HUNGRY HIPPOS, PLAY DOUGH AND OODLES OF NOODLES

Summer....those precious three months of the year loved by kids and grandparents alike. Only then do we get to take the Grands to all the fun places we would need an excuse to go to otherwise! The zoo....Children's Museum....Water parks....playing in the hose in the backyard....catching lightning bugs after dark. Even though summer may not feel like it is here when you step outdoors and hurry back inside for a sweatshirt, at our house it is in full swing!

My mom, otherwise known as Mimi BB, watched the girls when I needed to go to the doctor. Gabi took charge of the camera. Not quite sure what is happening in this picture, and I don't think Izi is quite sure she wants her picture taken!!!

Gabi's dance class. They are such darling little girls and work so hard to please their teacher, Miss Donna (in black). One of the teens from older classes is the assistant (in bright pink-back).
Gabi is in the yellow shirt.


Memorial Day weekend and Kitty and Chris went to the race, an annual event for them.

This year, all four grandparents took Alison to the Indianapolis Zoo. We had such a nice time and it was a perfect day to be visiting the animals.

No zoo visit would be complete without a ride on the ponies. Alison chose "Ginger" to ride this time. Grandpa walked beside the pony to make sure Alison stayed on, but get a gander at the deathgrip on the saddle horn...don't think Alison was planning on going anywhere!

The funniest of all pictures could be appreciated more with "Smell-a-vision". This elephant smelled about as bad as anything still alive could!! Poor Grandpa Bobby and Alison! The look on their faces say it all!!!

Alison and I are on our way to the Indy Zoo in this pic. We played with the camera in the back of the car on the way there, and this picture pretty much tells how much fun we were having. See the bandage on my face. I had to have two basal cell cancer spots removed. One is healing beautifully and the other is still underoing treatment with Efudex, a topical acid creme designed to eradicate cancer cells under the skin. Let's hope it works....we only have one face!

Alison and Papaw on an "ellie" . Alison loves elephants and appropriately found this pachyderm to ride at the zoo!

Gabi has her dance recital this Friday, June 5. Her outfit is such a pretty color, but if we had waited another month, it would have been TOO SMALL! They measure for these outfits on week 2 of dance every year. Gabi has grown from a 6X to a 10 in one school year! Still my baby doll, though!!!

Izi reading to her babies. I think we must read 20 books a day when Izi is here. She loves to be read too! I only hope my love of reading as a child can be passed on to her. I love to read to the kids. They enjoy my acting antics. Adults just leave the house!

Mom watched the girls last week while I went back to the skin doctor. She really seems to be into the Hungry Hippo game. Probably trying to beat Gabi....who cheats if threatened with defeat!

Spring Has Sprung!!!!

What a very busy month we have had since Easter weekend! The day after, Tom started his cataract surgeries and opted to have the ReStore lenses put in place. He now doesn't have to wear glasses! He loves his new freedom from slipping glasses!


Mother's Day at Kitty's. Alison with all her grandmothers. Mimi Becki, Great Mimi BB and Grandma FiFi.
Great food and fellowship was had by all!!!


Becki and Kitty. Friends to the end!!!

Ryan brought his Dalmation, Lady, out to run and play one night last week. She was soon joined by our neighbor's dog, Alex. Together they had so much fun. Izi got in the act and put a treat in each hand and had them chase her round and round the yard. Those little silver slippers were flying!

April 15 was TEA (taxed enough already) Party Day at the Courthouse. Yes....I am a dangerous right-wing extremist and I participated in the TEA Party. It felt darn good to actually speak up for a change! I only hope more do so as time goes on, because I personally feel like this country is being sold out inch by inch, state by state and when we finally wake up, it may well be too late!!

This is a wonderful picture of Papaw and his "little buddy." The last picture we have of Tom with glasses! This was Easter Sunday morning.

The Saturday before Easter, we had our annual Egg Hunt at Poverty Nob. All the Grands were here. Pictured from left are:

Gabi, Dani (in white wig), Madison holding Alison, Queen Mum Kym (in princess hat) and Izi in the front. We had such a wonderful day hunting eggs and eating great food.

