Day 177, Monday, June 25, 2012

Merica & Sam wanted to play with Play-Doh,

so I set them up on the picnic table---no mess for me to clean up!!

Day 176, Sunday, June 24, 2012

Day 175, Saturday, June 23, 2012

Day 174, Friday, June 22, 2012

Pierport beach is changing!!  We like the changes!  The beach is so much more accessible!

We enjoyed a short time on the beach---I really liked this picture of Sam enjoying the waves!


It's our day to drive home, but we wanted to check on Uncle Tom first!  Got to visit with his daughter, Wendy, as well as Aunt Jody!!  Aunt Jody let Sam climb on Uncle Tom's John Deere!  Merica, Sam, and I took a walk almost to the horse barn, and enjoyed the view of the cabin and their lake!

Day 173, Thursday, June 21, 2012

Day 172, Wednesday, June 20, 2012

lost my camera with its 16 mg sd card...hope I find it!

Day 171, Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tom had surgery to fuse some discs in his back today. They went thru the front!  He has another surgery lower down scheduled for July 17.  Cheryl, Mahree, and I joined Jody & Melissa in waiting in the surgical waiting room.

Day 170, Monday, June 18, 2012

lost my camera with its 16 mg sd card...hope I find it!

Day 169, Sunday, June 17, 2012

Today we did Church at Home---Laura and her 4 kids were with us, and we are down to one vehicle.  We had a great service.  After we were finished, Cheryl, Bonnie, Mahree, Spencer, Merica, Sam and I went on a mini vacation!  Our first stop was at Hawthorn Psychiatric Hospital to see Simeon.  He has been there now for nearly 2 months with no change in his behavior.  Mahree brought two bags of cheese puffs for him, and he really liked them, of course!!  He was fascinated with the bird poop on the window, and wanted us to clean it off!  He also posed with a few of the kids---I thought it was neat how he put his hand on Sam's head.  Mahree was so good with him.

Merica was very uncomfortable around him---not sure why, but I didn't force the issue!

Day 168, Saturday, June 16, 2012

What fun!  Today we had the Quiggle and Place families over for a picnic!
Lori worked on rabbit showmanship with Mahree, Iva, and Merica!
Allyson cut our cavy nails for us!

We put the sprinklers on and the kids got wet---even without bathing suits!  It was
Evelyn's 2nd birthday, and we found a toddler toy that Merica had just put
in the donate box...so we could give her a gift.  Her family brought a cake,
and we had a mini birthday party!

Day 167, Friday, June 15, 2012

 My nephew, Dean Woodard!  He and his sweet wife, Lisa, have 7 beautiful children!  Caleb, Katherine, Victoria, Abrielle, Julia, Samantha, and Clara!

Bonnie & Laura enjoyed the food!

Today we were able to attend my great nephew, David Wall's, high school graduation open house in Gowen! 

It was fun to see family.  The Walls are visiting from Arizona!  My brother, Ed, is in the foreground---red shirt!

Day 166, Thursday, June 14, 2012

Merica, Jarvis, Lentee, and Sam went to VBS at Calvary (called CSI) from 9:30-12:00 noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Then, we had lunch and  from 1:00-4:00 PM they went to VBS at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church on Monday thru Thursday!  These pictures are from the FH VBS.  On the last day they gave all the kids a blue themed shirt--SKY!

 Lentee is in the center of this shot!

Merica is in the center of this one!










Sam is partially hidden in this picture, but as you can see, he is participating in the song!  I was so thankful---last year, he sat down in the middle of all the kids and put his head in his hands---I think he was overwhelmed.....this year he participated willingly.

more pictures to follow---computer is acting up!

Day 165, Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Day 164, Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Day 163, Monday, June 11, 2012

 Today began 4 days of vacation Bible school!
 Merica & Sammy, Jarvis & Lentee are going to FH Presbyterian Church every afternoon for their VBS.  Beginning tomorrow for 3 days they will go to Calvary for CSI---Creation Science Investigators--it's also a VBS!!  Rosie, Bonnie, & Kaitie will be volunteering in CSI!

After dinner the kids decided to play in water!  It is very hot & humid, so I think they chose wisely!!

 Rosie, Bonnie, and Kaitie had a meeting at church tonight to prepare for CSI which begins tomorrow.  Merica has a orthopedic doctor appointment in the morning, so she will be late for CSI, but hopefully will get the brace off her foot!  That would be ever so nice!

