First week of summer- rain, more rain, and a funeral

(Aunt Verna's family and Aunt Mardene)
My Aunt Verna passed away this last week.
She lived a good life of 96 years, raised a big family, kept a neat and tidy home,
loved to garden, and was a great cook.
She will be missed!

I got to reconnect with cousins that I haven't seen in a long time,
(We had a lot of fun growing up!)

hang out with my little granddaughter Maddie (and her new friend),

spend some time at the "old homestead",

and enjoy the beauty of Cache Valley.

The rain has made everything clean, green, and beautiful!

I hope summer doesn't go too quickly.
My first week has flown by!


*******
Maddie in her new 50 cent Old Navy hat!

We are pleased to announce......

We are having a summer wedding!
Andrew and Irene are officially engaged.
Yeah!

My very first Wii fitness test

Today I took my very first Nintendo Wii fitness test.
(Thanks, Katie.)

I know I am over weight.
I know I am out of shape.
I know I am not as healthy as I should be.

But...

75 years old?
I have the body of a 75 year old senior citizen?
(I was also called the "O" word!)

(No offense to anyone in that age bracket, but I am not that old!)

I want my young body back!

I gave away my give-away!

On the weekend we traveled North to attend a birthday party and a baby blessing.
(Happy First Birthday, Ivy! Welcome to the world Preston!)

While we were there my daughter Liz helped me finish my give-away!
We got pictures from Tannie's blog (the winner) and Liz printed them.
I can say it turned out cute because all I did was add the word "smile" and glue on the buttons.
My husband and Liz did the rest!
(Thanks for doing the work so I can get the credit!)


I did sew this apron, however.
(I hadn't forgotten all of my old 4-H sewing training!)

(Thanks to Irene for letting me borrow her sewing machine.)
I also "borrowed" these pictures from Tannie's blog.
Thanks for letting me steal them.
It was fun hosting the give-away and maybe I'll do another one some time soon.

Meet our new neighbor!

Guess who my husband met this morning as he went out to feed the fish in the pond?
(The fish probably love him- in his startled reaction he gave them an extra dose of food.)

Standing at the top of the water fall was a cousin of this big guy.

Do you think we will be able to coexist this summer?

Will it matter that I was here first?

Does he have relatives?

Help!!!

Two more days of school! Yeah!

My tired body is craving some rest!

It has taken me a lot of years to admit this, but
teaching school is probably best suited for someone YOUNG.
I know, wisdom and knowledge come with age and experience,
but
the last two weeks have been brutal!
(O.K. I might be exaggerating a little.)
I have walked too many miles in the hot sun or the pouring rain
on field trips (not much money for buses).
I have faced the challenge of trying to sort and pack up as much stuff as I can
without my students noticing that anything is different or missing.
I have tested students and filled out mountains of paper work.
(Who reads all this stuff?)
I have tried to keep hot, tired, restless children busy and productive.

Yes,
this last two weeks have been a test of my stamina
(and a reaffirmation that I need to get in better shape)!

Next week you might find me lying in the grass somewhere,
hunting for animal shapes in the clouds, or reading a new novel.
I might even sleep in. Maybe I'll escape and go somewhere.

(My husband is probably hoping I will do some house cleaning!)

But....
After a few restful days I will probably start thinking about twenty-five little people.
I hope they are having a good summer vacation!

And the winner is......

Congratulations to Tannie for winning my give-a-way!

Tannie is a good friend of my daughter Liz.

We put everyone's name in a basket
and my daughter Katie pulled out
Tannie's name.
(Sorry it is blurry!)

We will be sending you your prizes soon. Thanks for entering my contest!

Thanks to everyone else who entered. I wish I could give each one of you a prize.
Thanks for supporting my blog!
JoAnn

*****************
Guess what my husband bought today for only $55.00?
($70.00 off two-day sale, $15.00 coupon, $30.00 promotional discount)
Hint... it looks great in our office/den!