Hope you like your new background Gramma!!!

Love, your 3 little monkeys in Washington

Painting Chase's Room

Tuesday was spent painting Chase's room. As you all know, he wanted red and gray and even picked out his own colors - I mean he even picked out the shade of red and gray he wanted.I think it turned out awesome. It looks so nice with the white ceiling and then once the woodwork is in and I think Amy indicated she was going to paint it white also, it will just "pop". That's what HGTV says it should do.

Good choices, Chase.

The paint went on so easily - much, much better than the priner that dad used the week before.

Not sure what all the white spots are - the lenses must have been a little spotty.
Amy, you need to change the date stamp on your camera??!!

I had Amy take this picture so I can see how much he grows over the winter months that we're gone. I will miss you, Chase (and Amy and even Kurt).

That's it for this week. I had some picture of Grandma's birthday party at Bethany Meadows but they're on my camera and I forgot my camera at Evelyn's. Will try to post again soon!!!!

Merry Christmas

Gramma and MOM

Chase's Big Game

Chase had his 3rd basketball game of the year this morning. Here he is concentrating on what's going on in the game. He did an awesome job and if you don't believe him, just ask!!!!

His team: he's #10, if you can't tell.
Chase had his 3rd basketball game of the season this morning and he did an awesome job. That's because he's an awesome kid and if you don't believe it, just ask him. Here's some pics of our boy:

Do you think this one will go in? Yup - it did!!!

Action shot

Ending score - Chase said to be sure to remind everyone that his team is the "Home Team"

Have a good Saturday

Love,

MOM, Gramma and

Chase

Our weekend with good friends

Last weekend we went to the cities to help Marvin celebrate his 65th birthday. We spent Saturday afternoon with Marv and Judy at their apartment and had a wonderful time with them, as always. They have a nice two-bedroom apartment - lots of room.

We had intended to go out to dinner but since there was snow predicted, Nancy called and invited us to their home for a lasagna dinner. She said she would order the lasagna and get a pie from Baker's Square and add a salad and garlic bread. She said it would be an easy dinner. It was very nice - she had her good china out with candles and tablecloth and everything. When we got there, we had some nice wine and visited before dinner. We ended up leaving their home about 10:00 and it was still snowing. Had a good time with very good friends.

Sunday morning we went to Panera for bagels and coffee, like old times and then to Grace Church. There are lots of new people we don't know but lots and lots of friends that we did know. We went to lunch with the Andersons, Goffs, Bonnewells and VanderVoorsts. Good day!!!! We got back to Brandon about 6:00, went to the DQ for a quick burger and in walk Glen and Sue. It's always fun visiting with them.

I'm doing this a little backwards, but that's OK.

Friday morning we got up early, stopped in Prinsburg for coffee with Cal (Delores had to work) and he brought along another couple that go to Arizoa with us. Then on to Milaca to visit with Aunt Jennie and Nella. I had a very good time - did lots of laughing. Took the two of them out for a nice dinner and then stayed in Milaca at the Super 8. Took us a half hour to warm up the room - they keep the temps down because they're not real busy most of the winter. We've stayed at this motel several times before when we've visited Aunt Jennie.

Aunt Jennie will turn 90 next July. She's a very opinionated, fun-loving person and the only Aunt that dad has left. She's about 13 years younger than Grandma Haan.

Have a great day!!! Love to each of you

MOM and Gramma

Christmas has arrived???

I think Christmas has arrived at 417 Lakota Avenue - at least the front door seems to say so.Santa is here on my chair welcoming all my visitors. Isn't he cute?

This is about as far as I've gotten with my inside decorating. My new rug from Menards - isn't it pretty? I hope to get out some of my snowmen by this weekend to decorate the house. I do have my winter tree out and lighted and a very small Christmas tree on the coffee table. Now for some music and I'm all set to do my Christmas cards. One of my favorite things about Christmas is receiving all the cards and letters and if I want to receive, I must give. Should finish tomorrow.

It's rather obvious to me that no one reads my blog because I put a puzzle out for you to solve in my last blog and I did not receive even one guess about my mystery picture. Oh well.....

That's it for tonight.

Love

MOM & Gramma

Winter came and went.......

I know this picture isn't very clear, but do you see that bottom number - it reads 5 degrees. That was the temperture on Sunday morning when I woke up!!!!!!!!AND this is what I saw when I looked out on the deck. No, we did not paint the floor of the deck white - it was SNOW!!!! Bad word.

At least it was just a sprinkling - Nancy Wood said they had 4 inches in the Twin Cities. Are we lucky or what??????

Just in case you're wondering, it's all gone!!! In fact, by turkey day, it's supposed to be 56 which is a temperature I can handle very easily.

I think I posted this picture in my last blog - the Christmas cactus that Amy and Chase gave me a couple years ago was full of buds with one blossom.

This is my cactus a few days later - isn't it beautiful? Every time it blooms, I remember how excited Chase would get when he'd see it starting to bud and bloom.

I took this picture when Amy and I went to New Ulm to drop Chase off with Brian for the weekend - thought it turned out nice. They went camping in the back of Brian's van - I was glad it was them and not me. The sun was out but it was still plenty cold for camping without a furnace.

Amy and I had a great time eating and shopping and then eating again. We decided we need to make this an annual event - anyone want to join us?

There's a prize for the first person who can tell me what this is and where it is........................

That's it for today - not much going on here in Brandon. I live a very sheltered life. I am so looking forward to Thansgiving - one of my favorite holidays. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and sweet potatoes and rolls and pumpkin pie and everything that goes with it. We are very fortunate to be able to go to Aunt Sue's house this year so I know the food will be good. Plan to play Farkel and games for the afternoon - all except Uncle Glen, of course. He needs his beauty rest.

