Father's Day

There was an old pond ...

Drew and Tricia gave me the pond kit several years ago. Then we got him to dig the hole too. It has been a nice pond. We have put in another liner one year. I've rebuilt the cascade many times. The original concrete patio blocks eroded and we replaced them with stone a few years ago. The raccoons will turn it on end and the feral cats do a number on it too. It took about an hour a week to clean it. I would put a 2X4 across the middle and lay on it to pull the filter up.

The fountain head had to be unscrewed and the top taken off with a screwdriver the filter pads taken out and washed. Then put it together and lay on the 2X4 again and get the hose hooked up to it and position it so the fountain stayed in the pond and then adjust the flow between the fountain and the falls.

If I skipped a week it would plug up and no water ran until it was cleaned.

The basketball of the neighbor will wreck a lot of things. the rocks fall in, the fall's been knocked over several times and the fountain broken and plants crushed.

I mentioned to Sally that a friend at work was having one of her ponds redone in concrete. That was apparently a stimulus to get ours fixed this year. She contacted these folks (http://www.waterlilyponds.com/) and it would only be a week 'til they could do it.


They showed up about a quarter 'til nine and started by digging up the plants, catching the fish and tearing out the old pond.


They dug the hole out considerably larger and deeper. They put in an under liner and an EDPM 45-mil liner.

They worked steadily and put together a good looking pond with a stone covered bottom and double fall, three lights and a bio-filter with a skimmer on the end that is much easier to clean. About five minutes a week.

Leaving me plenty of time to sit in my chair and listen to the sounds of water.

This is our new pond in motion.

Sunday the kids came over for fathers day. I got what I think is one good picture of Grandma and Cora. I was pretty busy playing the rest of the time to take pictures.

All of the fellas were supposed to go on a charter fishing trip on Sunday afternoon. That would be Alex and Drew, Kyle, Geoff, Steve (Kyle's father-in-law), and me.

Captain Tim called Sunday morning and advised that the storm was past but there was another build west of us and it was supposed to be heavy in the afternoon.The strange weather has messed with the fishing and it hasn't been very good. We might not get out or we might not stay out and probably wouldn't catch fish.

I deferred to his experience. I said, "I don't want to go on the SS Minnow."

Tim said they had one of those a couple weeks ago. http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/979886,sink053008.article

So we will rebook the trip and tell that tale another time.

This Is Not A Getaway, It's A Get Together.

VOLLEYBALL REUNION

It isn't obvious what volleyball has to do with this. That is ancient history now. But good friends have been together for many years. We've reared children and now they are rearing children. Thanks to those who put this together. We gathered most of the group in New Buffalo, Michigan for a day off catching up with the lives of everyone.

We enjoyed a day at the beach and park.

The beach front is very nice and picturesque.


The bubble wands came out for the kids came out and very soon it became clear who the 'kids' were.


Then we took a walk to the beach. Drew's family had a big day at Ashley's and Alex's school and couldn't come. Kyle had to work but Sarah and Logan came with us. Geoff and Julieanna brought Cora and enjoyed sitting on the warm rocks at the beach.

I don't think Geoff was really flipping me off.

Sally had a lot of time holding Logan. She was the best little traveler. We left Sarah's at 9:15 AM. We weren't much more than out of the drive and Logan was asleep. She slept all the way to New Buffalo, where we arrived about Noon CDT.

Sarah fed Logan and she slept the rest of the day. She just lay there like Sleeping Beauty. In spite of the umbrella and bonnet she got a flash of sun on her cheeks. Sarah out a little aloe on her and she slept the whole way home.

I think she has an on--off switch. When we got to Sarah's Kyle was home from work and Logan woke and was all smiles and charm.


Cora is quit the little lady now, at six months. In her jaunty hat and big smiles she is very observant. She is also very camera aware. She is pretty quick at picking up on little things and learning to do them. I did a little finger wave when I saw her watching me and she was serious and staring at me. Then, without her looking away, her fingers started moving down by her side. When I noticed I approached and started talking to her while waving and she kept looking back and forth be tween her hand and mine and in less than a minute she was able to wave.


It is amazing to me how much difference there is in just a few months of age. Logan is becoming very interactive. She recognizes people and reacts to us with jabber and smiles. They are going to be so much fun together in a very short time.

