God Bless the USA

Another Fourth of July is over. We watched the fireworks from the floor in the bedroom. We didn't care to venture out into the mosquitos so we stayed in the comfort of the house and saw a fine show. I guess I should explain here that in Watertown the fireworks were on Saturday, July 5th instead of the 4th, not sure why, but that is why I am documenting them today.
During our church service today we prayed for our country and sang God Bless our Native Land. My prayer is that the coming year will be one of prosperity and that God will bless our nation. Hopefully our gas prices will come down. Despite a few inconveniences this is still the best place to live. I pray that the war in Iraq will come to a successful end and the troops will be able to come home. One of my students has a brother in Iraq and I could tell by the way she spoke about him that it bothered her to have him there. (Even though she was young she still knew that her brother was in a dangerous place) Our class collected things to send over to her brother and his fellow soldiers. We ended up with four boxes full of shaving cream, soap, cards, magazines, pens, toothpicks, frisbees, toothpaste, socks, gum, and many other items to give the soldiers a taste and feel of home. The class made a book of pictures for Travis and they each dictated what they would like to say to him. Most thanked him for fighting and told him they were praying for him. I asked his sister what she wanted to write on her picture and she said"Please don't die." I tried to have her say some other things so I didn't have to write such a morbid thing, but she insisted and I guess that was the prayer of her family and with those simple words she expressed what we all feel about all our soldiers. Thank you to all of our brave men and women who fight for freedom in Iraq and all other areas of the world.

Brats, Beer, Bathing Beauties

The girls enjoying a poolside snack of lemonade, raspberries, watermelon and pineapple.

Here are the girls enjoying a calm ride on their rafts, shortly after this photo was snapped, Nathan and Paul cannon balled into the pool upsetting the serenity seen here.

Here we have Paul and Nathan involved in quite a discussion. Paul looks dashing wearing Mallory's shades!

Here are the three bathing beauties getting ready to take a dip in Mallory's pool on the 4th of July.

As you can see by the pictures we had a beautiful day on the Fourth of July. The weather could not have been better for a pool party and the company was perfect.

Note to Tizzy: This is your Auntie Mallory's pool and I am sure you will have many happy times around this pool. Your Uncle Nathan bought you some cute little shades today so you will fit right in with your Auntie Alissa, your mommy, and your Auntie Mallory!

The Fourth of July-Looking back and looking ahead

Happy Fourth of July!

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and most people here in Watertown will watch a parade, eat a brat, toast our great country with a beer, salute a flag, wear something red, white, or blue, and flock to the park to watch the fireworks.

The Fourth of July was always my Dad's favorite holiday. When the girls were little we would pack up our car and make the mile trek to my parent's house as if we were staying for a week. We spent the entire day with them. First we watched the parade. My Dad always had to have the parade line up which was published in our paper in hand so he could keep us all informed of where we were in the parade. We always had great seats because it was John's job to take chairs (sometimes as many as 10) and blankets down to the route and stake out our territory. He often had to be down there setting up by 6:00 A.M.

My girls marched in the parade a few times. One or two years they held one of our state flags in a big group of fifty kids all doing the same thing. It was fun to dress them up in their patriotic colors and watch them march by. As they got older they rode on the Watertown Aquatic Lifeguard float (well, more of a truck actually) and shot water out of super squirters at the crowd. That activity has since been banned, no more water shooting at the parade watchers.

After the parade my Dad would put the brats on the grill. After he died John took over that very important job. My Dad always took a bite out of one brat and usually burned his mouth, not sure why he did that, maybe to see if they were done. Anyway we always enjoyed those brats, still do. Sometimes one will even come in with a bite out of it and no one takes credit for it. We like to think its Ken paying a visit on the Fourth. The food always stayed out all day and into the night so anyone could eat whenever and as often as they liked. Funny thing we never worried about anything spoiling or going bad and no one got sick!

In the afternoon we would walk down to the carnival and put the girls on the rides. I never really trusted rides that went up in two days and had cords running here, there, and everywhere around the area. I also didn't care for the toothless, shirtless carnies who ran the rides, but what could you do. We always liked to play the carnival games, too. My personal favorite was skee ball. I could easily drop $10.00 and walk away with a deck of cards. Rather expensive cards, but the fun...

Since we live right above the park (remember we now live in my parent's house) it was my Dad's joy to sit in his lawn chair in the backyard and watch the celebration unfold. We would sit out there with him while the girls played on the hill and big steps in our backyard. This was all fine and dandy until dusk when the mosquitos would come. My Dad could sit out in swarms of mosquitos and they never bothered him (it may have been all the brandy) We, on the other hand would get eaten alive and have to go into the house. He would sit out there and say "There is not a mosquito out here!" I am thinking this was before bug spray because we didn't use it. He had a way of making one feel guilty for not being out there, but none of us could do it. I would give anything to hear Dad say just one more time "There is not a mosquito out here!"