Day 162, Sunday, June 10, 2012

 My Calumet City grandchildren!

Amal, Sam, Jarvis, Lentee!

after church!

and then, my son, Samuel, who is 8 months younger than his niece, Lentee!

 Mahree filled some water balloons, and declared they looked like Larry & Bob!

 Mahree & Cheryl rented the movie, Journey to the Mysterious Island, and everyone got caught up in watching it! 

Day 161, Graduation Open House Day June 9, 2012

 The garage is almost ready for the open house!!!  The kids helped to set things up!!

Mahree's new tennies---they SO fit her personality!!

Tom & Beth High....Tom was Kaitie & Cody's case worker when I adopted them!  What a delight to see him and meet his wife!

Brian & Becky Nix from Calvary with Kaitie

Rick and Nathan came to the open house thanks to Lenita and            .                                 Dan & Lou Ann Gaydou came as well---they have been involved in Rosie's life since she was born!  Wonderful friends!!

My brother & sil, Ed & Dottie, came and 3 of their adult kids & their families.  On the left is Becky holding Andrew, and right in front of her is Emi, then Sarah, and on Dottie's other side is Will.  In the next picture Dottie is holding Clara who is Dean & Lisa's youngest...their 2nd oldest, Catherine is in the yellow shirt.

Miss I is wearing a table decoration on her head---love the smile!    We were so thankful to Dennis & Mary Beth for all the help they gave us, as well as loaning us the drink holders and the 3 tier crock pot!

I didn't know which pictures to leave out, so I just put tons in!

Tom & Jody surprised me---I didn't know they were planning to come from up north!  So glad to see them!    In this picture I am holding my little great niece, Clara, who is 7 months old...she's Dean (behind me) and Lisa's youngest...Their other 6 children, Caleb, Katherine, Victoria, Abrielle, Julia, and Samantha were also here!

I don't think anyone got pictures of Jason & Rachel and their 3--Benjamin, Anna & Peter!

 Jill Heyweyer and her 3 children--Lauren, Sophia, and Jacob came as well as Rhonda & Stephanie--in the forefront are two of Dean & Lisa's kids and my grandson, Tyler is just sitting down & blocking his dear Mom, Meredith!      Benita Mohre and Maggie Jones pose with Kaitie---Maggie has long been Kaitie's buddy, and Benita and Maggie have both been such a blessing to us! 
Gordon & MaryLou from next door came over---couldn't find any pics of MaryLou.

Kaitie's display table and many of her wonderful gifts!   My sweet daughter, Laura and granddaughter, Lentee, were helping get things ready for the open house!

 A random photo with Nancy Greve and my daughter, Shonda on the left---at the back table is Dean Quiggle and Lori and his baby, Silas who is 10 months old, and I think that's Evelyn next to him and Jim Sytsma's back is to the camera.  The picture on the right is Lori Quiggle and Mrs. P. 
Mary Beth was an awesome help!

Diane Systma and me enjoy a little time!

Lentee, me, Maggie & Kaitie on the left, and my baby brother, Ed--with his grandkids--Benjamin & Anna trying to get his attention, my baby sister, Pepper, and me posing together---when did we get to be the grandparents!!

the pic on the right is another random picture--my sister, Pepper & Wayne are standing in the background---Jody, Benita, Maggie, Kaitie are at the table in front, and several others are in the background!

Bonnie poses with Benita!  and on the right, Maggie and Cheryl pose!

 Kara, Shonda, Nancy Greve, and Kaitie----Kaitie wants to move in the Greve AFC home as soon as they have an opening!!

Timothy with Maggie on the left, and Kaitie opens her card and gift from the wonderful Wildes!

 Mrs. Parker from KTC came as we were cleaning up the garage and Kaitie was delighted to see her---MaryBeth remembered her from when she went there! Bonnie also had gone there!  Bonnie posed with our very special Alisa Wilde who was such a blessing today with Cody---she kept track of him for about 3 hours.

Various after open house pictures...Meredith swept the entire garage; my son, as you can see is rather wet---he kept the kids occupied with water play!  Mary Beth kept busy as well!

Inside Bonnie, Cheryl, Benita, and Maggie continued to clean up---Benita and Maggie cleaned up the kitchen and all of the dishes!  Alisa, Benita, Dennis, Maggie, Mary Beth, and Meredith were such blessings today---your labors on our behalf were so appreciated!!   A huge thank you to all of you!!!