Memorial Day~ It is crowded in here!

Memorial Day

Many cities and towns still have parades and celebrations in memory of the Veterans of our Wars on Memorial Day (Decoration Day). I appreciate the sacrifice that so many young men and women have given in the name of Freedom and the security of our country.Dad was in World War II.
There are people who look forward to Memorial Day Weekend as the beginning of summer vacations. They enjoy camping, boating, fishing, golfing, etc. Others are eager for the Indianapolis 500 Race.

We like to get together as a family and enjoy our time together. Everyone gets to bring their "speciality dish" and the host provides the rest. If I continue on the path that I am on, I wont have to bring a thing. Jane never likes my food... hahahaha....
Jane had an excellent get together yesterday. We had lots of good food, fun for the kids, lots of laughs for the adults (along with some teasing) and a good weather day.

Matthew was so cute. Matthew has Osteogenisis Imperfecta (sometimes known as Brittle Bone Disease-he will have some dwarfism). He will be very short when he matures. He is definitely going to be left handed. He would throw the ball and laugh. It is amazing how curly his hair is getting. Matthew is 1 and wears 3-6 months clothes. We all just love him so much. Click Here to watch Matthew throwing the ball to Auntie Cindy.

Matthew / Grandpa Wagoner in background

Kids playing outside

Malia investigating the flamingo

The Griller and the Ole Griller!

It is crowded in here!

Now... this morning I was checking in on the wee ones. Jeeezzz.....those birdies are really growing. Now they can watch me as I watch them. It is a bit crowded in the nest though. In just a few days they have gotten so big. Of course Miss Robin is not at the nest as much now.

Is Freedom Free?

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.

~Daniel Webster

Remembering those who fought and gave their lives for the Freedom we cherish

Who kept the faith and fought the fight;

The glory theirs, the duty ours.

~Wallace Bruce

* Interested in the history of Memorial Day? Check it out here.

Watch me grow

Miss Robin is a very dutiful mother. She watches her babies closely and feeds her young ones. But...she makes if very difficult for me to get a picture of her with the little ones. I had to hide in the Pine Tree (standing on the ground) at quite a distance in order to get a photo of her with the babies. The picture is a little grainy, but I finally got one.

Miss Robin with her babies

The close ups of the babies isn't complicated. I walk up and shoot. My how they have grown from a couple of days ago. My sister said her babies were round little baby birds. I can't wait until my babies get older. Once Miss Robin has this clutch raised and out of the nest, the nest is coming down.

A few days ago

Today-Friday May 22, 2009

If I were a Bird

If I were a bird, I'd sing a song

And fly about the whole day long

And when the night comes, go to rest,

Up in my cozy little nest.

by Jackie Silberg

I am a 'Grandma' again!?!?

Goodness gracious........there is an addition of four to our family. Miss Robin hatched her 4 eggs. I have 4 new grandkids. I don't know their names yet. I will have to think on it. My Mother suggested- Hearnoevil, Seenoevil, Speaknoevil, and Evil. That may just be the names that stick with them.
I found it funny when looking at the photos I took, that the tuft of hair on the top of the babies heads look like a Mohawk. I had to laugh. My grandkids got a kick out of looking at them. There was one little dead birdie on our front porch. I am not sure why he was there. He didn't belong to Miss Robin though.



I will have to add to the progress of their growth in a few days.
It is the simple things in life that can bring us unexpected joy.

International Firefighters Day

I know. . . . I am a little late. International Firefighters Day was May 4th of this month. I was busy with the prom dress. Sewing on those 10,000 sequins. Ok, I may have exaggerated the number of sequins, but I was busy. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Luke our youngest grandson had a field trip the week of May 4th. He, along with the rest of the preschool class, went to the North fire station on their trip. The fireman put on his firefighting uniform (I guess that is what you would call it!) so the children could see what he looks like fighting a fire, and so that when they might see them (hopefully not!) they wont be fearful. Luke had a very good time. The children were given coloring books, and tatoos among other treats. Each of the kids were able to give the fireman a high 5. It is so important to have the children interact with the people we have in our communities that can be helpful to them. ie: policemen, ambulance personnel, firefighters etc. We must strive to protect these precious little ones and give them all the tools to be able to become productive citizens of this great nation.

Luke is the 6th from the right

Does One plus One equal Two?

What happened to the educational system in our schools? Is it to difficult for our children to know the math facts? Is it to hard to learn were Montana is located? Do they know our Presidents and their terms?
When I was in sixth grade I failed a spelling test. Ugh........... My Mother being the mean spiteful ungrateful dangerous irritating person she is,(I say this in jest) went to school and told my teacher to do what ever was necessary to make sure I didn't fail another spelling test. What? She didn't defend me? Nope ! My Mother knew I was so much better than I had attempted on that test. I knew I was much better. I had failed to put forth the effort to study and get a good grade. Let me clue you in on a secret. (I never failed another spelling test, and am an excellent speller to this day). I also had to stand in front of my Dad to recite the multiplication tables. Thank you Mother and Dad for taking the time to make sure I got the best education that was offered to me.
As I was reading the blogs I check daily, I read on this blog (A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words) a post regarding how Math has changed over the years.
With the world in the shape it is, we must be sure our children are as prepared as possible to face the challenges they have coming their way. Thank you Diane for your post. I certainly did enjoy it.

