Happy Birthday, MacKenzie, Noah, Carter and Keegan!!!

It is wonderful having nine grandchildren! This week almost half (four) of our grandchildren have their birthdays! So fun!!! Having grandchildren, as any grandparent would say, is the icing on the cake...It is so different from when your own kids were little. You were always worrying about disciplining, activities, academics, teaching responsibility, showing them love and making sure they have the necessities of life. Grandchildren are the product of your kids and in so many ways like them. You see flashbacks to when you were younger with your little ones (their moms and dads). But as a grandparent you get to enjoy just being with them . Unfortunately, circumstances such as long distances keep you from being able to see them, but when we do it is great fun and moments and we will always cherish those moments.

So we would like to say....

Happy Birthday to Mackenzie....

Kenzie holds a special place in our heart! She is so cute and has a shy little smile that would melt any Grandparent's heart! She will be a big "6" years old on Wednesday. We loved when Jason and Lacey moved to Omaha and lived with us because we got to know her so much more. She is a very gentle, soft spoken and caring little girl.

Grandpa and Grandma love you, Kenzie and hope you have a great day!!!

Isn't this picture adorable!!!!

Happy Birthday, Noah!!!

Noah's birthday is on Friday...He will be "3" years old. We just love Noah. I have to laugh sometimes at him because he is so serious! But we can get a big grin out of him sometimes. He loves his "papa's" (Grandpa Rick and Grandpa Ron). When I went to visit several weeks ago and Stephanie picked me up at the airport...he wanted to know first thing where papa was. You can tell he is always thinking and figuring things out. What a handsome little guy he is!!!
We Love You, Noah....

Happy Birthday to Carter!!!!
Carter will turn the big "1" on Weds. July 29th. It's hard to believe that it has been one year already. He is such a cutie!!! He loves to flirt with you and has such big beautiful blue eyes. He is very good natured and an easy going little guy. He loves to see how things are made and investigate the area where ever he is at. We just love him!!!

Have a great Birthday!!! We Love You, Carter!!!

Happy Birthday, Keegan!!!

Keegan will be "1" on Wednesday, also. He is such a little character!!! He has the cutest grin...and loves to smile with the big grin on his face..What a darling!!! Keegan likes to laugh and and will laugh for a long time. He likes to tease his twin brother. It is so fun watching the two of them interact with each other. There is a special bond there.

Have a great day. We love you, Keegan!!!

Dumb Deer = Headache!

We all know deer are cute and adorable especially Bambi but....one dumb deer can bring lots of trouble and headaches. Rick had to spend the night in Pinedale WY, I had to get a rental, drive to pick him up and miss part of a family gathering. We tried to find out before traveling back to Omaha the status of our car but we didn't find out until a day after we got back that one dumb deer equals = a totaled car!!! We are now officially carless (I loved my Malibu) and trying to figure out how to get the rental back to Idaho and buy a new car! I will say that our insurance company has been great to work with and have helped tremendously! Great job, USAA!

Michigan's Best Kept Secret

What a wonderful trip to Mackinac Island and Rick was even surprised! It was a great "60" Birthday for Rick. He said he didn't even know the place existed. His guess was Maine (I would have loved that but I want more than just two days there!) As it turned out, we wished that we had been able to spend a few more days on Mackinac Island! It is on our wish list to return some day!!! Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are beautiful!!! Rick also loved the letters that our kids and their families sent. It was one of the highlights of his trip to read the notes from family on his birthday and Father's day.
Thanks, guys! We love you!

Mackinaw Bridge connecting upper Michigan peninsula with lower Michigan. World's largest suspension bridge - 5 miles long.


One of the ferrys that takes you from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island.


Rick on the ferry to Mackinac Island

Enjoying our ride!!! A nice person asked to take our picture!!!

Arriving at Mackinac Island

No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island - transportation is only by horse and carriage, bike or walking. Luggage is taken from the ferryboat and transported to your hotel by horse and carraige.

The Grand Hotel where we stayed. The whole island and hotel is like stepping back in time to another era. It was beautiful.


View from our room and balcony

Dressing up for dinner! Everyone at the hotel has to wear evening wear (coat&tie/dresses) after 6:00 pm

Another view from our hotel room.

View of other side of Island.

Front of Grand Hotel

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Happy Birthday to our son, Matthew! We have fond memories and cherish in having watched you grow from that cute little blue eyed baby boy into a father of your own with two cute little boys! Thank you for always being so caring and thoughtful to your parents. It's nice to know that you will always call us on Sunday night if we haven't called you yet! We appreciate your calls and all the pics to keep us in touch with you guys and the boys growing moments! We love it!!!

Thank you for being our son! We hope you have a Happy Birthday!!!

A Big Three Year Old!

The Big Sixteen!!!

Welcome to the world, Olivia!

We are excited to welcome our new little grand-daughter, Olivia Claire born on June 26th. Eric and Joy had Olivia Friday. She is such a beautiful baby girl and so sweet and little! Rick and I are so happy for her safe arrival. Eric and Joy are going to be such great parents!