Apparently this all wore Neal and Anna out. They took time out in the sun.


It was a big day. We have a baby boom in the group now. Eleven children under three and two expectant mothers to be. There are about nineteen in the latest generation. Nineteen children in the middle generation and thirteen spouses. The original group has fourteen husbands and wives. What a life it has been!

Done At Last

They finally finished the house! I was busier that a one armed paper hanger on Saturday. I had to cut up a stack of deadwood from our tree and put the kitchen curtain back up. Then I painted the garage door to match the house.

That made it painfully apparent to me why I gave up and had the house sided. I thought my arm would fall off, painting over my head and moving the door down a wee bit then paint another strip, etc. I hadn't thought about it, but one cannot paint to the edge if the door is down. But I think it looks like a good match. And done in time for Mother's Day.


The kids all came to our house. They were all very good. This is Julieanna holding Logan, Kyle and Sarah's angel. Geoff had his lovely little lady Cora. Cora is four months older that Logan. At two months and six months there is a world of difference in their activities. But both are healthy and progressing wonderfully. It is hard to imagine that in another six to eight months there will be less and less separation.

They are both beautiful little girls. I feel so lucky that all my children are healthy and have healthy children and they are all so nurturing and involved.


Then in an evil spell ...
Julieanna decided to test her Cora. "Look at mommy loving another baby! No more love left for Cora."

Cora is self-confident and didn't care. She knows that of her minion of worshipers, the loss of one is insignificant.


Actually, Logan was upset at being used in such a crass plot.


Since Drew and Tricia and Ashley and Alex won't be able to go to Michigan this weekend, we took a picture to take with us. Aren't they a good looking family?


Then we have video!

Cora has begun to sit up by herself and she likes to exercise her voice. If she has an audience she is even louder. I think they call that being a ham. And on Mother's Day she started using her hands to modulate that voice.


That is enough CORASPEAK. It all sounds vaguely familiar in the Obama year.

I Surrender!

I finally admit it ...
I can't scrape and paint anymore.

As you can see, it is past due for care. No matter what I looked at, getting it prepped was a monumental task. And stain or paint, it was only for a handful of years at best.

We decided to get it sided.
This shabby appearance was banished from the neighborhood!

Try clicking on picture. On my computer it opens it LARGE. Then use the back button to go back to the blog page.

They pulled up Friday to drop the dumpster. Tuesday they brought the supplies. These two fellows hand stacked every box and piece.


It was the entire truck load.
Now we are ready for the installers.


They too arrive on Tuesday morning and begin by stripping the old siding and gutters from the house. Then they wrap it in Tyvek. One of my pet peeves is that they wrap it with the print upside down. I know it will soon be covered; but, I will always know it is upside down!

The end of the day Tuesday they had done the front and both sides. The back was still untouched.


Wednesday the installers strip the back and begin hanging siding. This is the first time we have seen the color. It looks as I expected it to look. I'm not happy with the appearance of siding. I've never liked the J-channel around windows and doors or the corners. But, in the long run the house will look better for many years. People are used to seeing siding today. It is the norm rather than the exception.


The shrubs and flower beds take a beating. They are oblivious to plantings. I hope they will recover!

The rest of the yard is gorgeous this spring.

Just since Easter ...

Cora and Julieanna came to visit while Geoff wandered off to Denver. He had a presentation at a conference and claims not to have skied, partied or enjoyed it. (My words not his)
We enjoyed the visit. I took pictures of Julieanna too but they were not done well and I don't want to defame her with my lack of skills with my new camera.


Mean while Spring finally arrived in early April. The snow drops had appropriately come up and bloomed under the snow. Now the crocus have arrived and gone. They were thick and beautiful this year.


When Geoff returned and got a weekend Julieanna and he went out to eat and we baby sat. She was a doll. Drools a ton! I am thinking that she will dehydrate. Notice the soaked bib.


Then came Logan. Her parents needed a bit of time and we were lucky enough to sit for her. She is gorgeous too. It reminds us to enjoy all four of them in the moment. They grow up so incredibly fast. Logan is a good eater. She can suck down a bottle like no one's business.


The red bud is budding! It is about ready to pop.


The daffodils are stunning in their simplicity. Though the color is monochrome, the shadows give subtle details.


