A Golden Birthday

Adam waited 25 years for his Golden Birthday. 25 on the 25th!

Courtney planned a special weekend celebration for him, which I will post about soon, but first I want to wish a very happy birthday to my little golden boy. My baby.

I thought I would share some Mama-Adam photos in honor of the day.

Fun at school.

Scavenger hunt on Mackinac Island.

A Purdue birthday.

Mom's weekend.

Purdue graduation.

And, just like that, we are at his wedding. Where that little boy walked down the aisle to marry the girl he loves.

And we danced, Mama and baby. I am thankful for the blessing of Adam, and to celebrate the little boy, the good man, my baby, who will always have a piece of his mama's heart.

Happy Golden Birthday, Adam!

Your Mama loves you!

Back to the Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time, and I'm finally getting a post up. It is still Wednesday, isn't it? Seems like life moves at an alarmingly fast rate, and it's hard to keep up. And speaking of life moving quickly, we're talking about time travel today, specifically Back to the Future. This date (October 21, 2015) was the day they landed on in the 'future' in the movie. So hop in the DeLorean and join me as we go Back to the Hodgepodge. 

Here we go!

1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?

I saw the first movie, and liked it. Michael J. Fox is always good. I probably saw the sequels, but as is often the case, my memory is foggy.

On this day in 1985, I was 15 days away from giving birth to this little one. Our baby girl. Seven pounds, 15 ounces of pinkness. Jim always says that the boys came out blue and she came out pink. Jennifer Ann.

She was born less than an hour (seems like it was about 20 minutes) after we got to the hospital. She was in a hurry then (thankfully), and has been a girl on the move ever since.  

To me, her hospital photo looks like a little girl who will be able to hold her own with 2 big (and later, 2 little) brothers, without losing her sweet spirit.

She was welcomed home by Andrew (1 1/2) and David (almost 3). So in the fall of 1985? I was busy.

2.  If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?

As a child, when I visited places like Conner Prairie, or Old Sturbridge Village, I thought it would be great to live life as a pioneer. As an adult? Not so much. I appreciate electricity and indoor plumbing. It would be interesting to visit the past to get to know and hear stories from my ancestors, and it would also be interesting to hop to the future to visit my great-great-greats. I am happy, though, living right here in the present. It's a gift.

3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015-flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass).  Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with it's demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good?

It is interesting to me how the Internet changes everyday conversations. We no longer sit around and debate who was the Super Bowl MVP in 2010 (Drew Brees, of course), how many miles it is from point a to point b, or which states are the leading producers of corn. We just use the computer/phone/camera in our pocket to look it up. I enjoy new technology, and think the Internet is, for the most part, for good. 

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?

One of our favorite slow-cooker meals is 'crock-pot beef.' A chuck roast, a packet of dry ranch dressing, a little water, and that's it! So tender, it falls apart. Best way to cook a roast.

Fast food? I don't know… does pizza count?

5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now? 

Fall is always busy, and we have several things planned in the next few weeks, which sometimes makes me feel pressed for time. I do try to remember, that in all the coming and going, it's important to make time to enjoy the ride.

6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

I had to think a bit for this one, and what came to mind, interestingly, is the day camp I attended when I was a child visiting my grandparents in Indianapolis. My brothers and I loved it when we each had our own turn for a visit, and I have many memories of special things we did during that time. My grandma, 'Mamaw', arranged for me to attend Acorn Farm Day Camp during one such visit (maybe 2 or 3 different years?), and it was so much fun. My brother, Ted, had gotten his turn first, and I couldn't wait for my chance to go. I was picked up by an old school bus, with my swimsuit and towel in a red knapsack, and transported to the camp for the day. There was a pool, and crafts, and games, and ponies, and all sorts of outdoor fun. I, of course, loved the ponies the best, and still remember their names: Stuffy, Sonny, and Charlie Brown. (I always tried to get Sonny, because, if you tried really hard, and squeezed and kicked and clucked enough, he might, maybe, almost, get to a trot.) I also remember games of capture the flag, when the 'flag' was actually a watermelon, and when it was found, it was sliced and shared all around.

I think I had a t-shirt… just more like 1969 instead of 1959.

I know where the camp used to be, and when I looked it up this morning, I learned that the family who owned the camp still owns the land, and a daughter of the founding couple has an antique shop on the property. The camp was in operation from 1933 until 1977, and served over 15,000 kids. It was the first day camp of its kind in the United States. The area around the camp has been built upon and developed, so I was glad to hear that the camp property itself still exists, much like it did back in the day. I will need to make a trip to the antique shop sometime soon.

7. Describe your comfort zone.

I don't know… my couch? with my dog? and a good book?


