Haan Cousins Luncheon

I know I should probably be doing some blogging about our wonderful trip to Washington but that will take more time than I have on this Tuesday. Last Friday we had a Haan Cousins Luncheon - originally there were 11 first cousins - there are 6 left. Jake lives in Atlanta and wasn't able to be here and Betty left before we got the cameras out. Dad is the youngest of all the cousins and definitely the baby of the group. The two girls in the picture are sisters. We had a GREAT time visiting all afternoon. We really should get together more than just once a year but then that's better than it was at one time when we only saw each other at funerals.

Below is the cousins plus spouses - don't we all look nice.

I wish I would have taken pictures much earlier of Amy and Kurt's remodeling project. This is Chase's room and hopefully it will soon be ready the awesome decorating job that Chase and his Gramma are going to do. Chase is coming for a couple of days this week and I think we'll do some drawings of what he might like. Then, of course, we have to run them by mom to get the OK. As soon as the taping is done on the drywall, Chase and Gramma are going to paint together - a real bonding experience.

This is the closet with a little cubby next to it. I think it would be really cute with some shelving and bright red baskets or tubs on it. What do you think?

Before I sign off, look at this beauty!! Who is she? That's a million-dollar question.

I'm off to FINALLY get started on my computer room. Washed the bedspread that was lying on the floor at the laundromat this morning after I went to the gym and now will tackle the desk first. Wish me luck. I'll post pictures of before and after just to keep myself positive and encouraged.

Sam & Holly, I hope your first day of school went terrifically! (I think that's a word.) Talk to you soon.

Love to you all!!

MOM and Gramma

The Gorter Picnic

As you all know, the Gorter picnic was last Saturday in the park at Rock Rapids. I had a GREAT time, just sitting around, eating and visiting. I know I sent you all pictures of the picnic but I wanted to record it on my blog for posterity.
The ladies above are: Aunt Helen, Grandma, Beth DeKam, Aunt Dee, Luella Smidstra (behind Aunt Dee), Becky, Ruth, Judie, Aunt Bonnie and Norma.
Even though the temps were warm and the humidity was up there, there was just a gentle breeze and lots of shade so it was very pleasant in my lawnchair.

The pictures of the siblings having fewer people on them every year. I think it's a good picture of the 3 of them. Below are the siblings plus in-laws. All of them were at the Pizza Ranch that evening except Uncle Ed & Aunt Kathy.

My cousin, John Smidstra, is truly "one of a kind". He'd give you the shirt off his back but first he'd probably tell you that it's his only one but if you really need it, here it is. Judie was telling me that recently he allowed his granddaughter, Lilly, to paint his toenails. What a hoot!! Wish his buddies at the salebarn could have seen them.

At the Pizza Ranch, they pulled the curtain between the two rooms because another group was supposed to be coming in - as it turned out, they didn't show up so they opened it up again. This is John's granddaughter, Jaya (2 1/2 yrs old) peeking around the curtain. She is really a cute little girl.

Well, that's it. My next blog will be coming from the great state of Washington. Happy flying!!!

Love,

MOM & Gramma

Girl's Shopping Trip

Our shopping trip to the Mall of America and the Albertville Outlet Shoppes

Last weekend, this special lady invited me to go with her daughter and friend to the cities shopping. Now, we all know that shopping is not my thing but when I'm with your Aunt Susan, I seem to find all kinds of things that I really need. I ended up purchasing much more than she did!!! Doesn't seem quite fair because she's the shopper - not me.

I purchased several tops - most of them to wear in Arizona where the ladies dress up much more than I normally do. I am basically a t-shirt and shorts/jeans sort of person. I really like the items I purchased.

Camp Snoopy. Sue and I spent some time in this patio watching people and having some cool and refreshing (water and Diet Pepsi) drinks. It is so interesting to see what some people wear and I love to see the shoes people wear - everything from flip flops of all kinds to some very high, spikey heels.

Rainforest Cafe was our choice for lunch. The lunches were HUGE - we could very easily have shared a sandwich and been full. They seated us behind a big tree so we didn't get to see the gorillas "do their thing". I still think it's a neat restaurant and remember when you girls took me there shortly after the Mall opened. Remember also that Holly wasn't so sure about the gorillas and the thunder and lightening.

We (Susan and I) spent over an hour in the aquarium. It was very interesting and we learned lots of things about jellyfish and other creatures of the sea. Did you know that jellyfish do not have brains, hearts, or blood? You could walk through a tunnel and the sharks and stingrays were swimming all around you. It was really neat. I don't think the young ladies enjoyed it as much as we did.

These lovely ladies wanted me to take their pictures with placemats of some of their favorite characters. Ashlyn and Maggie also have their new school backpacks on. I don't think there's a pocket for the cell phones though - what will you girls do if you can't text?

It was a fun several days and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Maybe next year we could go to a destination, other than shopping. It's just that if I go shopping, I usually find something I'd like and I really do NOT need anything.

I'll try to lay out my purchases and take some pictures for you. They're still in bags on the couch - don't want to rush the unpacking. Besides I need to show dad.

Have a super week - Chase counted and there's only 10 days til we leave for Washington. YEAH!!!!

Love to you all

MOM and Gramma

My New Bedspread

The dilemna of a new bedspread. You wouldn't think that finding a new coverlet or bedspread would be so difficult but it has been. I've been looking for over 2 years and finally found something I liked at K-Mart. Then guess what - they didn't have it in stock in the size I needed - not in the Sioux Falls stores nor online. Will just keep looking at every K-Mart I see.

