Big blog #1

OK. so let's get started with part 1. Why part 1???? Because I have so many things to tell you that it must be done in 2 parts!!!

Lukas was here on Friday and that just happened to be his aunt Yaya's birthday. She got out of work a little early so she could spend some time with him. It was a beautiful day so they decided to decorate gpa's driveway with some chalk!!

She did draw him some flowers, trees, suns, and many other things, but the one I liked best was this one!!

Once gpa came home they played with some bubbles and then someone got sprayed with water while the other was washing the soap off the drive!!! You can't really tell but, he was WET!

Then he had some work to do so he was off!!

Then it was time for a little relaxation on the swings. They chatted about a lot of things, but especially about the owls. There just happened to be a owlets in the tree just above the swing set.

On to Saturday

Years ago and I do mean YEARS AGO, we bought a catamaran. We only used it a few times when the rudder broke, and quite honestly we had our 26 footer and soon after got into biking, so it has been stored in my parents barn. How long you ask? Well. the last time it was registered was in 1992!!
It may have been a little dirty!

Parts were brought out and cleaned. Here they are drying by the barn.

Jesse and Lukas were over to lend a hand. The hard part was getting the hulls out of the loft in the barn!!

That's 15 foot of boat to get around all those corners and down the steps!!

Everything looks good, a little soap and a wax and it should be good to go???


Next door to my mom and dad's they are raising some sheep so Sarah took Lukas to check them out!

She also wanted to pose in the barn....silly girl!!

Then it was time to get to work...Lukas was a really hard worker!!!

He LOVED it!!!!

He scrubbed and scrubbed!!! Hey it had 18 years of dirt on it!!

OK, once he had it all washed it was up to gpa and daddy to start to put things together!!

He thought that they could handle it themselves but they needed some coaching!!

A little time out to hang with Prince.

Time to lace up the trampoline....Lukas was there again to help out!

No dad.......wait it needs to be tighter!

He had all his tools , and was ready for anything!

Now to check out the lines...a little tangled but all in all in great shape.

Love this boy........just the CUTEST!!

After hours of hard work even he needed a little nap!

Then it was time to try the sails.........hoist that up gpa!!!

At some point some one got into something in the garden.....and didn't notice till a little later!!! haha

Amy came over after work to check out the progress and hang out on the tramp.

Jesse worked so hard he blew out his shorts!!!! Hey, a little duct tape will fix anything!!!

Lukas wanted to point out the big #'s on the sail.

Well it looks great for a 25 year old boat!!! A number of years ago when Dave didn't want to deal with the repair or the storage he gave the boat to Jesse. Out of sight out of mind!!! Now he wants to be a Indian giver!!!!

Let's go SAILING!!

Part#2

It has been a little while since I have posted about the owlets. This week has been VERY eventful! I was telling Dave today that this has been one of the best for owlet watching, and that is saying a lot!!!

Let's begin.........I think it was Wednesday night and we were in the living room when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye...there an a branch outside the window sat and owlet.....with the catch of the day!!

We were shocked at this!! We didn't think they were big enough to hunt and catch something that large!!! AWESOME!!

The next night I was taking out the trash just before it got really dark. Just as I got about to the container Something flew right in front of me, and into the tree just behind the shed. I went in to get Dave and when he came out one of the owlets was sitting just over head. While we watched #2 came flying in and landed on the roof of the shed. They were maybe 30 feet away from us. We stood and watched for a few minutes wishing it was light enough to take pics, because both landed on the shed and proceeded to strut their stuff!! LOL Soon Hootie few into a nearby tree and the owlets went to join her, it was a little uncoordinated and they sort of crashed into her. She let out a hoot and flew away with one of the babies joining her.

On Friday Lukas was visiting again and Grandpa found the owlets for him!! One was in the tree just over his swing set.

Can you see it????!!

I was able get this picture of him, or her.

Last night was the BEST!!!! We had just settled in when Dave noticed movement on the deck!! It was almost dark again and through the windows he saw the owlet on the railing. To say we were shocked is an understatement! I took a few pics (that didn't turn out) through the kitchen window. I wanted at least a bad pic....instead of none!! After that I thought, what the heck I am going to open the door!!! By this point they were on the owl perch that Dave built!!

OMG!!!


I could not believe that they sat there while I unlocked, and opened the door, slid open the screen door and stepped onto the deck!!!! I could not have been more than 9 feet away!!
I can honestly say that I was a little nervous because I was SO CLOSE!!!

I was also wondering where mom or dad were, because they are still very protective!!!

One thing we did notice it that they seemed to be eyeing Lukas's pool!!!.........

.......and this morning this is what we found!!

This pool has held air for the last month ......poor pool got pounced!!!

This morn they were still sitting in the tree over the side yard. Way to go Fred and Ginger!!

Here's to hoping for even more awesome owlet sightings!!

Someone SPECIAL!!

On June 25,1978 we were thrilled to welcome someone special into our lives!! She was a sweet little bald headed darling!

She had the most beautiful smile!

(Brace yourself little girl.......I know where all the bribery pictures are kept....I will try to not be TOO mean!!)

She was and still is Daddy's little girl!!

At one point she even liked the frilly dresses!!

She loved the outdoors..especially if she could find a rock.

Loved to pose for the camera!!

Thanks, for the fun with the Camp Fire Girls!!
Hand me Down Rose, the Bangles, Barbie and the Rockers!!

Even when you were being thrown in the water you kept your head up!!
(hmmm...who IS that boy? :)

You were always an angel to us!!

Birthday celebrations took place wherever we went!

Get Ready!!

These were the pictures I talked about earlier, I wanted to resist and keep them in the family but, I couldn't do it!!

Just remember I LOVE YOU!!! :)

Who owned HUGE white glasses, which they wore in the White Sands?!?

Your dad loved you in ponytails. Do you still wear footies???

Even in dire situations you kept a smile on your face. Who knew we made you sit on an ant hill, or that they would bite?? :)

Have you ever had a pancake thrown at you?

( Give me credit for putting a picture of me , with this hair up for the world to see!!)

I am forever grateful that you let me tag along on your high school adventures!

Especially, when there were sooooo many strange people involved!!

And when I WOULDN"T put the camera away, even in the days when we still used film.

You always kept a smile on your face!!

What.......7 rolls from the time you woke up till you got home was toooo many??

You are always so much fun to take along on trips. You bring joy to new experiences!!

You introduced us to Buddy Dave, and always made sure he enjoyed new adventures!!!

You were so proud when almost 4 years ago you purchased your first home and so were we!!

Your very own " Love Shack."

Now at least you could celebrate your birthday indoors!!

Both your dad and I are so proud of the fact that you and your brother have always gotten along famously!! Never have you had a fight or argument.

By the way what really happened with that hole in the door?

Always friendly competition!!

And a couple of months ago after a lot of looking and wondering you got the car of your DREAMS!!!

Your baby, your mimi!!!!

You are an incredible aunt..that is soooooooooooooo loved by one little boy.

AUNT YAYA!!! It is said with such enthusiasm!!!

You are always there with a smile to brighten the days!!
We are all so incredibly lucky to have this someone special in our lives.

From the very beginning you have been a joy to be with.

You are kind, caring, friendly,beautiful, cheerful,and cherished!!

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

You are LOVED!