Cousins!

Sometimes it feels like we never see

each other anymore. But we got to last winter.

 

It helps that some of them have moved

from warmer climes back to the Midwest.

 

And that others of them

have plane tickets, will travel.

 

It IS fun to get together

with family.

 

Yay, BC&J. (And SMA, too!)

 

This time: in Minneapolis.

 

{December 2012}



Number Nine

 Its a Toothless cake!

(the boys are a little obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon.)

Nephew #2 was pretty happy with his cool cake!

 

{8 September 2012}

Bad growing season?

I've been hearing this and that

here and there

off and on

about it being a bad year for gardens

in our area of Muscatine.

Well, the tomatoes must like this guy...

They're taller than him

AND all over the garden.

{September 2012}

Ski show

 For something different to do,

we went to see the Backwater Gamblers

last time the 'phews were in town.

 Look who met us there!!

 The ski show was pretty amazing...

imagine one boat pulling this many people!

 And that many people

piling up into pyramids like this.

Oh, and here's what the boat does when its NOT pulling.

Lots-o-power, perhaps?

{July2012}

Kitty-kats

 My sister has a gargantuan cat.

His name is Sylvester.

Even though he's huge,

he's pretty much a ragdoll.

Welll...during my nephews' birthday party,

we discovered some kittens next door.

And this one is a mini-Sylvester.

Hmmm.

{21July2012}

Nephew #1 turns 10

 My sister makes the coolest cakes.

Currently, my 10-year-old nephwe has a snapping turtle in his room.

Its tiny.

So...his cake said 'Snappy Birthday'.

And we got to watch him open presents.

The pile was a little smaller this year.

{21July2012}

Unplugged

 Even though I'm not their mother,

sometimes I worry that these guys will get

toooo attached to their video games.

So...last time they visited, we went to the pond.

 They caught and released this frog. {Several times.}

 Got the garbage out of the sinking skiff.

{And yes, that green stuff IS mostly poison ivy.}

 Netted minnows out of the stream.

{Amongst more poison ivy?}

And even found the tiniest garter snake I've ever seen.

{The poison ivy aftermath was a little discouraging, but we'll do it again, with layers!}

{June 2012}

Sunset on the Mississippi

There's a first time for everything.

And this was my first time on the Mississippi.

(at least, the Mississippi near Muscatine)

And yes, I've lived here for nearly 10 years.

It was a lovely evening.

So lovely that we stayed out too long

and had to put up the boat lights!

{June 2012}

The Good Wife

My sister.

She's amazing.

And yes, she can back up a boat trailer.

Among other talents.

{June 2012}

Seeing the aunties..and cousins

There's been lots going on with the aunties and cousins

on my mom's side of the family.

We got to see them recently, so I had to take some photographic evidence.

 First of all, this little guy was born.

He's my cousin's first.

And she's an only child.

So grandma is kind of excited!

 Next, my aunt and her fiancee finished their hut in the woods.

Well, nearly finished.

At least the upstairs is livable!

Last time I was there, there were snowflakes on the floorboards.

Oh. And they got married June 1.

Accomplishments!

Said aunt's first son graduated in May.

I got to make him laugh so he'd actually smile for some

senior portraits.

He's off to camp this summer.

National Guard style.

We wish him happiness and prosperity.

{May 2012}

Conversation with a goose

A lovely trip to

Anderson Japanese Gardens

in Rockford.

 In which le Kiwi speaks to a goose. Nicely.

 And we see lovely dogwoods.

 Cascading water.

 Pose with our momma.

And contemplate the possiblity of adding water features to our own gardens.

{May 2012}

Accident prone

This is what one looks like

one week after

taking quite the header

off a bike.

We're all glad Brod-eye is a-ok!

{April 2012}

Normal Christmas activity?

This is interesting. Why is mommy being duct-taped?

Figuring out a plan of coverage.

Mommy's a robot!

Can I be trusted with scissors?

I think she was very scared!

But, the finished product had no bloodstains.

What is it?, you may ask.

"A truly body-shaped dress form," would be my answer.

{December 2011}

Gingerbread beings

Inspired decorator.

Bored decorator.


Goofy decorator.

Disturbed decorator.

COOKIES GALORE!

Why yes, that IS a sasquatch, thank you very much.

And yes, he does have extra chest hair.

No normal gingerbread people for us.

{December 2011}

What will this be?

Awww...looks like its time for decorating gingerbread men.

How cute!

(to be continued tomorrow....)

{December 2011}

We have another knitter.

Imagine my surprise when nephew #1 told me he wanted to learn to knit.

I taught him.

He picked it right up.

And he stole my knitting-in-the-car headlamp, the bugger.

He wanted to get this washcloth done quick so his mom could use it.

I will say...he finished it.

I would also like to add it was a hair short of being as large as my sister's hand.

But I'm sure she'll treasure it.

And use it, too.

December 2011

Thanksgiving in Lena

The crew!

{Thanksgiving 2011}

Helicoptors everywhere

If you look closely, you can see the helicoptor by grandpa's leg.

My cousin got the hang of it realllly quickly

after every single male in the household

possessed themselves of a remote control

'copter at Thanksgiving time.

{November 2011}

Hikers.

I actually planned something for once.

And a bunch of people came.

This here is the hiking group..minus 4, I believe.

At Starved Rock State Park.

In Illinois.

We all started out together.

It was a lot later than we'd planned.

But everyone got there.

And it was a glorious day.

After about 15 minutes

it was quite obvious that we had

different speeds in the group.

This is the faster-paced crew.

And WHAT a crew.

I've made a pact with some of these peeps.

To do this again.

When winter is ended.

Fort Atkinson

When roadtripping to Fort Atkinson,

I would highly recommend a stop here.

Our kind hostesses at the bookshop

recommended the Frostie Freeze.