Picnic in the Park

Here we are last Monday..picnic in the park while

siblings, spouses and cousins meet.  Even after

a week of activities the Florida boys remembered

this park and thought it was really fun.

The weather was MN perfect, the boys were easily
entertained, and the time was too brief.  More pix to
follow....the saddest thing I ever saw was Jonathan's
rock collection on the porch table this morning...after
they had gone home....come back soon, boys!

Welcome to Minnesota!

The Florida Ketchers have arrived!  They finally got to meet their new little

cousins last night at a picnic supper in the park.  It all happened so fast

the only "meeting" photo I got was of Chad & Loriann meeting Everleigh.

But we had some photos taken and here are a few candids as well.  It was

a beautiful summer evening and it was good to be together.  Welcome to MN!

Looking forward...

Not sure why my last post wouldn't cooperate.  I had video of Everleigh and Andrew's last day at Everleigh's apartment in Highland but for some reason, it won't post....sorry.  Anyway, Scott and Ami have moved to a twin home in Eagan...right off Cliff Rd so a convenient location.  It's a twin home (sort of like a duplex) but 2 levels with their own back yard, garage and deck.  Everleigh and Andrew are already enjoying the backyard and the floor plan is similar to Mom and Dad's place at Pheasantwood so very liveable.

The other big news is that Chad, LoriAnn and boys are coming to MN for a week long visit starting Monday, August 8.  Ami, Jesse, Ben and Scott are tag-teaming some day care duties for me so I can spend some time with the Florida boys.  This will be the first time the Florida Ketchers have met many of their new cousins and second cousins!  We have plans to take in Nfld sights, go to a movie, swim in the lake at G A Sue's, visit GG on the farm, camp and spend time with rels.  The week will go fast.  Hopefully more photos next time!  Glad to hear the temps are going down a bit.  Can't wait to see them.

Snuggling

This video is from a month or so ago...just haven't

had time to upload it but thought it was still cute

enough to share.  

Can I Just Say?

I usually use this blog to talk about grandkids and family events but today there are some things on my mind and just want to get them off my chest.

Minnesota put a Democrat in the Governor's Office and Republicans in the legislature.  Should anyone be surpised it ended in a complete paralyzation of government?  We asked for it!  We practically ordered it!  So they settled enough to move forward but apparently no one is happy.  Let's hope voters remember this outcome when we go to the polls again.

I am secretly hoping the NFL owners and players don't work out an agreement.  What would late summer/fall/winter be like without the distraction, the time, the family feuds and the money spent on football?
I know football generates a lot of fun and entertainment for a lot of people, but it's gotten way past simple entertainment and I have no sympathy for millionaies fighting each other.

Not everything thinks like me...a fact that I'm working to accept.

Technology is great but my cell phone drives me crazy.  dropped calls, charges for calls that don't connect, poor connections...I'm starting to talk back to Verizon commercials on tv.

Some people know that I set a goal of reading a book about each of America's presidents.  I'm about half way through and it's hard to find books about some of the more obscure ones...Millard Fillmore, anyone? But one thing I have learned so far is that even though we think things are bad now...it's been a whole lot worse at various times in our history and we as a country managed to work through it.  We've had some disastrous men as President and yet we have learned and improved.  I think we have a great President right now and a whole lot of other people in public service who truly love this country.  I am constantly in awe of that fact.  Funny thing is that history really is the best teacher.  Have faith.  Nothing stays the same.  We do learn and move forward.

Summer is supposed to be 3 months long.  But this one is considerably shorter considering the very late spring with cool, wet days and now lots of rainy, storrmy days.  I hope we get an extended Indian Summer to compensate.  Can we just get through 24 hours without rain?

Why do people like Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan and Tori Spelling capture so much attention?  Minimal set of values, no obvious talent and few redeeming qualities and yet so much air and press time is spent on them.  Meanwhile plenty of people who deserve our attention, get none.  Who decides these things?  Where do I vote?  Now I sound like a crabby old person, but seriously...

Sometimes, does it seem like the bad guys are winning?

Can I just say if you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

I wish airlines charged a set fee for a ticket that included eveything and there were no other charges...and that no one could have carry-on luggage.  The only thing you could carry on the plane yourself would be a small purse or a laptop/briefcase.  There wouldn't be people with 3 or 4 bags trying to squeeze it all into overhead compartments and creating a log jam when they got on or off the plane. 

Maybe you made it to the end of this vent...if so, thanks for listening.  I feel better already...

4 boys and a grandma

 at the movie

 Matthew heads out for camp early Monday

 looking good, J

 Brighton couldn't resist mugging for the camera

(I gave him the option)

 You can almost taste his sweetness, can't you?  (N)

So...I spent 4 days in Florida with the Ketcher boys.

We went to a movie in 3D, ate pizza and popcorn,

went out for ice cream, ate bacon and french toast,

made a tent (indoors), swam in the pool, played games

and a bunch of other stuff we aren't revealing.  In other

words, we enjoyed each other's company....priceless.

Thanks for the good time I showed you boys!



Ketcher Boys...here I come!

Hard to believe it's over 2 years since this picture was taken...

the last time I was in Naples to see the boys.  Well, I'll be there

Friday night while Chad & LoriAnn take a few days away.

So...what happens while Grandma visits stays with us.

McDonald's, movie tri-plex, beach..here we come!