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Little Cayden John, our sixth grandchild, is six weeks old. He was in the 'burg a couple of weeks ago, and we got some 4 generation photos. Here is little Cayden John with grandpa Jim, great-grandpa John, and daddy David John.

On the maternal side, Cayden John is posing with granny Susan, great-grandpa Jim, daddy David, and great-grandma (Nana) Jere'. He is one blessed baby! He even has more great-grandparents on his mama's side!

Just for fun, we took some photos of Cayden in a couple of his daddy's outfits. The blue outfit in the photo above is the one David wore home from the hospital. The red outfit below was a favorite of mine, and David wore it for his first Christmas photos.

That's daddy David John on the left, baby Cayden John on the right. Sweet babies both.

Boilers and Babies

Last Saturday, little Cayden John made his first trip to a Purdue football game. Or as his dad likes to say, his introduction to a lifetime of disappointing football. (Minus the Drew Brees years, of course.) We can pray that the young Brees boys will be wearing Boilermaker uniforms one day. :)

I was happy to see my newest little sweetie, and welcome him to the tailgate lot.

He even got to meet Mitch! In case you don't know, Mitch Daniels is the former governor of Indiana and the current President of Purdue University. Hi Mitch!

It was baby day at the tailgate, and we got a photo of Kristin and baby Alaina, Shylah and baby Cayden, and Jen and baby Adelyn.

Silly Andrew and baby Adam had to get in the picture as well. Lol.

A photographer from the Journal and Courier came by and took a couple of photos of the babies.
Kristin, Cayden, and Shylah.

Kyle and Alaina.

I love the fun and fanfare of college football, and I was finally able to get into the stadium in time for the pre game show. Here come the Boilers! Unfortunately, that's about the best thing they did all day.

The band's famous Block P.

World's Largest Bass Drum and the presentation of the colors.

My favorite part of the pre game is 'I Am An American.' "They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them across this bright October sky." I always like to guess what the announcer will say for his description of the sky. It was a bright and beautiful day.

Shylah, Cayden, and David going into Ross-Ade Stadium for Cayden's first game.

We were given seats up in the Shively Suites by a friend, and I spent part of the game up there with baby Cayden. As previously stated, it was a good thing we had babies and families and friends to distract us from what was happening on the field, because it was not pretty. At. all.

Back at the tailgate (yes, even I left the game early), Cayden took a little snooze in the back of the car. It may not be the last Boiler football game he sleeps through, but we were happy to have him with us for his very first. Boiler Up, babies!

Prettiest Pumpkins in the Patch

Haleigh, Ella, and I took a little drive last week to visit Armand's Harper Valley Farm. It's about a 20 minute drive to the southern side of Decatur County. I have heard about their farm and pumpkin patch, but this was my first visit.

We really liked the sunflower maze. Sunflowers are so much fun. I remember planting a few near our back gate when our kids were little. Often, by the end of the summer, just before school started, they were HUGE! I think I tried to make a wreath one year, with the sunflower head in the center. We also saved the seeds to plant again the next year.

The sunflowers in the maze weren't the really huge variety, but they made a colorful backdrop to our walk through the maze. Haleigh posed on the path.

The girls tried to decide which way we should go next.

They pointed out a nice looking sunflower bloom.

 We even got together for a granny girl selfie.

The turkeys were LOUD! And for sale! We did not buy a turkey.

After the sunflower maze, we took a wagon across the road and through the bean field to the pumpkin patch. There are around 8 acres of gourds and pumpkins! We searched through the patch to find just the right pumpkins to fill our wagon and bring home with us.

Haleigh found the one she wanted.

We loaded them into the wagon, and then two girls decided they wanted to ride too. I was happy to get a little workout while pulling my pretty load back through the bean field and across the road.

After we paid Mrs. Armand for our pumpkins, Haleigh took over the pulling.

 She took Ella safely back, past the sunflowers, to the car.

Back at home, the girls decided to clean out and carve the pumpkins. Of course, I still have the kid-safe carving tools from when our kids were kids. :) We cut the tops off, and they got to work scooping out the insides and the seeds.

Aunt Courtney did a math lesson last week with her fourth grade students, by estimating, and then counting, the seeds in a pumpkin. We did not count ours. I did throw them out near the side of the house, though. Maybe we'll grow a beanstalk! Or at least some surprise pumpkins next summer.

I showed them how it sometimes works best to use your hands, instead of a spoon, to get the insides out of the pumpkin. Ella was more anxious to try it than Haleigh was, and they both worked hard to get their pumpkins all cleaned out.

We brought them inside and worked together to carve a face on each one. They wanted the same face, so their jack-o-lanterns would be twins. Probably because people frequently think they are twins.

We found some candles, and set the jack-o-lanterns to glowin'. Just like the little girls.

