I'm back - FINALLY!!

Happy Fall and Welcome to the Haan Home......

 

 Once again this fall, Peter's mums are stealing the show.  Beautiful!!

 Chase is in 8th grade football this fall and we've been able to go to several of his games.  His last game of the season, which they won, was this last Monday evening and it was COLD and windy.
As you can see by the faces on our two boys, Gramma's picture taking is not one of their favorite things to have done.

 Sam is our soccer player - he had a game today and made a goal.  We were able to go to one of his games when we were in Washington in September.

 This is our little sweetie pie's first grade picture.  Yes, she is a princess but a very cuddly, sweet one.  Love you, Katie Girl

 Sam's 5th grade picture - one handsome dude

Sorry I haven't been around for so long.  Right after the kids left in July, we went to Wisconsin and Illinois and then had to get ready for our big trip to Alaska.  I will try very hard in the next couple of weeks to fill you in.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.  Blessed Sabbath to all

Love, Gramma and MOM

Tuesday with the Hiemstras

Tuesday was another full day.  John went golfing with Uncle Glen and was gone all day.  Aunt Sue, Maggie, DeAnn, Holly and I went to Paneras for bagels and coffee while Grampa stayed home with the rest of the family and had cereal and Pop-Tarts.  Nutritional cereal and Pop-Tarts with no sugar.

Forgot a few things about Monday - after we went to the National Monument, Uncle Kurt and Aunt Amy treated us all to ice cream cones and then we went to their home for brats, hotdogs and all the fixins.  John & DeAnn, Holly & Sam and Kurt & Amy & Chase then went on a "haunted walk" in Pipestone.  It was very warm and the tour guides were in period costumes which were wool.  They all said it was a fun thing to do.  I think both Amy and DeAnn were a bit frightened so it was good that Chase and Sam were there to keep things under control.

 

 Now back to Tuesday.  We went to Chuck-e-Cheese in the late afternoon for an early dinner and some fun playtime.  The kids all had a GREAT time with Aunt Jen and Aunt Jan, Auntie Dee and Gramma.  Unfortunately Aunt Amy had to work so she couldn't go with us.

When playing the games, if you get a high enough score, you even get tickets to "buy" something wonderful later.

 Auntie Jen and Auntie Dee made a "killing" on the Deal or No Deal Game.

 Hang on, Auntie Dee.  Don't let that horse buck you off!!!

 Look at the prizes we bought:

 Holly and Gramma on the teacup ride.  It was quite thrilling!!

 The whole gang - almost.

 

We finished the day with ice cream at Culver's - what a special time and lots of good memories.

Love to all,

Gramma and MOM

The Hiemstras are in South Dakota

I have been reminded that there have been several Tuesdays that have gone by with no posting from this Gramma.  So, better get with it.  The Hiemstras arrived in Brandon on the evening of July 4th.  Grampa, John, Holly and Sam left at dusk to go to Garretson to watch fireworks.  Gramma stayed home with DeAnn and Katie and just relaxed.

We had a great fun day in Pipestone which was planned by Amy.  It started with a picnic in a park near the National Monument - great sandwiches and good conversation.  Sam, however didn't realize his strength and sent his miniature football on the roof of the picnic pavillion.  Sorry, Sam!!  Then we were off for a walk and afternoon at the Pipestone National Monument - can you believe that John and DeAnn had never been there.  It was a warm afternoon but most of the walk was in the shade and when we were in the prairie area, there was a very nice breeze. 

This waterfall is on the monument trail.  Because of all the rain this spring, it was really flowing.

 Katie and her Grampa

 The "newlyweds" or so it would seem at times.  They did have their 3rd anniversary just a few days before.

 So nice to see these cousins all enjoying themselves.  Holly, Chase has "almost" caught up with you in height.

 Hang on, Sam, I'll rescue you as soon as I take your picture.

 Guess who thinks she's the toughest of them all?  What a jewel!!!

Jan, this picture is for you.  You probably can't see all the apples on the tree but they're there and they will be much easier for Peter to reach this fall.

Well, that's it for today.  I have LOTS to catch up on so maybe I won't wait a whole week til I repost.  Have a wonderful weekend ahead!!!
Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

A Bridal Shower and A Class Reunion

Saturday afternoon was Alicia's bridal shower - what a nice time I had.  She received many really nice gifts.  It's been a loooooong time since I've been at a shower so it was fun for me.  GREAT food too.  If you get the chance, ask Aunt Evelyn about all the "memorable" pictures I took on her camera for her.

