Spring/Summer Family Doings

Let's work backwards on this post!

We went over to Mark and Karena's for the 4th of July.

 

 We had a great time with Phil and Leslee and Mark and Karena.

 

 

 We DID have real food, too, but the desserts were the BEST!

 

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

 

 

We saw this family of pelicans on the way home - I think they were celebrating, too!

 

 

 

 Drew had his graduation party on the night of a big storm!  Good think they had a generator to get the lights back on.  Drew and his jazz trio entertained at his own party - wonderful music!

 

 We went to Drew's graduation from Orono High School. 

 

 

 Drew played the french horn in the band  and ...

 

 ... sang in the choir, too.

 

 Drew somehow grew to be the tallest in the Casey family!  He'll soon be heading off to DePauw University in Indianapolis with a wonderful 5 year all paid music scholarship - piano performance, french horn, and jazz!

 

 Over Memorial weekend, we headed to Illinois to help celebrate Katie's graduation and Amariah's 4th birthday.  Here we are just hanging out at the pool after Katie's party on Sunday night.

 

 Katie had her party right after graduation - she is modeling the 31 weekender bag from the Brackens and Caseys.

 

 Tom, Katie, and Kim - ready to have your chick leave the nest and head off to college soon?

 

Siblings -  Elijah, Griffin, and Amariah with the graduate, Katie.

 

 She did it!

 

 Elijah LOVES his kitty!

 

 The birthday girl, Amariah,  got rollerblades, AND rollerskates! 

 

 What a little princess!

 

 Remember ... these are in reverse order!  Here is a messy Mabel on her first birthday. Peek-a-boo!

 

 Is it OK mom?  Am I in trouble?

 

 Charlie had a cool dinosaur cake with 3 candles - easy peasy!

 

 Do I have to wear this thing?  I don't like hats!

 

 Here's the family - aren't they cute?

 

Awww... Charlie loving on his sister, Mabel.

 

Here's one more event - Jane, Pat, and my cousin Sandy usually get together every summer.  We had our annual lunch in Cannon Falls this year - doesn't it look yummy?

 Sandy made Grandma Linburg's bread, and we all got to take home our very own loaf - I had two weeks of amazing breakfast toast!

 

OK - next time I will remember that they changed the blogging format and the picture I pick first will end up first in the blog! Anyways - we've had some fun times this summer, ya'll. 

 

Can It Be ... Retirement????

Jane began it all last June of 2012, retiring from 41 years at Cannon Falls Elementary School.  The six of us went out for dinner in September but I forgot my camera!  Then Pat retired January 1st and Ted retired in February and we went out for dinner again! 

 We got the waitress to take the pictures.

 Jane made a tuxedo cake and we went back to Corey's apartment in Minneapolis to eat it and play some dominos.

I guess I just got the itch to retire, too!  Of course, changes at school and finances working out, and the fact that I hit the Rule of 90 5 years ago also played into the decision!  So ...

 Jane and Jenna and Mabel treated me to a pedicure as a retirement gift so my toes would look beautiful the last week of school!

 I found this cow costume for Mabel at the church rummage sale and couldn't resist!  It is for a 6-9 month old, and Mabel is ONE!  It won't fit her for long.  She was great at the pedicure place as we all sat in a row getting pampered!

 The school board had a reception for all the retirees, and my school had this cake and a lunch on the last day with kids.  My friend Joan and I are BOTH done!  Guess we'll go out for lunch the first day of school in September!

 So long kids ... have a great summer!

 I received this plaque from the School Board.  I also taught 3 years at Echo-Wood Lake, and subbed in Osseo, Robbinsdale, and Minneapolis for a total of 40 years of teaching!

 Lots of nice thoughts in these cards.

 Some from staff and some from parents and kids.

 LOTS of gift cards - still haven't used them all and it's mid July!

 Fun day - just like Christmas!

Awww...

                                               
Next, Chuck had to get in on the act and retire from all these jobs!  Jane put on a fun party for a small group of close friends and family.

 Everyone had a chance to roast the man.

 Ted had to share how he met Chuck at basic training at Fort Brag in 1970 and offered a picture of Jane to anyone willing to write her!!!

Ahhh ... now we can spend our days helping Jenna in HER classroom! 

Who is left - just Paulee!  He's the baby of the group - won't be 62 until September.  Plans are, though, to wait until 65 - just 3 more years and he can join the club!

Easter 2013

Paul and I headed to Cannon Falls after a wonderful Easter

 service at Waterbrooke - He Is Risen, Indeed! We missed

all the Catlin connection since Ted and Pat were in Illinois on their way

home from a month in Florida, and Angie had to work so Teddy and

family were also absent.  You'll notice I take most of my pictures of the

 little ones - aren't they CUTE?

 

 Mabel will be walking soon - she loves to hold your hands and wobble around.

 Maddox and Corey can't wait for motorcycle season to start - well, that's true for Corey.  Maddox just likes looking like a cool dude!

 Who needs candy when you can lick the egg?

 The Easter Bunny left a scavenger hunt for Maddox and Charlie with words and pictures.

 Now where?  The bathroom, of course!

 Three baskets in the tub.  Mabel gets into the act at the very end.

 I provided one more present - a pig popper.  Squeeze his belly and a soft ball explodes out of his mouth.  It took a while to get the hand of it, but ... WOW ... did those little balls fly!

 OK, Mabel, your turn.  What's in the bag from Uncle Joyce and Uncle Paul?

 Cousin Maddox, will you help???

 It's a soft barn and four little farm animals that all talk when you squeeze them!  Charlie doesn't care.

 Here, let me show you, Mabel.  What a nice cousin, Maddox!

 Whoa ... they make noises, too?  Cool!

 

 Oooh ... Charlie discovered a new way to pop the pig popper!

 Quack quack...

 Hey look, everybody ... I can wear my mom's dress!

 Ahhh ... Grandma Jane Jane has flashbacks.

 OK ... it's easier to pop the pig this way - his little fingers just don't have the strength to squeeze the belly of the pig. 

 Oh boy ... it can hit the ceiling!

 Maddox and Charlie taking a break.

 Yum - the ham is ready - let's eat.

 Wow - these eggs are really pretty - too pretty to eat.  How about as a center piece?

looking good, Jane.  What can I do?

How about if I set the table?

Nope .. already done.  Very festive!

There is a nest at each place.  I am SOOOO tempted to eat mine NOW!

After dinner Maddox, Charlie, Jenna, and I played Uno Attack.  Charlie wanted to press the button until it spits cards every time.  He didn't quite understand the concept of getting RID of all your cards.  He wanted to collect them!

Hit it, maestro!

Mabel plays with two hands!  I even joined her for a duet.

Nice touch ... I think she's got the genes!

The robins return to Cannon Falls - that was a mistake!

Thank goodness - the tree has berries to eat.

Maybe there is a worm in that patch of green grass ... ya think?

Yum ... Easter dinner is for the birds!

Charlie rides the human playground - more, Daddy, more!


A fun day was had by all.  Thank you, God, for the blessing of family!