Hello! Is anyone going to come outside ("shie") and play with me?







Sophie and Inès and Apolline walked up to our house to meet Jesse and Julie and Renae. Sophie also speaks Spanish, so she and Jesse and Julie chattered away. Kevin and I, of course, understood none of what they were saying. But it was fun to listen to. (Inès loves the Wonder Horse..."le cheval")


Saturday night, we were expecting surprise guests. Jesse and Julie thought just Dale's were coming, but didn't know about the TN clan.

Julie, Dee, Dale (and Andrew's legs)




Both Makenna and Julie are due in October!




Larry still makes his concentration obvious.




Jon and Kevin untangling the snakes




Dale and Keely (my niece)




After supper, we all gathered around the fire pit. And it was a chilly evening. We were so happy to see Austin and Alissa show up. She graduated with her Master's degree that same day in Speech Pathology.




I just love this picture of Kevin




Can't you just hear Keely laughing here?




Julie and Bailey sharing a secret. Looks like they're plotting something.




Wow! Who does Jesse look like here? Anyone else see it?
(Rex)




I think this is a pretty picture of Julie




A very feverish Little Peanut.




Not a fun day for her. But she was so sweet all day long.

Mother's Day 2009


Well, our Little Peanut (aka Renae) was sick with a fever all day...poor thing. She only wanted to be held by Mommy and Daddy. Here is Great Grandma talking to her.




Daddy's turn. But he doesn't mind. She is most cuddly when she's sick, and Daddy loves to cuddle with Renae.




And the day goes on...now, in Mommy's lap




Mom and Maynard came up for dinner and the afternoon. Isn't this a great shot of them?




Marti, Steve, and Zeke came up for dinner, too. Now, doesn't this look like Zeke in the profile? But this is Avery, my great niece from TN who was up here Saturday night with family.
I had to stick this shot in, and you'll see why in the next photo below....




This is Zeke. I think their profiles look so much alike. Of course, the resemblance was stronger when Zeke was younger.




LP put on Mommy's headband. Doesn't she look like her daddy's side here?




A game of Bocce ball. (Kevin, Zeke, Steve, Jesse)




Back in the gazebo. I didn't ask her to do "cheese face", but when she saw I was pointing the camera at her, she did her feverish best to do a cheese face. Bless her heart. But this is just too cute!




Marti, Julie, and LP




"Daddy, I'm out here with you because I want you to hold me." Doesn't she look pathetic?




Ah, life is better now.




(Julie, thought you might like a photo of the Mother's Day tulip bouquet your husband gave you, that you had to leave behind. I sure enjoyed them for the next week.)




Packed and ready to leave, but time for some bubbles.




Watching the bubbles









(Yes, Julie has a tummy...but for a good reason. We're very excited!)




The last of the bubbles goes floating off...

Penni's first art show...


Kevin is assembling the apparatus he designed and built to show my photos. He used PVC piping, and then we found these metal grids at a garage sale. We used lots of zip ties. He worked so hard, and so patiently on this show with me. It took us a good 3 hours to set up everything. We had (welcome) help from friends, Steve and Becky, and Brad and Judy, taking everything down. What a blessing!





Ta-da!




Annette and Bethann came for my show. Several other friends, and some family members, drove a long way to be supportive. I didn't get pictures of most of them...guess I was busy.




If you know me at all, then you know Nancy. Here she is with her lovely daughter, Jennifer. Then Jennifer's (and my daughter, Britt's) high school band instructor and his wife came. Craig and Joan just happened to be at the Fresh Air Fair; they were at my booth...then we were all so delighted to run into each other. Was so fun...lots of hugs and smiles.




Jennifer and Mr. A.

Sunday we went to the "Chalk the Walk" in Mt Vernon (see below) with our friends, Remi, Sophie, Ines, and Apolline.


Ines was very quiet, but observant all day.




We found a couple scrap pieces of chalk. So the girls drew on the sidewalk.
Apolline is studying what she wants to draw. Mom, Sophie is an artist, too.




Remi off to the sides with the girls, watching the chalk drawings being completed in the street...actually, on the street.




Apolline




Here is the professional artist. Each year, one is brought in to participate in the event.




Here's another artist...evidence is obvious. Of course, she cannot be identified by this photo.




And here is another artist's chalky hand.




We ate our lunch in the town park and the girls played on the equipment. Apolline is swinging high.


This is the reason I've not been posting lately.

I have been preparing for my first art show in which I'm participating. Kevin has designed and created the display for my framed photography. It's not totally finished...we need to do a "dress rehearsal" before the show on May 17. He's been a huge support and help to me in getting ready for this.
I'll probably not post till after the show. But I just wanted to let you all know that I've not deserted my blogging.