The maple trees have flushed their buds of red. When I came home from work the drive, sidewalk and porch were covered. They track in terribly.
Also notice the shabby appearance of the house. We have plans to remedy the appearance.


The back yard is coming to life. The rhododendron in full bloom is from our friends when I had my heart attack. It has remained the strongest and most beautiful of the five. I think it is because of the nurturing nature it was given in.


I will update again when the house looks better. We are replacing the last five old windows. They are single glazed, loose and rattle in every breeze.

We are also having it sided. We will be out of the external painting world after all these years. It will be good to not think, every time we go out of town to see friends, that we should have stayed home to scrape or paint.

They dropped the dumpster this morning at 7:15 am. They will start Monday to remove the old siding. Then they wrap the house and side it. and replace the windows.

Easter at the Yacht Club

What a winter it has been! We are near one-hundred inches of snow. By the calendar it is Spring; but climatologically it is obviously Winter. Good Friday produced a large snow storm. If it keeps up I will get to meet my maker. Since the snow thrower broke I've been shoveling. That is my plan to get out of working.

If this were Thanksgiving or Christmas we would be giddy and saying how beautiful the snow is. Alas, it is Easter and we're cursing another snow! But now that the work is done it does make the world brighter. It didn't interfere with a chance for the family to get together at the Waukegan Yacht Club for Easter Brunch.

The Schilders arrived just ahead of everyone. Steve, Sue and Becca are Kyle's in laws. I suppose they will be known as Logan's grandparents and aunt. Steve had let the ladies out at the door and was parking when we were parking.

Sarah, Logan's doting mom, was already in when we pulled up.

She is very special and I am glad she became an addition to our family. She and Kyle have started a wonderful family. I am proud of what they are accomplishing in their lives.

Kyle was already walking back from the parking lot as we pulled in. He cleans up real well.

Logan was a vision of sweetness and softness. She slept most of the time but was never a problem. The soft folds of Kyle's sweater in off-white and the snow white of Logan's sweater, along with her new baby pink in the bright window light make this one of my favorite pictures. (It helps when the subject is so cute.)

Ashley and Tricia, Alex and Drew were there about fifteen minutes later. These kids are really grown up. They were well behaved too. They carry on conversations and are just really nice young people. We're proud of them.

Tricia is doing great! She puts so much effort into her family.

Alex is so like his dad was. His eyes are far bigger than his stomach. The buffet was a grand opportunity to eat for the day. He started with french toast and sausage and bacon for breakfast. Then on to lunch and dinner with dessert.

Drew has grown to be a wonderful young man. Kind, a great dad, and someone I would want as a friend even if we weren't related.



Julie and Geoff, or maybe you know them Julieanna or even Geoffrey are a real pair. They seem to really take to this family life. I am proud of their work ethic and devotion.

Cora, Cora, Cora. You are growing up so quickly! She and I would make eye contact down the table and if I smiled at her she would light up a big smile right back to me. She was wonderful through the brunch also. The two babies are keepers.

They all show they are loved by some special parents. I am very glad my children are happy and have wonderful spouses and beautiful families.

You might try clicking over a picture. When I do that the picture opens in the browser window and is full screen. Then click on 'back' and it returns to the blog. For whatever reason this doesn't work for me on Kyle's blog.

Sorry about the format being terrible. try as I might it breaks where it wants and I can't get the text to stay with the picture.

Enough for now. "It just don't get no better than this."

St. Patrick, thank you.

This is an 'old baby"
Cora, almost four months. Depends on whether one counts weeks or takes the date.

This is a "new baby"Logan, almost a week. I suppose that is based on whether one counts hours or days.

WOW! What a fun filled two weeks this has been. A new baby, who's just beautiful beyond words. Who would think that four months would be an "old" baby. It's all relative. And Cora is still beautiful. We get to see them both and we started the corned beef and cabbage circuit last weekend.

Ashley's Rainbow for Girls assembly held a dinner last week in Waukegan. She is such a grown up little girl. She served and fixed two meals to go so we could take them to Sarah and Kyle. That way Sarah wouldn't have to fix dinner, wink, wink (and a great excuse to invite ourselves over to see Logan). Sarah and Kyle are so cute with Logan. They have grown-up so quickly this past year and a half.