The Grands on the back steps.

Gabi, Madison with Alison, Dani with Izi.

Bunnies and Dyed Eggs and Vacation --- Oh Wow!!!

Easter week....the seven days eagerly awaited by all school kids as a time out, a respite, a break from the ho-hum of everyday life! Well, for this year at least, everyone I know took a STAYCATION, which means having fun in the same place, pretty much doing the same thing....just on a slower schedule!!!

The girls (Izi-age 3, Gabi-age 6 and Alex, age 6 in human years, 42 in Dog years) enjoyed decorating the shrubs outdoors for Easter. Hopefully, it will be a little warmer when we have our Annual Egg Hunt on Saturday!


We went to the Children's Museum in Indy on Tuesday, meeting up with Kitty and Alison.
Here, the girls are in the Marvel Comics section, having a ball driving down Times Square in NYC!!!




The Lego Land castle has a slide, which was the favorite of Izi and Alison.
Niece Madison is peeking her head around the corner!!!






Painting the Egg. Alison's first Easter to paint eggs and she had a great time!

Easter Egg hunt at Noblesville.

Alison was dressed for the occasion but totally missed out on the egg hunt! You can't be two seconds too late or it's all over until next year!

She had a great time looking for eggs and then getting a tattoo and riding the Carousel.

We wish you all a wonderful Easter! A time of rebirth, renewal of the spirit and soul! May you each be blessed with the gifts of both!!!

A Weekend Visit to Lincoln Country

Mom wanted to see Uncle Wyett
and so last Saturday morning we drove about 300 miles to Salem, IL. The little town is located in southern Illinois, in direct horizontal alignment to Vincennes, IN.

On Sunday morning, we awoke to a snowy, blizzardy day but Tom and I had planned to travel to Springfield, IL to visit the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

On our way, we stopped in Vandalia, IL, the old State Capitol. The courthouse was the Statehouse from 1836-1839, during the time of Lincoln's State Senate years. In the park across from the courthouse is Lincoln Park. This picture, with Lincoln setting outside the courthouse, is a replica of one I saw at the Presidential Museum.

The Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield was completed in 2004. It is a cross between a historic museum and the fertile minds of animators, such as those who work at Disney world.

Photos cannot be taken inside the museum, but as you enter the main corridor, the Lincoln family greets you outside the White House. Pics can be taken in this area only. In this pic are the Lincoln children, Tad, Willie and Robert and President and Mrs. Lincoln.

The tour of the museum is absolutely fantastic. It begins with the boyhood years in Indiana, and ends with the assassination of the President and his final tour cross-country back to Springfield, IL.


The artifacts on display are many and varied, from hand-written invitations to tea from Mrs. Lincoln to actual legal cases won by Lincoln when he was an attorney.

There are two presentations, one entitled "Lincoln's Eyes" and the other, "Ghosts of the Library". In "Lincoln's Eyes", we are asked to look at Lincoln as people saw him during his presidency. He didn't become an icon of history until after his assassination. During his White House years, he had many detractors, just like we have today. The presentation shows that Lincoln had the courage to do what he felt was right, even when it was hard on him, his family and the nation.
The "Ghosts of the Library" was my favorite part of the tour. It is a magical special effects presentation that uses Holavision to tell the story. What seems real can disappear in a puff of smoke. I still haven't decided whether the library curator was real or a figment of imagination. But it doesn't make any difference, the presentation was unforgettable.


We also toured the Lincoln home in Springfield and I wish we had had the time to tour Lincoln's neighborhood. Our trip ended with Tom going down what we thought was a one-way street and being in the lane for turning traffic. A nice and friendly Springfield policeman pulled us over and then gave us directions to get out of town free!!

We visited cousins and great-cousins I hadn't seen in years. Uncle Wyett and mother had a very nice visit. But for me, the coup de grace of the weekend was this....just like the MasterCard commercial.....

Two nights in the local hotel, $140......tickets to the Museum, $20......Clipping down the interstate with my 96 year-old uncle driving us in his new van....PRICELESS!!!!!