'Night Under the Stars'

'Night Under the Stars'

Wabash High School had their prom Saturday May 16th. It was held at the Honeywell Center.


Alex and her date (the boyfriend) David Shepherd went together. A group of the kids got a limo and went to Kokomo for dinner. They returned to Wabash for the prom and party. They had an after Prom party at the local bowling alley. I can remember when Alex was a baby. Where did the time go?

Alex and David

Next is graduation, and then on to college.

Alex's Prom Dress

This is the second year I have made Alex's prom dress. Last year she challenged me to make one that looked like the one Kate Hudson wore in the movie "How to lose a guy in 10 days". I think it was pretty close to the one Kate Hudson wore. This year she called me and had me check out a dress on the Internet. When I saw it, I was fearing the worst. Yep... she wanted me to make that one!

The dress has tulle on every inch of it, and 1200 sequins (each one sewn on individually). There was only a couple of adjustments that needed to be made. And one addition that took me most of the evening to complete. The sequins were the real hold up. I dreaded sewing them on, but it was just like most everything else we dread doing. Just take it one at a time, and before you know it, it is done. Tom did help me one day. I had purchased sequins that were of several different colors. He had the fun job of separating the silver ones out for me to use. I am glad this dress is done. There are sparkles everywhere in the house from the tulle. The skirt and bodice have double layers of tulle. Black under pink. The bust and straps have only black. Alex is very happy with the dress. The prom is this Saturday. They have a limo arranged to drive them around. I hope the kids have a safe and fun experience at their party.

MIA ! ! ! !

SEQUINS............SEQUINS..................SEQUINS............

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH............

yes, i am missing in action. i have sequins to sew on. individual- yes that means each one separately. i will return when this project is all done.

how do you spell one thousand?

Miss Robin

For some unknown reason, Miss Robin decided to build her nest in the corner of our garage window. I guess it is a better choice than on top of the electric meter where she has attempted in years past. Her only problem with the choice she made this year is that it is a busy place to have her nest. The garage door goes up and down, there is the mowing of the yard, people going to the front door, and she flies away every time a vehicle turns into our driveway. Miss Robin is a busy Mother Bird tending to her 4 beautiful blue eggs. In my effort to get the photos of her and the eggs, each time I opened our back door, she was instantly aware of my being close by. I was amazed at how perceptive she was to me. I am anxiously waiting to see the baby Robins when they hatch. What a marvelous event I get to observe this Spring.

I found this poem by George Cooper. It relates so well to the building of Miss Robin's nest.

What Robin Told Me

How do robins build their nests?

Robin Redbreast told me

First a wisp of yellow hay

In a pretty round they lay;

Then some shreds of downy floss,

Feather, too, and bits of moss,

Woven with a sweet, sweet song,

This way, that way, and across;

That's what Robin told me.

Where do robins hide their nests?

Robin Redbreast told me

Up among the leaves so deep,

Where the sunbeams rarely creep,

Long before the winds are cold,

Long before the leaves are gold,

Bright-eyed stars will peep and see

Baby robins--one, two, three;

That's what Robin told me.

Thankful

Today I am so thankful,

for a beautiful sunny day,

for a family that I can laugh with,

sitting on the patio with the sun shining,

being able to share time with my parents,

love felt from friends,

knowing I am a child of the King.

Today was a beautiful day and I am so Thankful.

In the Lord I will forever be Thankful.

And the winner is................

The Kentucky Derby

'Run for the Roses'

135th

Wow.........that was a great race. The 135th Kentucky Derby was won by 'Mine That Bird'. 50-1 odds of winning. The shocking upset took place on a very sloppy track at Churchill Downs. 'Mine That Bird' cost only $9,500 winning over other horses that cost millions. He won by a staggering 7 lengths. A 3 year old gelding that is owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Bueno Suerte Equine. It was amazing to watch the rerun of 'Mine That Bird' win the race. He was at the back of the group of horses, and worked his way up the inside of the rail. One little detour around another horse and (no pun intended) he was off to the races. A stunning end to the race. He ran like all the other horses were almost standing still. I enjoyed watching the race with Mom and Dad. Mother likes to pick the horse she thinks will win by the way they enter onto the race track. Her choice didn't win this year. The jockey (Calvin Borel) could not stop celebrating. His excitement was contagious. We sat and enjoyed the event as much after the race as we did watching the race itself.

Thankfully there were no injuries this year. When Barbaro went down, it was so sad. I had high hopes Barbaro would recover, but that didn't happen. Horses are beautiful creatures.

'Mine That Bird' with jockey Calvin Borel