In the meantime, a couple years ago Jan gave Amy this bedspread when she got her new bed. Amy used it on her double bed and then when she moved to the farm a couple weeks ago, she no longer needed it because Kurt had a new spread for his queen bed. I told her to just lay it down by the Goodwill box. This morning I decided to try it on my bed and wala - it fit and it looks great!!! What do you all think?

Thanks Jan - I love it!!!!!

Amy's Camera

When I was at Amy's this last weekend, I brought her camera home with me and downloaded a bunch of pictures. Here they are. I will be opening and closing with four of the most important people in my life and I miss all of them.DeAnn, you were WHINING a little bit in your blog about nobody taking your picture on the tractor - well I think you will owe your little sister an apology. She not only took one picture - she took two and they're rather good ones.

This little man is going to be a great tractor driver when he gets a little older. You can just sense it by the way he "sits" the tractor.

The wood pile that dad created at Kurt & Amy's farm. This is actually Kevin - didn't realize it til the picture came up in my blog. All of the branches are what dad trimmed and then he put some old trim wood from the house on it. As you can see, it became quite a blaze. Amy said Kurt even got the hose out and watered down the ground around the pile. Good wieney roasting pile - NOT!!!!

The best 10-year old anywhere!!!! Come home, Chase. Oh, that's right. Even if he comes home, he won't be close enough to go get for Tuesday Nugget Night. At least I get to take him to Washington with us.

Love this picture!!! My two most favorite young men in all the world.

As you may or may not have noticed, there are no pictures of my computer room. That's because I have not done anything in there yet. It's too hot!! I'm sitting here in front of my computer, the air conditioner is set at 74 and my fan is going above me and I'm still sweating. I am NOT complaining - just stating facts.

Tomorrow morning Aunt Sue, Maggie, Ashlyn (Maggie's friend) and I are going to the Mall of America and then to the outlet mall at Albertville. Oh, and I almost forgot -- to Ikea. Have several things I plan to look for.

Stay cool and have a great week ahead.

Love,

MOM & Gramma

I'm Back!!!

Sorry I haven't been very faithful with my blogging but I haven't taken many pictures. Can you believe I took no pictures at the wedding so I have nothing to share with you, but then you were all there so you have your own pictures.



This is a picture of the clouds that Chase and I were looking at the other night. They were so beautiful - we decided that when Jesus comes back to get us, the sky will look like this. If you notice, there's a small area that has the sun shining directly through. It was just golden!!!

Dad weeding his flowers in the backyard - the day lilies are all in bloom along with several other lilies. We have lots of color in our yard. In the background is dad's hosta garden which is really taking off. He also has a trailer full of mums. When they bloom, he'll have to just take the trailer and drive around town.

These flowers are weeds, I think. I have one small circle area that is supposed to be mine. Last year I planted some perennials in it but I planted too many and they're not looking all that nice. Dad said I had to weed it so I did but then he said he thought I had pulled out some flowers. Oh well, they do look nice in this vase.

On Monday at the hospital someone was discharged and didn't want to take their flowers home. So I took this vase - the flowers were almost dead but I cut some of dad's lilies out of the backyard and they look nice in this bottle. I love it!!!

My project for next week: my computer room. If I wasn't lacking in pictures, I wouldn't have taken these to show you but then again maybe it will "spur me into action". Isn't this horrible? With the wedding now over, I simply have to clean this room so I can find the things I want. The coverlet has to be washed because it's going to Arizona and the paperwork has to be sorted, filed or discarded - whatever is appropriate!!! I'd like to get my taxes ready to go to the tax man before we leave for Washington also. I'll send you more pictures next week. I need you all to help me be accountable to get this DONE!!

That's it this week from the Haan Household. Forecast is for 90-degree weather for the next seven days so I guess I'll just stay in the house, clean and maybe find myself a good book to read. Any suggestions??

Have a greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet week ahead.

Love to you all

MOM and Gramma

My week with Aunt Jen

Aunt Jen relaxing after doing her exercises, which is her favorite time of day. I spent this last week with Aunt Jen doing exercises, eating, going for walks, eating, watching HGTV, going for another walk, watching a little more HGTV and eating. Good week!!!!

This is the bruising on the back of Aunt Jen's leg. She didn't have this with the other knee but the nurses assured us that it is quite common. It was much more purple to begin with. Doesn't hurt - just looks beautiful!!!

Aunt Jen's goal was to walk two blocks two weeks after surgery and sh

e did. Walked to the end of her block and back. We tried to do it 3 times a day but didn't quite make it a day or two. But we did walk at least 2 times. Her goal this week is to go just a little further down the next block. Good luck, Aunt Jen.

Oh, I don't think I mentioned that we went to Physical Therapy on Thursday and it was a blast - be sure to ask Aunt Jen about it. We go again on Monday and I know it will be the highlight of her day. We also go to Dr. Rodman on Monday and we're anxious to see what he has to say about her progress. The staples will come out and she's hoping to get the OK to drive. Just stay off the roads for a day or two.

This is the loooooooooooooong block to the corner.

That's it for this week. I'm busy starting my cleaning because we have extra special company coming and I also hope to pin Amy down to some wedding plans.

Have a good week ahead.

Love to you all

MOM and Gramma