Mackinac Island!!!

Where is Rick going on his "60th" Birthday???

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Mackinac Island is majestically set between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas in the Strait of Mackinac.

Mackinac Island is a premier vacation destination in the United States .Located in Michigan, it is like a step back in time to a place where transportation is limited to horse and buggy, bicycle or foot. Surrounded on all sides by water, it has managed to escape the changes of time. This authentic Victorian setting is preserved and enhanced by a small population of 500 permanent residents and scores of summer residents. When you step off of one of the Mackinac Island ferry docks, you will be walking into an authentic Victorian village. You will experience the hustle and bustle of main street just as it was in the early 1800s, but don't miss the beauty of Mackinac Island's interior, the peaceful lakefront perimeter, and the many historical sites to be found.

http://www.mackinac.com/

http://www.michigan.org/Partners/Mackinac-Island/Default.aspx?link=feat

http://www.mackinac.net/

The Last Clues!!!

Here are the last clues to "Where in the World is Rick going for his "60th"?

10. It is an island!

11. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. You get around by horse and
carraige, bikes and walking.

12. The movie, "Somewhere In Time", was filmed at the hotel we are staying at.

I'm sure these clues will give it away....Mandy and Faye got the state right and that it is in the great lakes area! Super guessing!

CWS Fun!

On Tuesday, Ron (Brett's dad) came to stay with us so he and Rick could go to the Arizona State Game at the College World Series. Now the question was whether they would get tickets or not. They have a new online method for getting tickets that season holders don't want. I checked it out all day on Monday to no avail but then late Monday night two tickets came available. They were great seats right behind home plate and a little to the right. The guys had fun and I watched it on TV while sewing. We enjoyed Ron's visit although it was short (he left the next day). How fun to be able to fly when you want to whereever you want!

What is a pasty???

Rick is really trying to figure where he is going...he even had someone from work call me to see if I would slip and tell her...but to her good wisdom she told him that she was siding with Ranae on it and not going to ask me. She called me just to say he was being nosey!!! I had a good laugh!!!

Some more clues...Where in the World is Rick going for his "60th"???

#8. You can enjoy a good "Pasty" as a lunchtime meal.

#9. Coat and Tie/dresses are the attire from 6 p.m. on everyday at the hotel at our final destination.

My Awe-Inspiring Power Walk!!!

Every morning lately, I have looked forward to my 1 1/2 mile walk. It is gorgeous. Two years ago, the civil engineers tore up the grassy area of our walk path to preserve it into a protected environmental area. It left the area looking like a bunch of weeds. Well, it isn't a weed patch at all. It has blossomed this summer into a beautiful area of wild flowers, plants and birds. It is such a great place to walk and the weather has been so perfect for walking lately.

Two new clues!!!

Some of you have gotten pretty close to the place....(and others...well, Nascar racing...Rick??? Pretty funny guess!!!) This is so fun!!! I love keeping Rick mystified!!!

Hint#6: There are sandy beaches, rocky beaches and forests...

Hint #7: Some of the areas are famous for growing cherries...

Where in the world is Rick going for his 60th Birthday???

A few new clues....

Where in the world is Rick going for his great 60th day???

So today as I was driving with Rick to work, he wanted to know what time we were getting back on the June 22nd. Then he wanted to know what time we were leaving from our destination to board the plane. Yeah, well I goofed and told him that the plane leaves at 3:00 but we will be an hour and a half drive from the airport...so (oops) that has to be the next hint!!!

Hint #4 - The final destination is an hour and a half drive from the airport we land at.

Hint #5 - It is Northeast of Nebraska.

Where In The World....

Rick's 60th birthday is coming up in three weeks on Father's day and since the kids can't be here, I decided to take him somewhere as a surprise. He knows that we are going somewhere but he doesn't know where!!! So I thought it would be fun to play, "Where in the world is Rick going for his 60th Birthday???" Every few days, I will give a few hints. If you want to guess, send it via the comments...Hope everyone makes a few guesses!!!

Hint #1 - He will be traveling by plane.

Hint #2 - It is by a large body of water.

Hint#3 - You don't need to use a passport.

Happy Birthday, Jason!

Today is Jason's birthday!!! As a mother, you look back at your children and their childhood and remember all the firsts: the first smile, the first tooth, the first time they walk, their first day at kindergarten, their first little league game and even their first date. I look at my oldest son and see all those firsts and then I see the firsts that he is also experiencing as a parent. I cherish seeing him walking with little Maddie in his arms, the gleam in his eye as he talks about his girls and their school accomplishments, and the way he looks at his young son when Kaiden is walking by his side. It has been a wonderful experience to see all that Jason has accomplished from those early moments and years of life to being a husband, a father and a responsible adult.

Jason, we cherish all those small but great firsts. You are a great son, husband and father and we are so proud of all you have accomplished so far in your life!

We love you!!! Dad and Mom

Jason's 1st Birthday

So adorable at two!!!

The big six year old!!!