Thanks to all my Illinois family for a wonderful weekend!

Rites of Spring

Ahhh, Spring!
Ask a grown-up what signifies a perfect spring day.

You'll get answers like: 72 degree weather, flowers blooming, playing hooky from work to tee off at 9 a.m., top down on the convertible, windows open letting in a fresh breeze.

A two-year-old sees things differently.

Alison came to visit this weekend. To her, a perfect spring day is swinging, going so high that you feel upside down! (Thanks Uncle Bo for the avante garde pic!)





Spring is reconnecting with the dog next door. His name is Alex, so we have an Alison and an Alex on the front lawn. She loves him. He her.




He shows her that a perfect spring day means rolling around and scratching your back on the grass!
"Oh yeah....feels so good! I could do it all day long! Now you try, Alison !!! "











"Well, Alex, it't not quite as good as bare feet in the sand or going without your Pull-Ups at the Pool, but if this is what you like to do....then I'm gonna join ya !!! "









Playing peek-a-boo with the adults from the top of the gymn set is especially fun!





A perfect spring day to a two-year-old:

New Sunglasses

Hair in pigtails

No more heavy coats, gloves, boots, snow
pants and cold weather

Swinging to the Sky

A wonderful dog named Alex

Staying Awake until 3:00 p.m.

Kissing everyone goodbye, grabbing a glass of juice and sleeping all the way back to Noblesville!!

Thank you St. Patrick. Without your life of apostolic duty to Christ, March 17 would be just another ho-hum day in the pursuit of spring. Instead, it is a day of celebration, parades, dyeing the river green (note to self: Wabash River green???? 2010 possibility???), Irish stew and Green Beer, Masses said the world over in your remembrance (Thank you Fr. Sextus Don). Our little world of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro IN is no exception, for it is on this day that the Friends of St. Patrick work diligently toward a wonderful soup supper, an inspiring mass and excellent entertainment to wrap up the day.

Jo and Janet cut pies in preparation for the soup supper. THANK YOU LAGRO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH for letting St. Patrick's use your wonderful facility to host our soup supper each year. Without your support, our efforts would be much harder to complete!

The Friends of St. Patrick's is a small but earnest group. We are Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran. We are teachers, business owners, farmers, housewives, office workers, retirees, and the self-employed and we all come together for the purpose of promoting and expanding the knowledge of the history of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro, and its role in the expansion of Catholicism in the Ft Wayne/South Bend Diocese.

Velva , one of the FOSP, returned on March 17 to assist as a greeter to folks coming to the soup supper. Velva has had a difficult four years, but with God's help will be coming back to her home in rural Lagro the end of the month.

Friends of St. Patrick's plays an important role in many of our lives. We each bring gifts to the group. Small but mighty, it is amazing how God has called us to be a part of St. Patrick's legacy.

Janet is a leader and friend to all; Peggy is so gifted in music and was a lightning rod behind the restoration of the Erben organ. Cindy is a leprechaun with a loving spirit and talents in the kitchen and the stage. Her husband, Pat is a Connoisseur in the kitchen and can do wonderful things with beer and food! Mike is always willing to give a smile and a helping hand; Tom D. is Mr. Fix-It; Mary Jane keeps track of our money and brings her daughter and daughters-in-law to help us when needed. Thank you Gayle, Peggy and Jane!!! Jo is the most organized person I have ever met and is pro-active in the kitchen, knowing what needs done before anyone else....Steve is a new member, quiet and a worker bee, as well as Thom C.....Then there is Ann, Frank, Matt and their families....They are the face of St. Patrick's and we are so grateful to them all....Paul is the elder of St. Patrick's and the very reason the FOSP is an organization. He has loved St. Patrick's longer than any of us and his guidance has been so invaluable....Brenda is Paul's driver and sidekick and is willing to help in any way she can....Tom W. always has a smile on his face and rides a John Deere around the Church every week all summer long.....Becki has her words, Blog and camera....
Many other people are silent soldiers to St. Patrick's and help us in ways large and small. There are the two Ann's from St. Bernard's, who spread the word about our festivities and devote themselves quietly to St. Patrick's efforts. There is Minda, who sends out our thank you notes, Cherryl and Doug, who donate pies and come out to make sure we are set up for the evening, Nancy and Bill, who are there when called on and needed, the columnists at "the paper" and the Wabash Plain Dealer who make sure our events are recorded in a timely manner, and the women of the Lagro UMC, who come to open the fellowship Hall and stay around to assist us each year. Last, but not least, there is Fr. Sextus Don and Bishop D'Arcy. Although they cannot be at each and every activity the FOSPer's foster, we know they are with us in spirit and love.