Alicia and Jay are very fortunate - all four of their grandmothers were at their shower and Lord willing, will be at their wedding in September. 

 Her two moms:

 Alicia is such a sweet young lady - I look forward to getting to know her better.

 Saturday night was your dad's "52nd" class reunion.  They all got together two years ago and decided they enjoyed themselves so much that they wanted to get together every two years.
Before we left to go, Dad said he wasn't sure why he'd signed up to go.  I told him to decide that he was going to have a good time and to get over it.

He met up with a good friend of his that he hasn't seen in over 25 years and the four of us were the last to leave the parking lot.  I asked him on the way home if he had a good time and  --  hang onto your hats --  he said Yes, he did.  There were three wives of the classmates and we sat and visited together so I had a grand time too.  I think your dad was one of the two best "aged" guys there!!!

 Friday afternoon we went to the Gospel Singing in Sioux Center.  On the way the clouds were gorgeous.  There was a little break in the clouds that was bright blue - breathtakingly beautiful.  My camera just doesn't do it justice.  By the way, the singing was great also.

 The sidelight of our front door has a broken seal so the glass is foggy.  I took some "ice" spray that normal people use at Christmas and sprayed the window.  It looks nice and masks the fog.  Clever, don't you think?

 

Dad has planted flowers inbetween the roots of our front tree - he likes vinca and I like impatients.  As you can see, my impatients are doing very well - his vinca is not spreading or growing nearly as well. 





 Several years ago dad bought a screen to go in the garage door.  I asked him a week ago where that screen was because the mosquitoes seem to be everywhere this year.  He put it up again and it works great.

 Welcome to our home.  I think it looks very welcoming after a little painting, bringing up the wicker chair and a new pot of flowers.  Come visit us - SOON!!  Oh, that's right, you Washington people will be here very soon.  You Woodstock people, come anytime - I have some bags for you to take home, Amy Jo.

 



That's it for this week.  Love and good wishes going out to our dear friend, Linda.  Hope the break is not a bad one and that you'll soon be back up and on the mend.  Until then,  keep the ice on!!!

Love to all of you,
Gramma and MOM

Falls Park

With all the rain we've been having and the flooding, Falls Park is RUSHING.  Dad and I were there yesterday morning and took a little walk around.  The water was about as high as I've ever seen it.  Here's a couple of pictures and a video.  I love the sound of rushing water or waves crashing. 

 

 

 

They opened up the road going to Uncle Glen and Aunt Sue's again.  What devestation the water has done here in our area.  So very sad.

Have a good day.
Love to you all
Gramma and MOM

Backyard and Dad's eye surgery

 

Dad has been working in the backyard again.  Here he's putting daylillies in the area between us and our neighbors.  There was a hedge there that was badly damaged two years ago in the ice storm.  There were pumpkins there last year but the little boy next door moved so there was just dirt.  It should be really pretty when they all start blooming.

 

The pruned tree looks much nicer as it's leafing out.  This was taken from the deck so you see more of the top than if you're down on the ground.  It will be a lot easier for dad to pick the apples this fall.

 

The clematis has some blooms on it - just waiting for it to fill in a bit more.  Dad and I don't have a lot of luck with this particular flower.

 

Our hollyhocks are getting bigger and have lots of buds on them - am anxious for them to start blooming.  I remember Grandma having hollyhocks on our farm when I was a kid.

This actually looks worse than it is but he has to have this metal patch on his eye at night for a week so he doesn't accidently scratch or rub the eye.  He had a small growth and a skin tag removed on his left eye.  Things are going well as long as we remember the eyedrops three times a day for the next two weeks and then we start over with the next eye.  Good thing I'm an "old" secretary - have a chart laying here on the table to mark all the times down.

 Last week dad and I took Grandma to a "cousins luncheon".  There are two of her cousins that are older than she is but neither one was there.  There are six cousins here and then some in-laws plus dad and I.  I think Grandma had a really nice time visiting - one of her favorite things to do.

 

That's it for today - dad and I went to Sioux Falls this morning and took some pictures of Falls Park - the water was really high and I heard someone say it had been higher on Sunday.  Will try to get those pictures and videos posted tomorrow.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY VERY, VERY FAVORITE 11-year old.  Sam, you are truly one of a kind!!  Love you

 

Gramma and MOM