A Happy Weekend Post

Here is Ralph, Keith's dad, at the Hereford House yesterday with little Brynn, 

who was born the day of our family lunch last year!

The Hereford House is a Kansas City landmark, western-themed of course, and famous for 

it's steaks. 

This is the second year we have gone there, and the food was great as usual, and we had very good wait staff. 

As I waited for everyone, I was looking at the chandeliers... aren't they amazing?  They are all hand-tooled leather... as if they were made from saddle leather.  

Andrea, Keith's oldest daughter, and her husband Nick were our guests, because Keith's other daughter, Amber... was busy giving us THIS: 

Meet Carson Joel Sheets, and his big brother Jace... with their proud 

Papaw!  

Last year Andrea and Nick missed the lunch because Brynn had just been born, and 

this year, Jesse and Amber were missing.  Don't think that there weren't some jokes going around about next year's lunch!

So today, we celebrated! 

And here is the birthday girl herself, enjoying her cake! 

Keith's mom and dad drove down from Ames, Iowa, for the weekend, and we were so glad to see them. 

(notice the change of clothes after the cake!) 

And cousins Brynn and Jace loved the little schoolbus slide given to Brynn by another set of grandparents. 

As Keith said... these children are very loved. 

And then it was home to do chores after the Chiefs took a lead in their game this afternoon. How wonderful it was to be outside, scores of geese were going back and forth above me, as we are surrounded by beanfields on all sides.  I heard hundreds of them honking, but couldn't get the camera in my hand fast enough to get good pictures. 

And it got up to 40 again, and, as you can see, Icelandia is slowly turning back into Swamplandia. 

Wait... is that a goat in the pasture through the fence? 

Maaa Maaaa ... you forgot to let us in the yard!!!!

There are always chores waiting, and Soon-to-be-Skinny Minny was coming along with me.  I encourage her to get as much exercise as possible. 

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, and in all the beautiful home tours and 

gorgeous house dressing I have seen on the net this month, 

I have seen very little of the Reason for the Season....

The third Sunday of Advent invites us like this: 

"Gaudete"... which means

"REJOICE" as in the command to rejoice! 

Keith and I are doing that tonight, after a weekend of 

loving family... a new baby... seeing the older folks... celebrating a first birthday... and joying in the simple chores it takes to keep things going around here. 

Those are the things that are priceless, and that make us truly joyous. 

Happy Father's Day!

To All the Dads in our Lives, with us and not with us! 

Nick and Jesse, Dads

Ralph, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa

Keith, Dad, Grandpa 

Jim, Dad 

And my own dear Daddy, Joe, gone since 1969.  This is the ONLY picture of our whole family I have. 

My parents just did not take pictures, though we had an ancient camera.  I don't even know who took this for us, on the day my little sister Kathleen's adoption was finally final... she was seven!  We had had her since she was an infant, and yes, that is I sticking my tongue out, and standing on "moon boots"  a rare gift because of the occasion.  Our wonderful brick house on 14th street behind us, it was such a safe haven to grow up in, a block from our church and school. 

My dad standing tall and proud, and my brothers in their early 20's... a long, long time ago. 

Three of them gone now. 

Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads out there! 

First Birthday

More family stuff today, it was that kind of weekend!

 

Looking natty, isn't he?  Bubba, Baby Jace, I mean.

 

 

He had about a bazillion cousins there from the other side.

 

 

Great Grandparents Trudy and Ralph got in some baby time, too.

 

 

The kids, despite temps in the SIXTIES, played on this device in the back yard, they ran warm water into the swimming pool part (at the front) that holds it down.  Day, the retriever looking at the camera, had jumped in with the kids.   He had just gotten out, he's twelve but wanted to swim with his friends!

 

Came home to do chores, water the flowers, tidy things up, and get ready for our vacation week.  We leave Tuesday for the Chateau on the Lake, at Branson, Missouri.