Edited for your enjoyment

strong>ooops!
Wrong link on my previous entry. Click HERE to see my photos in Onawa.

updates galore
Both Kara and Eric updated at the same time. I'm going to watch the skies for meteors tonight. Something must be in the stars. I got several complaints this weekend from my fan base about my lack of postings. I would like to remind everyone this is the view from the middle ages and I'm tired. A lot.

Easter bonnets
We spent Easter with the Stowers clan. The folks got asked to minister at a nursing home Sunday morn. Don and troop went with them. David, Sam, and Mary are wonderful singing hosts. David and Sam are said to be quite nice singers as well. Must get that from their Pretty Aunt Pam. As for Easter bonnets, Mary put on a very nice style show for everyone (individually) with her new Easter outfit - flower decorated bonnet included.
Our gang showed up at the homestead to unlock and Ryan promptly took over the kitchen. We ate very well. Ryan's sweet potato recipe was superb. Quite different from others we have had and still fabulous.
After sampling Ryan's talent in the kitchen, many family members volunteered to let him stay with them for awhile. When we explained that meant they got Sandra as well - and ALL of their stuff, the offers fell away very quickly. Don's hanging in there though, Bless his hungry little heart! (just kidding Mo! Don swears you can cook!))
Don was gracious enough to poor most everyone's ice water at dinner. Unfortunately, he chose over my head to do this kind gesture. And Don must be getting weak in his graying old age. He was getting shakier and shakier with each glass and ended up accidentally spilling quite a bit on me. I was understanding - He being so much grayer than me - aging not quite as gracefully.
Shortly before his long trip back to KC we were sitting across from each other at the table. Erin was handing a (luckily) distracted Don at nice 32oz. glass of ice water. I thought it looked a bit full and heavy for her so I took it from her. I reached across the table to set it in front of Don and unfortunately, the glass was a bit top-heavy. It spilled entirely down the front of Don. I went behind Dad (to explain the situation to him, you understand). Don eventually forgave me and asked for a hug. Mind you - he was very wet, but I didn't let that stop me from showing my affection for my little brother. As I reached around to hug him, I reached down toward Alyssa, who - kindly lent me her fresh glass of ice water - which I poured down the back of Don as we shared the "special moment".
Don and I refer to it as baptizing each other. A very sweet Easter gesture. He introduced me to the Catholic method of pouring - I introduced him to the Pentecost method of immersion. :)


Woo Hoo!
The trailer is home and in our driveway! I spent Saturday cleaning and organizing. It will be two weeks before our schedule allows for camping. We are taking our furry girls this year. They already love their time in the trailer and even ask to go out to it. I still have cleaning and packing to do in the trailer, but I have lots of time to get it done. We have our campsite reserved for the weekend of April 23/24th at Saylorville. We will be in spot #78 at Cherry Glenn. The folks will be across the road in #77.

Graduation Celebration
and a Happy Birthday
We have reserved campsites at the KOA west of Des Moines for the weekend of May 14 & 15th. We will celebrate Rand's Birthday and have a COLLEGE GRADUATION RECEPTION FOR ROB. Rob has chosen to not attend his graduation. Something about a few thousand graduates, several hours, blah blah....$o this is everyone's opportunity to let Rob $ee exactly how proud you are of hi$ achievenment$.

growing up and stuff
David Thomas will have first communion this Saturday.
Erin is tanning for her first prom.
Sandra passed her CMA class with an A and takes her state boards this Saturday.
Rob moves this Saturday - again with a little help from Rand and Ryan.

hmmm
Is any on else just a little suspicious this break up is looking somewhat like Rob and Megan's last break up? They made a big deal out of breaking up last time. Funny thing was - no one could tell they were broke up. Then they got back together. And still, no one could tell the difference.

old dogs and new tricks
My furry friends had their spring check ups. Both are in pretty good shape, but our vet is quite clear in letting me know my friends are aged dogs. Girlfriend, although older, is in slightly better health. Kizzie suffers from dental problems - which in turn lower her over-all health quality. Both have slight cataracts and Kizzie has more loss of hearing and smell. Usually smaller dogs live longer.
Aunt Harriett had an interesting insight to Kizzie's helth. Girlfriend is pure http://www.arl-iowa.org/ mutt. Kizzie is a cross of two purebreed parents. Poodle and Shih Tzu. Purebred's tend to have more health problems than mutts.

Rob complained about Eric and I my lack of links when we blog. I hope I did better this time. :)

it's almost over
The week is nearly over. Time flies when you're having fun (or even just keeping busy).
We have completed a brick landing at the base of the steps of the screen porch. Still need to finish walks and barbecue platform.
I fenced off the better part of the backyard and seeded it down. I think it would have been easier to fence an area where the dogs could go, instead of where they couldn't.
My fish pond is up and running. I'm down to nine fish. I lost two over the winter.
We spent a day visiting Aunt Harriett (she's still wonderful).
We spent a day looking at 5th wheel campers. Now repeat after me: "No, we are not buying!" Rand's having a little trouble with that concept.
We rebuilt the old utility trailer and now it is a very fine canoe trailer.
And finally, yesterday we visited Onawa. Site of the July family camp out. Check it out on my photos page.

dog gone
Larry's (our neighbor) dog took out after Larry when he left his house - in his truck. The little fellow is a lot like Kizzie. About the same size, color, and number of brain cells. Larry honked as he went by. I looked up in time to see the little fur toy chasing the truck. It was pretty obvious Larry wasn't going to see him. Rand and I jumped in the truck and headed after Larry and his dog. Down the street we finally saw the dog running back toward us - no sign of Larry. The dog had lost his beloved owner, but was just as happy chasing the new car he had found. We hoped he was headed back to home, but he chased the car right by Dosh. We were still in pursuit, but by then the happy little fellow was headed our way again - chasing another vehicle. I jumped out of the truck. Rand got traffic stopped. The little guy wouldn't let me pick him up, but I did get him herded back onto Dosh. The little white poopy head wasn't headed for his house yet. I finally just sat in the grass. He finally decided to come meet me. I caught him and Rand brought a leash. We escorted the furry little idiot home. Later, I saw Larry sneak around the side of his house with Kenny. They waited - and pretty soon here come my little white fugitive. He had figured a regular way out of their backyard.

and speaking of chases
We saw a robbery in progress while turning around in the Home Depot parking lot. We were able to get the license plate number for them. Rand was turning around (he was a little lost) and I had him stop. There was something about the guy running out of the Home Depot with a very large box. Especially since he was looking behind him instead of where he was going. He literally threw the box in his car and took off. We followed until we made him too nervous. We were able to get the car's plate number. We called Home Depot, did confirm they had just had a rather large loss, and gave them the plate number.

24th
Tomorrow is our 24th wedding anniversary. Pretty good trick beings I'm only 21.