The Friends Quartet, from the Friends Church in Wabash, performed for us this year. They did a wonderful job !!! Mike, second from left, was an Altar Boy at
St. Patrick's over 50 years ago!!!

Finally, St. Patrick's would not exist without people like you!!! You come to our events, you enjoy the mass, the food, the fellowship and the beauty of the church. Every time the doors of St. Patrick's are open, someone will come in who has never been in the church before.
They enter and then exclaim, "Oh, how beautiful! I've never been here! This church is just wonderful!!!
Yesterday I took two people on a quick tour of the church. Both of them were lifelong residents of Wabash County but were novices to St. Patrick's. They just wanted to see the church and took the opportunity to come to St. Patrick's Day. They are not Catholic, but will spread the word to their friends about the wonders of the venerable old cathedral.



In each and every life there should be a catalyst that pushes us to be better people. For the Friend's of St. Patrick's, it is the church. Standing stately on Main Street in Lagro IN since 1873, the church has welcomed thousands into her arms. She has a spirit that cannot be quieted, and once She touches your heart, you are willing to ask God's help and guidance in keeping her vigil. Our friendships that have begun because of St. Patrick's will be life-long. We are better people because of our selfless involvement with this church and we Thank God for leading us to her.


Be sure to come to Lagro Days on Saturday, June 27 and be part of the celebration of Lagro's 150th Anniversary and St. Patrick's role in this Irish community!!!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration - St. Patrick's Church, Lagro

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION - MARCH 17, 2009
HISTORIC ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH - LAGRO, IN

A very special day and event is nearing for all Catholics, and particularly for the people who support the historic St. Patrick's Church in Lagro, IN. Each year, supporters (known as Friends of St. Patrick's - FOSP) of the beautiful old church, host a soup supper, Mass and evening entertainment. The following is the schedule:

4:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Soup supper at Lagro United Methodist Fellowship Hall. Potato soup, Beef Stew, assorted desserts and refreshments will be served. Donation taken at the door.

5:30 p.m. - Mass at Historic St. Patrick Church - Fr. Sextus Don

7:30 p.m. - Friend's Men Quartet entertaining at the church, donation accepted but not required

Plan on coming for a great meal, Mass and entertainment! Attend all three events, or pick and choose what suits you best!

Every time an event takes place at Historic St. Pat's, I hear someone say, "I've lived here my whole life and never been inside this church before." I would like to help erase this problem! If you receive this Blog, please forward it to at least ten people you know who are interested in St. Patrick's, are Catholic, from the Lagro area, interested in the refurbished Erben organ, or like to wear green! We need to get the word out that this Historic church - on the National Register of Historic Places - is a wonderful asset to the Ft. Wayne - South Bend Diocese, to the county of Wabash and to the community of Lagro!

In closing, I share with you St. Patrick's Evening Hymn:

O Christ, Son of the living God

May your Holy Angels guard our sleep,

May they watch us as we rest

And Hover around our beds.

Let them reveal to us in our dreams,

Visions of your glorious truth,

O High Prince of the universe,

O High Priest of the mysteries,May no dreams disturb our rest,

And no nightmares darken our dreams,

May no fears or worries delay our sleep,

Our willing, prompt repose.

May the virtue of our daily work

Hallow our nightly prayers,

May our sleep be deep and soft,

So our work be fresh and hard.

(Pray recited at Friends of St. Patrick's meetings at the close of each meeting.)

HOPE TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 17!!!