Merry Christmas

Having a wonderful time.  Oldest son and his wife from Arizona arrived last Saturday and will stay until next Monday morning.  Youngest son and his wife from Iowa were here T-W-T but had to go home Friday morning.  Middle son, his wife, youngest daughter and her daughter, all from Missouri, were here for a full day on Thursday (those who work in retail don't get a lot of time off during Christmas).  We'll see the Missouri folks again tomorrow when we travel to our other Granddaughter's home tomorrow.  But I at least got one day with all three sons together and I am grateful.  It had been four years since it last happened.

With sons Jeff, Mike, Mark

Tom and I with all four sons (son Jean-Richard in the painting on the left is deceased).  We didn't plan the picture this way, but it is sort of cool it worked out that way.

Mark (middle child), Jeff (youngest), Mike (oldest)

Four Generations

Mark, Mary, Alyxandria, Caitlin

The daughter-in-laws

Deb (Jeff), Stephanie (Mark), Lindy (Mike)

Miss Aly--getting ready to walk

Aly in the cap and poncho I crocheted last week at her mom's request (not a lot of quilting going on lately, but I haven't been totally idle)

Lots of calories consumed

And lots of cards played

And because you can never have too many cute baby pics (at least I can't)

Wishing all my friends in blogland a Merry Christmas and healthy, prosperous New Year.

Five Generations, Times Three

It's hard to believe it's been 2 weeks since I've posted.  Thanks to those who have inquired about my welfare.  I'm fine..it's just been an insanely busy time.  I think all will settle down now.

One of the fun things going on was a visit from my mother and sister who live in Iowa.  They were here for five days and last Sunday we were able to gather together five generations. My mom had yet to meet the newest great-great grandchild and it had been five years since she had seen the other two.  All together we have five, with the other two living on the east coast.

In the picture above are my mother Marie (Iowa), son Mark and granddaughters Ashley and Caitlin (all MO), great-grands Aly, Jeramiah and Maison (all MO) and myself in Kansas. 

And here is Mom and I with the little ones

We are fortunate to be able to enjoy five generations but believe it or not we actually had six living generations at one point in the 1980's! 


Perhaps now I can get back to some quilting.  Quilt show in OK this weekend!

Four Generations

Tried to get a good four generation picture this evening, but either I closed my eyes, Aly cried, or Mark had his hat on!  For better or worse, this is what we ended up with, at least on my camera.  Maybe one of the others turned out better. 

Grandpa Mark, Great-Grandma Mary, Mom Caitlin
Alyxandria Jayden



If only my mother wasn't 8 hours away in Iowa, we could have taken a five generation picture!

Ready to go home...

Sidetracked

One of the reasons I haven't posted any progress on my two hand piecing projects

is because I spent a week or so working on this in the evenings.

It's one of the side borders for our guild's 2012 donation quilt.  There will be print yo-yos attached at the base of most of the leaves.  Someone else is making those.  I have to admit I was tired of leaves by the time I got all of these done. 

Not doing much quilting today because we have a visitor.

Little Miss Aly, her mom, Grandpa Mark and Grandma Stephanie were here this morning.  She's 7 weeks old today.  Time flies!!  This is Aly with Grandpa Mark and me.

.

And with Great-Grandpa Tom

They've gone to visit her other Great-Grandmother for awhile but will be back for supper and more pictures no doubt.



Future Gorillas

Great-Grandpa Tom and Great-Grandma Mary have to make sure our newest family members become Pitt State fans.  They are both growing like the proverbial weed.

Bryce 5 weeks

Aly 5 weeks

I think Miss Aly may be coming to visit today!  I hope so.

North Star

It's Saturday, which means the second block of Barbara Brackman's Civil War BOM is up. Today it's the North Star (aka Sawtooth Star) and here's mine.

And because it's my blog and I can shamelessly brag about our two newest great-grandbabies, I will.

Kelley, Derek & Bryce

Alyxandria Jayden with mom Caitlin

And with dad, Luke

Cousin Maison

Cousin Jeramiah

And ready to go home.

Both babies are home now so we'll anxiously awaiting more pictures from Massachusetts!

Aly Has Arrived

For the second time this week..a day apart...we welcomed a new great-grandchild into the world.  Alyxandria Jayden was born Jan 5 and weighed 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches long.  We were fortunate to be able to be at the hospital when she was born and saw her not long after.  She is beautiful!

Cousins Jeramiah and Maison think she's pretty neat, although when I asked Jeramiah (7) if she looked like he had imagined her his reply was "no, I thought she'd be cuter...she doesn't smile much". 

I think everyone else was smiling though!



A Birth

Woke up this morning to a phone call letting me know our fourth great-grandchild had arrived.  Bryce weighed 8 lbs 14 oz....a big guy.  I'm sure Mom and Dad, Kelley Ann and Derek are proud as can be.

This picture sure looks like his Grandpa Mike, who weighed 8 lbs 10 1/4 oz. 48 years ago next month.

Now if only Bryce wasn't half way across the country from us! 

Granddaughter Caitlin is due to deliver Alxyandria Thursday, but could be any time now!



Fun Pics

Haven't had time to scan all of the Dutch Treat blocks I've made since I last posted some, so instead I'll share two of my favorite pics from our Arizona trip.

The whole gang in Tombstone

B-Troop 4th Cavalry Regiment Memorial at Mike's Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony.

An Amazing Career

Vacations are wonderful and time with family even more precious.  But playing catch up with email, blogs, etc. when you get home takes forever!  I'm not sure how long it's going to take me, but I think it's going to be awhile since I'm trying to clean out some computer files at the same time. 

So this will be a short post.  Just wanted to say we are home and enjoyed Mike's celebration immensely.  Here are some of my favorite pics.

Thursday night was the retirement banquet

It was a combination of good natured roasting and accolades. He received many amazing gifts and he liked his quilt!

And said "I promised myself I would NOT get emotional".

We had four generations together...

Granddaughter Kelley Ann, my mother, Marie, Mike and me

Me, Mike and Tom

Me, Mike and his dad, Art

Step-mom, Maggie, Mike and his dad, Art

Love this pic of Mike and his daughter, Kelley who is going to make him a grandfather in January.

Son Martin, daughter Kelley, Mike and wife Lindy

Son Greg wasn't able to attend as he is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan

Friday was the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony

Last day in uniform..headed to the parade field

It was a gorgeous day and very emotional to see the troops lining the field

Last time leading the brigade....

  

After the ceremony, Mike and Lindy with their kids

And his final award.. a SECOND Legion of Merit!!!

 

The end of a distinguished career and the beginning of a new adventure.  Congratulations, Mike!  We love you so very much!