Alex has his story, written for school, posted on their family blog. He is a cute kid when people compliment him. He is actually rather shy. He is profoundly in love with his dad. They are beautiful together.

They all make quite a family. Six unique adults. All individuals of varied tastes, vocations, interests, and yet compatible. I am so proud that they visit one another, love one another and are rearing families close enough to share life's blessings.

They make me feel that my work here is done.

Another Lambert Baby -- What a beaut!

We got a call about 5:30 am March first. The phone didn't work and I got to another phone after he hung up. I looked in the caller ID log; before my eyes could focus it rang again.

I answered and it was Kyle. I explained that the phone @$#-%^&* didn't work in the bedroom. He said he could hear me fine. Well that kind of phone is worthless. No one wants to call just to hear me give a monologue.

They were at home getting ready to leave. Sarah had started contractions around two o'clock and they were not consistent 'til about four o'clock. They are about four minutes apart and they were going to the hospital. At her office visit earlier this week she was fully effaced and 3 cm dilated, so they didn't think the folks at the hospital would tell them to just wait it out. He said they'd call us when they got there and all settled in.

Grandma was off like a shot! She showered and got ready to wait for that call. I took my meds and waited 'til time to have breakfast and more pills. Grandma couldn't decide how she would schedule her day. Baby ... work ... baby? I was cleaning up my breakfast mess and she was by the door in her coat. We would drive separate and she would go on to work from the hospital. I blew my cork and out the door we went.

I had to stop for gasoline; so I was behind from the start. There must be some genetic flaw in me. I just don't go berserk over this stuff. I think, let me repeat and emphasize, I think the kids might want some space. They may want to do it themselves. I suppose I was impacted by the old television commercial, "Please, Mother, I'd rather do it myself!"

Of course I am also a creature of habit. My routine will be followed! I had to stop my journey to complete my morning routine. Then Kyle called again to inquire where we were. I assume his mother was moments from him and I was on my way again. Not a soon as I expected but on my way. I missed my turn and took the next one. Believe me it was not an alternate. I went a long way around to end back up stream and taking a second shot at the same turn. Probably about a twenty minute detour.

From there the hospital was easy to find. I skipped the first turn (receiving) went to the next sign and turn. It said MAIN ENTRANCE so I turned in. No! It had a little arrow to go straight. Oh well! I drove in about a block or so, there was a parking lot on the right and the Main Entrance on the left. It all worked out. I got in and found "maternity" by locating cardiac imagining. It seems that Maternity in out of vogue and it is labeled Women's Services Center.

Sally was there in the waiting room, Steve went to let the dog out and Sue went to the cafeteria. Steve and Sue are Sarah's parents. Sally had me go to the nurse's station to get clearance and a badge so I'd be ready when the time came. 10:30 and no baby.


We had a nice visit and waited. Kyle came out once to let us know it was going well and slow. And we waited. Sue came back, Steve came back and we waited. We are not good waiters for the most part. Not particularly worried. Not wild imaginations. Just impatient!

Someone, we can't say whom, came out a little after noon and said, "Are you waiting for a delivery?"

We collectively said yes.

The person said," She's here and beautiful. I can't tell you anymore. I didn't tell you that."

The moms asked if they were all okay and she held up both thumbs. It wasn't difficult to be excited when Kyle came out seconds later. We were all set to descend en masse; but he had his camera and showed us some pictures. They were practicing nursing and getting her set up. We passed the camera around again and looked at the pictures. If you notice Kyle, you have a picture of my cap and camera. I pushed the button next to the power light but it didn't turn it off. So I pushed the light, that worked.

Eventually Kyle came back to the doors and motioned us in about 1:20 pm. We were off like a bat. No more were we in for thirty seconds and we had to step out because they came to check out Sarah. But in five or ten minutes we were back in and took some pictures and a short video. She is gorgeous! They are all beaming and look so happy. We stayed only a couple minutes and left so they could rest. That was about 1:30.

But enough of me. Let's share some pictures and a short video.

Logan Elizabeth Lambert, looks like she has been in a boxing match. She'd be a heavy weight at 21" and 9 lbs. even.

Sarah says it's wrong not to have a baby in there. But she also said she was having a toddler.

She had enough of us already.