Hodge to the Pumpkin Podge

It's Wednesday, and I'm back to blogging for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for faithfully providing us with questions each week, and hosting this little link-up. Be sure to click on the button below to visit Joyce and the others. 

Here are her questions and my answers:

1. It's October so let's get this out there first thing...have you jumped on the all-things-pumpkin bandwagon? How so?

No, and I don't even understand all the pumpkin excitement. So. much. excitement. Oh, I'll eat pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, or pumpkin pie, if it is served to me (it's dessert, after all), but I would not order it if there were other choices.

I did jump on the pumpkin patch bandwagon (which looked a lot like a mini van) to accompany these two pumpkins (and their mama) to the pumpkin patch.

Noah's big smile was due to a kitty cat that his mama was holding while she took the photo. :)

 2.  "We have more power than will; and it is often by way of excuse to ourselves that we fancy things are impossible." Francois Duc De la Rochefoucauld  

What's something you once thought impossible, but in hindsight see as more a matter of lack of will?

I can think of things that seem impossible: building a cathedral, running a marathon, cleaning all my closets (lol), but we know, in fact, that they can be done if one just has the will to do them. I'll hold on to the belief that with will, desire, drive, and prayer, anything is possible.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite movies of my childhood, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

"But the world is full of zanies and fools,

Who don't believe in sensible rules,

And don't believe what sensible people say,

And because these daft and dewey-eyed dopes

Keep building up impossible hopes,

Impossible, things are happening every day."

Thank goodness for all the zanies and fools in the world who dare to imagine what is possible!

And if you have time to watch the clip of the song, here it is, for your enjoyment!

3. The rose is America's National Flower, but every state also has its own (click here to see the list). Are you happy with yours? If you were in charge what would you declare your state's flower? If you're outside the U.S. what bloom would you like to see labeled as your country's national flower?

The state flower of Indiana is the peony. When I was a child, I thought they were rather ordinary. They grew on floppy bushes and were usually filled with ants, who must be attracted to the blooms.

Now, they are one of my favorites. We have two bushes in our yard, which were planted by Jim's grandmother. I like the old fashioned, rustic look to them, and the longevity of the plants themselves.

They also make beautiful wedding bouquets.                 

4. What have you lost interest in recently?

Well, I haven't been a very good blogger recently….

5. In your opinion, who's the best living musician?

So many, but I'm a country girl, so I'll choose Garth Brooks.
We saw him in concert around 1996, and he has always been a favorite of our family. We spent many hours singing along with him in the van.

Here's a good one:



And have you heard his new one, Mom? So good.

6. S'mores-love 'em or no? Ever make them indoors? Last time you sat around an outdoor fire? Are making s'mores and sitting round a fire pit on your autumn bucket list? Do you have an autumn bucket list?

I like s'mores, and mostly I like making them around the fire with friends and family. We have a fire sometimes at the lake, and usually have s'mores supplies on hand. Once, when Jim and I were there with the littles while their parents went to dinner, the kids wanted to make s'mores, so we did. Trouble was, that they all liked to make them, but none liked to eat them. Jim was eating them as fast as they could make them. :)

The last time I had s'mores was this adorable and tasty Mason jar version, made by Becky for Shylah's baby shower. Yum.

My autumn bucket list includes a weekend of leaf raking at the lake, so maybe we can work s'mores into that event. (It's probably more of a things-that-sound-impossible-but-with-enough-will {and manpower}-it-can-be-done item than a bucket list item, but maybe if I write it down here, it will actually happen.) :)

7. Your favorite small town? Why?

Ours, of course, Greensburg, Indiana. Home of the World Famous Tree on the Courthouse Tower.

That's our handsome grandson, Matthew, standing in front of it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

As I have mentioned before, my friend Ruthann has started chemo again, and I would love to have you add her to your prayers.

Last week, Janet took her to chemo, and I rode along. We were joined by Ruthann's friend, Mel (who appears in an entertaining video concerning her son and a certain tailgate item), and their nurse navigator, Amy. Mel has the same cancer as Ruthann, and has been there as a support, and as a friend, since her diagnosis. Amy is their angel nurse, who answers questions, manages medication, eases their worries, and makes them feel as if they are her only patient. She has a big birthday coming up, and Mel brought gifts and cupcakes, and I brought along crowns.

That's Amy on the left, Ruthann in the center, and Mel on the right.

While chemo is no party, we managed to do a lot of laughing, which is always good medicine.  When I apologized to the nurses for our noise level, they assured me that they are always thankful for laughter in the infusion center.

Ruthann wrote about it on her Caring Bridge site, and called this her Chemo, Cupcakes, and Crowns Crew! If you have a chance to visit her site, you will be blessed. We are so grateful for your prayers.