My Cousin and I

Shiela and I have always been close. As close as sisters. We've always kind of just said we were.

Anyway she lives about 5 hours away so we get to see each other a few times a year and talk on the phone frequently. She was back in August and she brought up a quilt she had gotten from her Grandma Hawkins'. Said it had been published in a magazine. I told her I had a quilt from my Grandma Coartney that had been in a magazine also.

Well guess what. Since my Grandma saved everything I have the magazine and to our suprise both our quilts were in this magazine and both our Grandma's names were mentioned in the article.
The article was about a quilt show that had been held in Oakland sponsored by Landmarks. Which is a museum in Oakland that I now am president of. I've been on the board for many years now.

Jeri was over at the house and really didn't know what was going on with all our squealing and yelling with delight. So these are our treasures, thanks to our Grandma's.

Swimming at the Neighbors!

It's really nice that our neighbors have a pool and that they don't care when we crash. Sunday afternoon the kids stayed after church so they could go swimming.

Looking for toads in the drain.

Clayton showing his swimming skills.

Braden didn't like that Clayton and Kristyn took their floaties off so he wanted to learn to swim.

He figured it out pretty quickly. He had to if he didn't swim he sank like a rock.

Clayton doing flips. Grandma watch me, watch me.

Face down butt up and you can swim. Look at him go.

Kristyn was swimming too I just didn't get any pictures of her this time.

Anyway a good time was had by all. Thanks Ronnie and Patty.

Boy's will be boys.......

The kids came up for supper this weekend. While they were there Brad got out the "BIG" boy toys. Six months ago Clayton didn't really think he wanted to drive the go cart by him self. But Saturday night he thought it was pretty fun. He did a good job, didn't hit any of the cars parked in the yard or anything.

And then there is the Really big boy toys. I really don't think they ever grow up. But what fun would it be if they did.


And lastly my youngest grandson Braden loves toads, worms, kittens, actually anything that moves. I keep telling his mother that she will find a snake in his pocket one day. This was his evening catch of toads. (no toads were hurt in the production of this picture) They were all set free after they were examined very carefully.

Went to the Lirbrary today.

Took Kristyn to the Oakland Library this morning. Haven't been there in a while. Probably since late January or early February. For the last 6 years at least, Mom or I went to the library every Saturday to pick up about 20 + books for Grandma.

We picked the books up and took them to her weekly. Returned them just to start all over. She devoured those books. She loved to read. The ladies that volunteer at the Library used to chuckle at the number of books we took her. They really had a hard time finding books that didn't already have her name on the card. Even though Grandma didn't venture to the Library each week they miss her too.

So this morning Kristyn and I took a walk first delivered some extra balloons mom had to the ladies at the Oaks Manor Oakland's Senior Living facility. Then Barbra showed up at the Library so we stopped. Kristyn picked up 5 books and I paid for my yearly membership. (Barbra's daughter was a neighbor of Grandma's) Kristyn told her she had to get some books so she could practice her reading, didn't want to forget how before she starts kindergarten. She starts school in a little over two weeks.

Clayton is also registered for school he will start 1st grade in about two weeks also. Braden will be attending Small Blessings pre-school again this year. Both boys are ready for school and growing like weeds. I think they both grew an inch this last week. Sarah took them to ride the rides at the Coles County fair this week while Daddy and Grandpa Kris (Sarah's dad) went to the tractor pulls. They rode the Farris wheel, I can't believe it. I would not have gone with them and don't think I could have even watched.

We were there also watching Jesse sell his pig in the 4H auction.

Oh well I'm rambling. Gotta go got company over tonight for steaks. mmmmmmm.