I got a new camera yesterday from Amazon.  It's a Casio like my old one.  I love my old camera, but it has a bad chip so there is a section of some photos where there is a dark circle, always in the same location.  I took it to a camera shop in Gatlinburg and they said it would cost over $100 to ship it back and have them fix it, if they even could.  So for that amount (a little more, but not much) I got a new one with higher resolution (7.2 vs 5.0).  Not as high as some, but probably as high as I need right now.  I wanted to get it before the new grandson arrives.

So I put the new battery on the new charger and left with my kids and grandkid for Kohls.  Came back to find the red charger light still flashing.  I thought that was strange to take that long but didn't really think too hard about it.  Later at night I put in the CD with the manual and started to read.  Which is where I discovered that the charger is supposed to glow a solid red, then go out when the battery is charged.  Flashing red is a bad thing.  And, according the the manual, I would need to send back the battery, the charger and the camera.  So I called Casio this morning and told them the problem.  They are sending me a new battery and I don't need to send anything to them.  Whew!  So now I'm ready for Skyler to arrive.

So I took pictures of my shrub roses with each camera.

New camera.

Old camera.

Not much difference.

This shot shows the black spot that sometimes shows up in pictures.  So now you know why I wanted a new camera.

This is sideways, but it shows a card I made.  I've been getting into stamping cards - Michelle is currently creating all the birth announcements so all she'll have to do when Skyler arrives is fill in his birth day, weight and height.  Everything else has been pre-printed.

Think that's all.  Tomorrow I have to spend the day at a very boring board meeting for our state garden club district.  I have to go since I'm president of one of the clubs.  Yawn.

We did think about Barney when we designed the sandbox.  Notice the tarp next to the kids?

So when the kids leave, the tarb gets put back on, weighted down with lumber ends.  So far, so good.  Thanks for all the advice though!

It's officially summer, now that school is over and the frost-free date is past.

This weekend Dave, Ken and Sam built a sandbox in our backyard.  8X8 feet.

Digging the foundation.

The neighborhood discovered it.

So they turned Kaden into a merman.

He likes it.  He was busy ordering all the much-older kids around.  They were obeying instructions too!

Then, the peony bush that I had moved from Downers 5 summers ago finally came to life!

It had one or two blooms last year, but this year it found its stride.

And it smells so pretty too!

In other news, Ken allowed Michelle to cut his hair.

The closest to a before that I can find - this was at Christmas.

He looks really handsome, now that you can see his face.  Well, maybe not in the above picture. 

And last Wednesday my little garden club held it's plant auction.  I was the auctioneer.

Today the bigger club had it and it was fabulous.  I got a kids bench for Kaden and the newest little one to use.  Then Aunt Em and I went out to lunch at the newest Italian place and Ken meet us there.  He's trying to find a temporary job locally until he can find accomidations and a more permanent position elsewhere.

That's about it.  I found a dress to wear at some of the weddings coming up in the next few months.  If I can find a link to it, I'll post it.

If you haven't read these by Ken Follett, what are you waiting for?  Fabulous!

I trust you all had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.  I spent much of it in the yard, weeding, planting and enjoying.  We had Dave's group over for dinner last night and the rain held off long enough so we could picnic outside.

This is the last week of school here in north-central Indiana.  I'm subbing the last two days of school, Thursday and Friday, then no more until August at the earliest.  That will give me all summer to enjoy the old and new grandsons.

Pictures:

The bride and groom-to-be at the family wedding shower I attended on Sunday.  They had a hymn sing before they opened gifts, which was way-cool.  I thought I knew many of the protestant hymns but I had no idea that Mennonites sang such different ones than the rest of us!  I got to practice my sight-singing and sight-harmonizing so I had fun.

Dave's current group.  Includes people from Tailand, Poland, Slovakia, Canada and Ohio.  You can guess who goes with each country.

Some pictures from the party off of Peter's camera.

Now you can see how pg Michelle really is!  She saw the dr today and confirmed that she still has 4 - 5 weeks to go.

The amish kids love to watch the videos I take. 

Later.

Kaden turned 2 yesterday so Michelle and Sam had a big party for him

I made the cake and Michelle decorated it.  It was a double sheet cake, 1/2 chocolate, 1/2 white.

Ken blew up balloons.  They had it in the clubhouse of their complex.

Paulene checked out the cake even before Kaden got there.

Kaden loved it!

 

He kept lifting the trucks off the cake, then jamming them back on.

He loved the balloons!

Lots of presents.

The funniest moment came when Kaden arrived.  We thought he'd be all excited by all the people and balloons, but no.  He only had eyes for grandpa.  "Bapop!"  Dave is very please about that!

I can't believe my baby grandson isn't a baby anymore.  But another one is coming soon!  Less than two months now.  Can you even believe it?

We're back!  And it was fabulous!

Here we are, a week ago Sunday, in our driveway, just before starting off.

This is one of the views from our condo.  Bet those places don't rent cheaply!

A mountain Laurel in bloom, with a beautiful view behind it.

We took at least a 4 mile hike almost every day.  This was the first one.  Actually the second, the first one being the hike to the top of Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smoky's.

This was a hike over to an old CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) camp from the 30's.  All the hikes we took had a perceptable ascent, despite what one of the guidebooks said.  Ken said it was probably a guy in his 20s who wrote that line.  It made Sue and I both upset when we read it!

BTW, Ken is now a college graduate.  He found that out last Friday.  That made my day!

This was taken at the top of Clingmans Dome.  Dan, Sue, Val and Dave.

Back to the hike, there were 4 bridges we had to cross, some more perilous than others.  I took my time and we all made it over each one, twice, once coming and then back again.

Sue was braver than me.  Notice that it's just a log we're walking on?

