Tuesday and clipped his chin.

Andy called about 8:30 and asked if I could take care of Teagan while they

took Locklan for stitches.

They told them he could either get 3 stitches or they could use glue.

He got the glue.

He's my Brave Tiger!

Feeling Festive!

I found these glasses at the dollar store and thought we could do a photo shoot wearing them...

What I didn't realize was that they were too big for Teagan...

They just wouldn't stay on her head!

Big brother to the rescue!

He's so kind and gentle with her!

He kept adjusting them...

Asking her to stay still!

Adjusting her glasses over and over...

Finally, success!

Ever see a reindeer with attitude?

What fun!

Rolling on the River!?!

Yesterday I left home for the river

Without my phone.

A whole day without a phone?

I'm still feeling weak and wobbly but I will recover!

The problem is that I had only my DSLR camera

so I didn't get many photos...

But we headed to the river to meet Andy and crew...

And "Uncle" Cody

It was an early Labor Day picnic

and Andy's 33rd birthday.

We ended up with 6 other people

(again, no photos but the are probably thankful)

We sat and talked, watched the kids play and finally we decided it was time for a

Boat Ride!

Of course I grabbed my camera bag!

"Uncle" Cody had a new toy to share...

A new jet ski!

We all have great memories of our jet ski days...

That's Cody, paddling our jet ski.  Not sure why!

All willing and portable dogs got to ride...

Locklan decided he could take pictures with my DSLR...

Yesterday I had to delete 200+ photos that he took.

He wanted to photograph the 'castles' along the river...

And the bridges!

Family tradition is to cover your head when you go under a bridge,

a thing my father did with us when we were kids.

Locklan decided he wanted to swim.  Andy stopped the boat and took Locklan 

to the back of the boat.

He dipped one toe in and decided it was too cold!

He's such a hoot!

As we cruised the river, Cody kept 'hot dogging' us...

We kept asking Locklan if he wanted to ride...

He kept saying no.

Finally, he said he'd ride but only if his dad drove 

and only if he went "very super slowly slow"

And so it goes...

Very slow didn't last for long!

We always spent so much time at the river...

This is our 11th year there.

We barely used it this year.  

The weather was horrible.  When it wasn't raining, the river was so high and filled with debris.

We had damage to the docks.

Family things going on...

It's hard to believe that summer is officially over.

Tomorrow, the neighborhood kids will be back in school.

Locklan will start his second year of preschool...

But...

In 113 days, it will be Christmas!

Yay!

Whatta Week This Was!

Wow!  I can't believe it's been a week.

Where have I been?

Monday,  I had two fun guests...

First, our family artist...

Who also colored her goldfish crackers...

Accompanying her was her handsome brother!

That afternoon, Andy told us he had been working on a special project...

more on that later...

It took half of Tuesday to recover and bright and early on Wednesday

I popped in to sit with the kids at their house!

That's when I found out that Teagan has a little stool that she pushes around 

so she can climb on things...

dining room tables...

Kitchen sink...

Ashley's recliner

and the door knob to Locklan's room where he was asleep!

I kind of expected this when Andy sent me this photo a few days before...

I finally got to see what Andy had been working on...

He made Locklan a mini buggy out of an old lawn tractor!

Yes, it runs!

The guys had pretty special plans for this weekend...

They were going to an off-road mower event!

It was quite an occasion, they even had trophies

(courtesy of Andy)

Locklan was sooo excited to be able to drive his buggy through the muddy trails!

He hung out with the big guys...

I think they even put him to work!

He did have one mishap, though...

Buggy up a tree!

Meantime, Ashley and Teagan had a girl's day...

And we all know that an all-girl day means selfies!

Can you tell they are related?

How did I end my week?

Picture this...the 60th class reunion of an all boy Catholic School!

Mr. K in his youth...

Mr Math honors...

Mr. Perfect Attendance...

I can't remember the rest!

First time I went to a class reunion where they celebrated Mass.

It was fun!

 For Now, Mr. K is waiting for me to take him out to dinner.

Tomorrow is his birthday but I'm leaving in the morning for my happy place...

Thousand Islands.

If you see Mr. K out and about (in my VW convertible), wish him a happy one!