August 20, 2012
Is it really August already?
Today was the first day of school for Chris and Lori's kiddos.  Grandmothers also on deck for the big day!  Sophie goes to first grade and Reise started kindergarten this morning at Southeast Elementary.  Hard to believe that my children all went to this same school; Dana,  45 years ago, Chris 40 years ago, and Michelle 35 years ago and I taught kindergarten here for 2 years before going to Henderson Elementary.  Where does the time go?

Friday, June 15, 2012
Summertime!

I love summertime.  Maybe because I spent my early years in Telluride, Colorado.  Telluride is high in the Rocky Mountains and the town sits in a box canyon.  Winters are long and cold.  My mother used to say that in January and February the sun only appeared at high noon.  I have a vivid memory of one winter morning literally crawling up the icy sidewalk and steps to get into the school house in a blinding snowstorm.  One day my Mom loaded my baby brother into a box on our sled and told me to follow behind while she pulled the sled the few blocks from our house to my grandparent's house.  My brother fell off into the snow and I stood crying for Mom to come back and pick him up.  Of course she did but I really do not enjoy freezing winter weather.

Summertime in Telluride, however, was amazing!  I remember going to Sunshine Park for summer evening picnics and picking primroses which grew wild on the hillside.  The 4th of July was a huge celebration in Telluride.  During the day there were games, a firemen's water fight with fire hoses, catch the greased pig, climb the greased pole, hard rock drilling contests and a penny grab for the kids.  A huge BBQ was held at the town park in the afternoon and fireworks were amazing in the box canyon.

There is just a "feeling" to summertime days and this Tuesday was a wonderful summertime day.  My granddaughter, Ashlyn, who is "sweet-sixteen" came to spend the day with me and my younger grandchildren, Sophie - age 6, and Reise, age 4.  We had a wonderful summertime day playing in the park, running through the sprinklers, swinging, sliding, teeter-tottering, and swimming.

Here comes Summertime!  The Summertime I love!

Thursday, June 14, 2012
Hooray - I have received the service photos of my 2 nephews, Joel and Jeff, from their Dad,  my brother, Lin, in Texas.  Their photos are below.  Joel served in the Army and Jeff is currently serving in the Air Force.
I am so proud of these handsome young men and this rounds out our family military men!

I am still waiting for that visit from my grandson, Lance!  Hope to see him while he is in Greeley on leave from the Navy.

I am touched by the "Ode" to our military men and women found at this URL:
http://www.chaplin-nest.com/ode-to-u-s-military/ode.htm

God bless our military!

Sunday, June 10, 2012
I am expecting a long-awaited visit from my grandson, Lance.  Lance is in the Navy, currently stationed at Pensacolo, Florida for additional training.

Wonder if he will actually come?

Photos below are of my Dad, who was in WWII, Navy CBs, my son, Dana, retired after 20+ years in the Navy,  Grandson, Alex, currently stationed in Japan in the Navy, Grandson, Ben, currently stationed in Texas,in the  Army, and grandson, Lance, currently stationed at Pensacolo, Florida.

Last week we went to Orlando, Florida and visited The Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  My granddaughters, along with my daughter, her husband, Ivan,  and I, have been Harry Potter fans from the first book and it was awesome to go to Hogsmead and visit the castle.  We bought wands, got sorted on the Pottermore website and had an all around wonderful time.  Ohhh, Honey Dukes!  YUM!

Sadly I lost one of the 2 Chocolate Frogs I had purchased - maybe on the plane.  I HAVE to go back!

I am amazed at the numbers of visitors who appeared to share our enchantment with the site.  I am in awe of J.K. Rowling for the world she has created and the fans she has accumulated.  What an amazing author!  Many thanks for your creativity!

My granddaughters, Rhianna and Ashlyn,  peeking out of Honey Dukes at me.  We wanted to eat everything!

7:30 pm - additional post:
After a long day of looking at templates it's time to add some photos:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012:
I've been trying to customize this blog forever and finally have the banner photo with Blog title.  Now I'm trying to add a gallery page for the photos referred to in the title of the blog.

I do hope this doesn't take me as long as it has taken to get the banner photo to work!

My latest resolution is to FINISH what I start and I really want to get a blog going!  I recently discovered the magazine "Artful Blogging" and am inspired to work on blogging.

Lots of luck.

Artful Blogging