Saturday Night Date

Last Saturday afternoon when I got home, Dad said he was taking me on a date.  We were going to the sculpture walk in Sioux Falls and then to Minerva's for dinner.  (Minervas is quite a fancy place in Sioux Falls and not one that we would normally go to, BUT we had a gift card.)

Because my knee has been giving me all kinds of problems, Dad put me in Grandma's wheelchair and wheeled me all up and down to see the sculptures.

 Every year a number of sculptors "show" their pieces around downtown Sioux Falls and they change every year.  I have wanted to take the sculptor walk for several years and we just never got around to it.  Aunt Jen had saved me the article from the paper that has a description of each sculpture and the price of each.  I read the article for each and Dad pushed me.

Our first favorite:  "When Wealth was Pelts"  -  $18,500   (artist from Colville, WA)

 All time favorite:  "Day at the Park"   $24,000

Whimsical  - "9 Lives" -  $12,000

 Took a little detour to the river.  Saw two mommas with 15 babies.  They would stretch out into a long line and then they would all gather up close to momma again.  They were so fun to watch.

 We found this tobacco store that Dad used to buy pipe tobacco from when he was much younger.  What a trip down memory lane!!!

Then off to Minerva's for dinner - I had salmon which was wonderful and Dad had chicken linguine which he said was great.  Went for a drive after dinner and ended up at McDonald's for ice cream.

What a wonderful evening!!!!
Have a great weekend.
Love,
Gramma and MOM

My Handsome Grandsom & The Golf Cart Ride

My handsome grandson all "decked out" for his band contest.

On Tuesday these three lovely ladies plus me went on a Senior Citizen's Golf Cart ride on the bike trail in Sioux Falls.  We did it last spring too with dad; Grandma was so excited about going.  She and Aunt Jan sit in the back-facing seats so the wind isn't in their faces.
We even had a 2-hour lunch at Denny's.

 The bike trail goes along the river - beautiful and NO bugs.  Grandma told Aunt Jan that there were so many nice big trees that you could put swings in along the trail.

 You can barely see the kayakers on this picture.

 We were even able to see the back of Aunt Jen's house - Grandma kept looking for the front of the house.

 End of the trail was the  Sioux Falls and since we've had rain lately, they were running high.

 I love old bridges and there are some nice ones along the trail.

That's it for today - tomorrow I'll try to fill you in on our date night last Saturday. 
Have a good weekend!!

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Chase's Last Freshman Concert

We went to Holly's last concert as a freshman the beginning of May and Chase's last concert as a freshman was May 15th and he did an awesome job, of course.  However, it was not an easy task getting a picture of him - seems like there was either a music stand or a person in front of him.  He keeps saying he's going to play a solo for us but we have yet to hear it.

Chase is looking forward to marching band again this summer so we'll be off to the local parades.

 Wonder what he's looking at - at least you can see his new polo!!

 Peeking out from the curtain.  Chase was recognized as receiving a "superior" on his trombone solo during the contest they all went to.  Way to go, Chase!!

Well, that's it for today.  I was going to put a picture of Chase in his new band duds but I can't find it on my new computer so will have to wait til tomorrow.

Have a great week ahead!!
Love,
Gramma and MOM

Cousins and a New Career for Holly



 

Last evening we were at Kurt & Amy's for dinner - thank you, Amy, for a wonderful rib dinner.  After dinner, I was able to convince these two to pose for a couple of pictures for me.  Sure can tell they're related!!!

 

Today Holly and I had the privilege of having lunch with her Uncle Glen.  He had to bring a truck from his office to the technical school so Holly rode with him and I followed.  When we got to the parking lot of the school, Glen got out and put Holly behind the wheel.  She drove across the whole parking lot and parked the truck .

If nursing doesn't work for her, maybe she could become an Over The Road Trucker??!!!   or maybe a "traveling" nurse.

Another fun day with our girl.  Tomorrow she leaves us but then I guess all good things must come to an end.  Loved having her for the week!!!

Happy Weekend.
Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Dress Shopping

Holly is going to a wedding when she leaves our home on Saturday so, of course, a new dress was in order.  I have several pictures of the various dresses she tried on but they're on my phone and my phone is not cooperating this morning.

 

One of our favorite dresses was XS & XL and so we had to pass on that one, but look what we found.  She is just as cute as she can be in her "whimsical" dress and looks very elegant in her "dressy" dress.  We even got her some new earrings to complete the look.

 

 

I think Grampa and I and Holly were all in agreement that she will wear the whimsical dress for the wedding.

Isn't she beautiful?  Shopping with Holly is the same as shopping with her mother!!??

Have a GREAT day!!!
Love
Gramma and MOM

Moving out of Dordt and big tractors

Last Thursday (May 5th) we helped Holly move out of her dorm.  How one young lady can have so much stuff in her dorm room and then multiply it times four.  I'm surprised there was any room for those girls to even move around.  Good thing we brought the van and not the car.

 

 

 Had to save enough room for Holly. 

 Holly had a coupon for a free dish/cone of ice cream at Culvers and Grampa mentioned that it was dollar day at Culvers so we had to make a stop before we left Sioux Center.  It was kinda dessert before dinner.  We took a nice long ride, stopped at Hills for dinner and then drove through Beaver Creek - a nice nostalgic ride.

 We took a little ride one evening and found Dick out planting corn.  He asked Holly if she'd like to go a couple of rounds with him and off she went.  Might turn her into a "Midwest gal" yet.

We were thrilled to have both Holly and Chase for the weekend.  Holly  was able to procure some in-line skates and she wanted to try them out.  She told Chase he had to walk beside her to make sure she didn't fall - if you look closely at their hands, you can easily see that she is hanging on and he's a bit indifferent. 

Holly and Chase took a couple of bike rides together, watched a "little" very interesting video clips with me and we played several games.  We played Tucson (a variation of Aggravation) and Holly and I absolutely slaughtered the guys.  What a great weekend!!!

Holly even made "penny casserole" for dinner last night - a big hit with Chase.  Grampa and I are OK with it but certainly not a big favorite of ours.  Thanks for being such good sports about spending your weekend with the old folks.

 Our Holly played her violin at church yesterday morning and it was beautiful.  Yes, I cried.  She played a medley of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus,  In His Time and It Is Well With My Soul" - beautiful!!!

Today she is finishing up her wash and dividing things between what to take on vacation next week, what to have brought to her when we go in July and what to leave here for next school year.

Hope you all have a great week ahead - I know we will.  DeAnn, can I keep her another week?  PLEASE!!!!!!

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Holly's Last Freshman Concert

As you know, we are home and guess what - the sun is shining today and they're promising warmer temps.  Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

I have some fun pictures from our trip home but wanted to detour a bit and show you Holly's last concert that we went to last Friday night.  Of course, I'm sure we were the proudest grandparents in the audience.  She is one magnificent young lady and she even wanted to have ice cream with us on her last Friday night at College.  (All her friends had other commitments!!??)

 

 

To Holly's left is Tara who is her roommate this year and will be again next year.  The gal to her right is her "stand partner" who is a senior and will be graduating the end of this week.  Sorry, I forgot her name but she is a pre-med student who has been accepted in Boston but is taking a two-year deferment to go to Africa to the mission field there.

This is a picture of two very proud grandparents.  Love you bunches, Miss Holly and will be anxious to have you come for the whole week next week. 

Love to all and have a good week!!
Gramma and MOM