We did venture out again when the fireworks were starting usually with long sleeves and jeans on to protect ourselves and then we would proceed to OOH and AAH at all the pretty colors. We would then complain about all the people who came up on our hill to watch the fireworks. The best part was waiting at mom and dad's until all the cars thinned out and then we would head home after a long and very fun day.

I am not very political, but I do feel a real love for this country and I thank God (because I can) for letting me be born and grow up right here in the best place on earth! And I thank God for letting the Fourth of July be such a great family day for us. Thanks for the memories! Then I eat one more brat, drink one more beer, and swat one more mosquito all for my Dad. Happy Fourth Dad, we will miss you tomorrow!

My Fourth of July message to Tizzy: I cannot wait to share this big celebration with you next year. I want to go to the parade with a kid again and see it through your eyes. I want to ride the merry go round with you and wave at Grandpa. I want to OOH and AAH at the fireworks with you!

Cabbage Patches and Easels

If I could figure out how to put descriptions under pictures I wouldn't have to use a new post for these, but I don't know how to do that yet. I will need a lesson from Courtney. The first picture is of the cool easel I found at a rummage sale for just $1.00! Mallory and I decided we just might have to try it out before Tizzy uses it. Both Mal and I are closet wanna be painters. Our talent has just not yet been discovered. The second picture is my girls' Cabbage Patch dolls. We couldn't afford real Cabbage Patches when they first came out and I don't think I could have gone fighting in the stores for them anyway, so we bought them Flower Kids which were a cheap knock off of the real Cabbage Patch dolls. The girls were only little, how would they know the difference? Well, they knew right away and while they didn't abuse their Flower Kids, they didn't shower them with love either. The next Christmas they got their Cabbage Patch Dolls and Baby Cabbage Patches to boot. I think they were in much less demand by then anyway. Alissa's came dressed like a clown and one of them was named Lorna Donna, but that is all I remember about them. I know they were loved and played with a lot though.

So Tizzy, here are some more dollies for you to play with when you come to Grandma's house.

New look for the basement

After we tore out our carpeting in the basement due to the flood damage, we decided to paint some of the ugly green floor. We chose a creamy off white color and we could not be happier with the result. In fact, we think it is even better than before. I have posted a few pictures so I can share the end results with you. I made one part of the basement into a play room for Tizzy. I think I ought to go into the play room design business. It will probably be more of a place to store her toys in between visits, but who knows. Maybe she will be like her grandpa and enjoy being in the basement. Now if we could just get rid of the cricket which has taken up residence down there somewhere. We try to follow the chirping sound but then it will change areas. As long as he is not mating and raising a family down there I am okay with letting him stay.

Message for Tizzy: According to your mommy and daddy it should not be too long until they travel to Ethiopia to bring you home. We cannot wait. It could even be before your Auntie Alissa's wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are back!

Courtney and Paul have returned from their three week trek across the country! I am anxious to see pictures and hear of their adventures. When I talked to Courtney last night on her final leg of the journey (driving from the Milwaukee airport to Oshkosh) she said she just wanted to get to her house and sleep in her own bed! Three weeks is a long time to be gone from your home. Personally I wouldn't want to be gone that long, but Courtney and Paul look at things like that differently than I do. I am so anxious to see what they thought of my work in Tizzy's play room. I hope to hear something today on that note. And good news, nothing came of my worst fears. Courtney and Paul were not eaten by a grizzly bear and they did not get lost in the wilderness. Thank you, God for bringing them safely home.

Note to Tizzy: Your mommy and daddy have returned to your home in Oshkosh. I hope they like your playroom, but I say, what is not to like! Take care, little one, see you soon.

Memories of St. George Island-one year ago

Courtney and Paul working on our sand castle.

Paul and John relaxing on our big front porch.

Mallory and Courtney jigging. It is one of Courtney's favorite activities.

Mallory and Marge on the beach.

John floating around in our pool.



John and I on the beach.

Mallory and I on the widow's walk flying our kites.

Last year at this time we were vacationing at our favorite place in the whole world-St. George Island, Florida. My mom, Mallory, John and I drove down to the Island. We enjoy the drive because after doing it so many times we have our favorite spots to stop for meals, snacks, gas, sights, etc. We measure our progress by these familiar stops along the route. We stayed at a rental home called Margarittaville which was perfect for our stay. We had a big front porch overlooking the gulf, a widow's walk, and a wonderful pool. Is it any wonder that this is our heaven on earth spot? Courtney and Paul joined us for part of our week last year. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip. Sit back and enjoy!

Note to Tizzy: Next June we are all returning to St. George to celebrate your mommy and daddy's 5th anniversary. We are all revisiting the scene of the crime. You see they were married down on the Island. I cannot wait to show you around the Island. You will love the waves and you will have your own sandbox!