This Thanksgiving Day, I plan to reflect and appreciate my wonderful family. God has blessed us with two beautiful daughters and their families. This year we are so thankful for the added blessing of Kurt and the joy he has brought to the Haan family. I am also thankful for my sister, counselor, friend and breakfast companion - Susan - you are the best!!!!

Love to you all

MOM and Gramma

It's Tuesday

It's Tuesday which means it's time to blog, even though I haven't a whole lot to write about. Life is crazy.
This is my Christmas cactus that Amy and Chase gave me a couple of years ago. I pretty much ignore the plant and only water it occasionally. The other day I looked and it is covered with buds. The first bloom came this last weekend and it's so pretty. Can't wait for the rest of them to open.
Wish you were here to enjoy it with me, Chase. Thank you!!!

Now here we have a picture of two people who look like they are thoroughly enjoying themselves and they actually were - at least the few times that they were actually winning. The two weeks that DeAnn & Katie were with us were filled with lots of exciting games of Farkel and Aggravation. I am proud to say that, for the most part, I won!!!

Our little Katie was a pirate for Halloween and the cutest little pirate I've ever seen. She thought Grampa should have an eye patch too so he just used the bottle cap from his water bottle and a big rubber band. Aren't they cute?

Katie, I miss you!! I especially miss having someone to sing "Alive, Alive" with. I do miss you too, DeAnn. The games haven't moved from their spot on the island.

Katie, I found the hiding place for your sword and your comb. Today I saw someone peeking out from under the loveseat cushion. Guess what Gramma found? You little stinker.

Have a super week. I'm actually working on my "wonder room" this week - slow but sure!!! I'll have pictures for you soon.

Love to you all,

Gramma and MOM

One in a Million

Happy Birthday to a young man who is indeed "One in a Million"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's to you, John...........................................

If I could have personally picked a man to marry my eldest daughter, I would have picked you, John. You are an amazing husband and I think that the thing that makes you the most amazing is the way you love DeAnn. Thank you!!

You are an amazing son-in-law, always willing to teach Dad the correct way to do things or are you just teaching him the safest way????

You are a loving father. I watch you with the kids, how you listen to them, how you treat them with respect, how you play with them, read to them and tease them. (Sorry about Kurt being in the picture - I didn't know how to cut him out.)

I hear people tell me that you're an amazing doctor - I always thought you should be a surgeon!!!

After all is said and done, I do believe that we'll keep you in the family just because you're YOU -- an amazing, wonderful, heaven-scent son.

We wish for you a beautiful, joy-filled year ahead. May you sieze each opportunity that God gives to you to love and encourage those around you. Our family has indeed been blessed!!!!

Love and Happy Birthday, Dear John

MOM & DAD

Our Busy Weekend

It was a busy Saturday around the Haan home yesterday. I cleaned the lower level in anticipation of our company arriving on Thursday. I know the bar stool was not ideal for my hydrangeas and I found this baker's rack downstairs. I think it looks a little better. Of course then I had to add some October decorations too. I know, DeAnn, it's a little too cluttered for you but I like it.

Then I worked on my front door. It went from white

to gray (they said red would cover gray better than white)

to terra-cotta red. I love it and it does "pop" the front entry just like they say on HGTV. Remember the black kitty-kat - it sat under our wood burning stove in N. St. Paul. Found it in the garage.

Notice also that we painted the front porch floor gray to go with the house - blends much better than the old brown stain.

Dad has been working on the deck to get it cleaned up and restained. He spent an entire day scrubbing it down. You can see the difference between the new stain and the scrubbed wood.

This was entirely his project. He did an amazing job and it looks wonderful. He went on to trim some branches on the trees - city said they were too low. I think the city needs to get a new tape measure, but dad went ahead and trimmed anyway. Also pruned all the shrubs and picked up the leaves. Now just has to deliver them to Dick's field.

Just wanted you all to know what a productive day we had. Then had a wonderful dinner with the newest addition to the family, his wife and our wonderful 10-yr old grandson. How I miss Chase. It was a little noisy at the steakhouse so it was difficult for me to listen to Kurt & Amy and still hear everything Chase had to tell me. However, he's coming on Wednesday night so I get to talk to him all day on Thursday.

Have a good week - it will be a grand one for me!!!

Love,

Gramma and MOM

Camping Catch-Up

This year I forgot to have a group picture taken of all of us; however dad did get this picture around the campfire. I guess it will just have to do. We had a good time visiting and eating and laughing and eating some more.

Isn't this the cutest little, emphasis on the little, camper you've ever seen. These are our friends, Rod & Bonnie Lofquist who used to live just down the street from us in Arizona. Rod made this camper last summer - the inside is 4'x8', just enough for two people to sleep in. The back lifts up and has a little camping kitchen in it. Inside is a place for a small television and a couple of shelves for books and two small cupboards for clothes. Bonnie said they put a screen tent up right next to the camper that has sides on it for dressing, etc.

Camping at Lake Elmo is always nice. We had a nice campsite with trees all around us so it was nice and private. Actually it's the same site we stayed at last year with DeAnn and the kids. It's close to the bathrooms. This year there were very few campers in the park so had it all to ourselves, for the most part.

I didn't take any pictures in Branson - brought the camera along but didn't even take it out of the car. All the pictures are "in our minds". We had a very good time and came home again to beautiful fall weather in South Dakota.

Time to get to work now - dad is cleaning the motorhome and scrubbing the deck so he can stain it. I'm just trying to go through paperwork and get my house ready for our company and finish up the work I have to do for Grandma's birthday.

Have a super week!!! Enjoy the outdoors while the weather lasts.

Love to all,

MOM and Gramma