Tarzan Dan!

We had a wonderful time.  Next time I'll blog about the wonderful waterpark that was a part of our resort.

I just got back home from my 30th college reunion.  It was a lot of fun - saw friends I haven't seen in awhile and missed others.  I even won a prize - for having the youngest grandchild.  I think I was the one with the only grandchild in that particular group!  Another person won the prize for the youngest child - 6 years old!  He aslo has a 26 year old!   Hope College was and is a great place.  Good times, good memories.  After all, that's where I met my husband!

We are leaving tomorrow for a week of vacation in Gatlinburg, Tn.  Our friends Sue and Dan are driving to our house now and will accompany us to the Great Smokey Mountains.  What fun!  We've never vacationed with friends before - what do you want to bet it's less stressful than with teenagers?

Michelle and I hit garage sales again yesterday.  Not so good, but you can't hit it every time!  It was still fun.  She called me today and was out saling with Kaden.  We're meeting them tonight for pizza at our favorite Chicago-style pizza place so maybe we'll hear more details then.

I don't know yet whether or not I'm the mother of a college graduate.  I'll keep you all posted.  Dave and I heavily edited his paper many times this week and we both feel he should pass.  It certainly took our best efforts!  Parenting - it's not for cowards!

I'll try to check in with you during the week, but if I can't, I'll be back after Mother's Day.  So hope you have a good one!

Dave and Kaden enjoy a bowl of popcorn.  Don't ask why the floor~

He loves playing!

Big boy crossing the ropes.

Dave and I at the reunion last night.

Some of us - friends since freshman year!

 

The garage sales on Friday were fantastic!  Kaden was with grandma Katie, so Michelle and I were able to dash to and from without hauling a two-year-old in and out of the car.  We are going with the ultra-sound opinion that baby #2 is a boy, and, therefore, not looking to buy too much in the way of newborn outfits since most of Kaden's will work.  We did find an "I'm the baby brother" shirt which was too cute to pass up.  And we found a Little Tykes basketball hoop that was definately on our list.  Fun times.

Sunday was the 50th anniversary party for my mil's church.  Dave was just a toddler so it's the only church he remembers growing up.  Most of the former pastors came.  Two are deceased.  It was a hopeful, festive dinner and day. 

Today it's raining and yucky.  I did manage to put some of the wood chips that Sam and Dave made from our wood pile and leave pile on the front path.  I'll use the rest as mulch around the various garden beds.

Today was Ken's last college final.  Now he just needs to finish up the last paper (25 pages), due tomorrow, and hopefully he'll end up with a diploma.  Finally.  I guess the third time will be the charm on this particular course.  Dave e-mailed the prof to let him know (finally) about Ken's IEP and writing issues.  We understand that he really wanted to do college without playing that card, but if it makes the difference between passing and failing, then we say, use it!

Kaden is continuing to entertain us in new and diverse ways. 

He was checking out the fan blades.  Check out the garage sale Clifford slippers!

Hey Barney, look at my slippers!  Barney didn't seem to care.

I thought I uploaded some videos, but I'm not finding them.  If I do, I'll post them later.

 

Busy week, par for the course.

Aunt Em and I at our red hat tea last week.

Doesn't this look yummy?

Our group.

I have Kaden today.  I met my lunch bunch at Panera Bread and he was a hoot - he's an entertainer, that's for sure.

Tomorrow Michelle and I are planning to go to garage sales with Kaden.  It's the first big weekend of the season, so lots of area subdivisions are hosting sales, which usually means lots of houses in a close location.  park and walk.

This week has been almost summer-like.  Today the high is supposed to be 80.  Too bad it can't lst, but it sure makes for a nice break from the awful cold.  Next week is May already, so we'll be seeing more of this rather than less.

I was shocked at the bottom two last night on Idol.  I thought Jason would get the boot, but definately not Carly.  I actually voted for the first time this season - Syesha blew me away with her show tune, which I had never heard before.  I keep singing it now.  I guess lots of people voted with their hearts, not their heads.  Carly is a much better singer than Brooke.  Brooke might be a better person, but she's not a great singer.

Kaden is napping and I'm on IM with my friend coolmom56.  We're going to go on a couples vacation to Gatlinburg starting on May 5, so we have lots of plans to discuss!

 

I survived yesterday, as did everyone else in the school.  Less than half the kids showed up, so the district is going to try to get a waver from the state.  You're supposed to have 65% in attendance for the day to count.  If they don't count it, it'll mean Saturday school and do you really think 65% of the students will attend that?  I don't either.

I've been spring cleaning.  I'm working on my 10th garbage bag of stuff for goodwill.  I list everything so I can take it as a charity deduction.  Lots of clothes that I don't wear anymore.  And some of Dave's.  Who caught sight of a sweater I think he's worn once in the 20 years he's had it and thought about taking it out of the bag.  He didn't.  But then he said, "I'd better check out what else you've got in there".  I told him he'd better not and he didn't.  We all have too much stuff.

More pictures.

Captain Tom, with a fur of a non-native rat-like animal that Louisiana pays money if you turn them in.  Maybe I'll think of it's name in a bit.  Captain Tom was quite the character and hosted a very interesting swamp tour.

This is a blue crab that was one of many in the trap he brought up when we passed it.  Too bad he didn't cook up a mess for us!

This is Roxie the Racoon, who was abandoned as an infant and who is under the care and tutelage of Captain Tom's wife.  They are trying to get her wild again.  Good luck with that!

A last camile flower.  Those don't grow in these parts!

The home of Nicholas Cage.  And no, I didn't get to see him.  I gather it's just one of his homes.

Some of New Orleans finest, hanging around outside the convention center the last full day we were there.  I have no idea why.

Next blog, I'll post pictures of my red hat tea.