Fun Times!

     Recently Darrell power raked our lawn.  Well, it created quite a "stir" with our neighborhood kids.  They saw the big piles of dead grass on our driveway and decided it would be a blast to jump and play in the piles like leaves in autumn time.  As soon as Clara and Nolan came over, then Mathieu, Megann, Keaton, and Logan joined in the fun.  They all thought that they were "helping" us load the trailer, but at times more grass was going out of the trailer then into the trailer.  Several trips were made to the compost site with a different child accompanying Darrell with each trip that was made.  It was quite a sight to see!!  We had pizza and pop as a reward for all of the kids' "hard work" afterwards. :) 

Clara was being a "ham" for the camera!! 

Even Nolan got his little shovel to help us out...

Then Keaton got a bigger "scooper" (as he called it) to help out.

More fun in the back of Jim's trailer...

Luke came riding over to show us his new Spider-Man sunglasses.

A different kind of fun...check out my mask (compliments of Deb)!! :0)

More giggles with Jody and Alison...

     Right before school got out, a former student (and a current student's brother) came back to surprise me.  He was on military leave from Afghanistan.  What a neat surprise!! I had been keeping in touch with him by sending care packages, so it was so great to see him in person as well as thank him for serving our country!!

Spending time with Darci and Emma at Logan's baseball game on a beautiful summer evening...

Cute little Emma

Logan getting ready to bat...

Heading out to the pitcher's mound...

The game went into overtime with Logan scoring the winning run!! What a fun game to watch!!

Megann showing off her cute new dress and headband before her concert.  

It's so fun having young neighborhood kids as part of our lives!!  We are blessed!! :)

Happy Birthday, Honey!!

     Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!!  We were able to celebrate with Michael, Danielle, Amber, and our close friends, Jim and Dayna.  Family and friends are so important to us, so it's always nice to share our important days with both of them.  Michael and Amber have been spending extra time in Sartell the past few weekends.  Michael and Jim and Dayna's daughter, Aubrey, are only three months apart in age, and Darrell and Jim have been best friends since they were three years old.  Their parents still live in the same neighborhood as Darrell's mom and the house he grew up in.  There is always so much to talk about, so it was a fun evening enjoyed by all!!

You are such a loving husband and father and are loved so very, very much!!  XOXOXO

Congrats, Rach!!

     Congratulations to my niece, Rachel, on her recent college graduation.  We also have another teacher in the family!! :)  You will be a fantastic teacher with your enthusiasm and love for life.  You were born to be a teacher; those little ones are going to be so lucky!!  We are so very proud of you, Rach, and love you so very much!!!  Aunt Lulu and Uncle D

Happy Mother's Day!!

Free picture collage created with Smilebox

Disney News

     Great news was shared with us yesterday!! My nephew announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Paige.  Danny proposed to her Thursday night in Disneyland. How exciting!! For those of you who prayed for my nephew while he was serving for the Peace Corps in the Philippines...well, this is him!!  It is so wonderful to see him this happy and healthy after his debacle overseas.  Your prayers were heard!!  We all thought that the two of them were just going to Disneyland for a fun trip;we were all pleasantly surprised to hear of their engagement. :0)  Now we get to have another family wedding!!

Danny and Paige (who is happily showing off her engagement ring)

In other Disney news...

     Katie and Freddie took the kids to Disney World this week.  She recently switched nursing jobs, so they celebrated by having some family time in Florida.  Last Sunday at 6:30 AM (a bit early) we received this text picture of Megann and Mathieu with a caption that read, "Let the magic begin!"  They certainly were excited to do just that!!

     Later in the week we received more pictures with Pluto as the center of attention.  Our first Golden Retriever was named Pluto after the Disney character, so Katie sent these two pictures as a tribute to our beloved (and still missed) dog, Pluto!!  Such cute photos!

Disney was certainly full of adventures this week!!

These Days...

     Life has been very busy these days...and very sad at times.  On Saturday one of my colleagues, Bobbi, lost her battle with cancer.  It was a tough battle for her these past few months, and I know that she will be missed.  Four of her family members work for Darrell, so he will join me at her service on Friday.

Two of our custodians, Diana and Bobbi (in the yellow)  

She hated having her picture taken, but I was able to snap this shot of her about 18 months ago prior to her cancer.

     Knowing that Mom O. is fading away is difficult as well.  It's been weighing on our minds a lot these days as we have been spending a considerable amount of time with her.  In addition to her lung disease, she fell and broke her hip in two places.  She is confined to a hospital bed as the doctors would not operate due to the serious risks involved.  Her lung capacity is less than 10% now, and this recent fall doesn't help matters for her.  However, she still really enjoys having company and maintains her sense of humor at times.  I know that she isn't very comfortable due to her breathing and the pain as a result of the double break, but she continues to hang in there.

Here I am with Mom O.

 After a recent visit to the hospice house, Cheryl, Mike, and I visited our local Cherry Berry.  

It is SO yummy!!!

 Don't you just love kids?!  

Cute little red-headed Rachel was being a little shy when I snapped this photo while a very excited Luke came to show me his new tractor last week.  

My first meeting with Jamison...what a doll!! 

 A sign of spring in our yard

Someday I'd like to lay by the warm fireplace too!!

Happy Birthday, Michael!!

    Happy birthday, son!! We can't believe that you are 28 already!!  It doesn't seem possible that you are nearing the end of the third decade of your life!!  You have grown to be such a wonderful person, and we are very proud of everything that you have accomplished and the man that you are today.  You are a caring, smart, and talented person who is loved so very much!!

Dad and Michael, one week old

Grandma O. and Michael, eight months old

Darrell and Michael, two years old

Darrell, Michael (4), and Dani (10 months)

Darrell, Michael (10), and Dani (6)

Lower Falls/Yellowstone National Park 

  

Dad and Michael

SHS Sabre football days

Dad, Michael, and Lori

UMM Cougar football days

Michael was happy to receive new golf shirts today.

Michael cleaning up his driver's license after dropping it into the salsa at dinner tonight!!

From his first birthday cake...

to one of his favorite desserts, fried iced cream from Mexican Village...

to his other favorite cake...red velvet. :0)

Michael and Amber enjoying a piece of birthday cake. 

Benji was wondering if he was going to get any cake.

Happy birthday, Bud!! We love you very much!!