Kids & Soccer

The kids' soccer season is off and running - literally & figuratively. Today two CA grandkids had their first games, while the Kansas grandkids have already been playing for a couple of weeks. I love going to one of the fields at a local park where there seem to be a gillion kids and their parents who are spread all over the place. You sit back to back with the parents/grandparents/siblings who are watching their kids on fields that are divided by a fairly narrow space. Saintly men and women who are giving their time to coach AND those who come to referee are all to be commended. The kids have such a good time and so do the parents. Our first game today was played under cloudy skies and it was COLD. We were bundled up in jackets & blankets. Then, 3 hours later, after some thundershowers, the sun came out and the next game was played under a sun where it felt a lot better to sit in the shade to watch. Zac's team gave it their best effort, but the score didn't end in their favor. Claire's team came out on the winning side. Watching all of them is a hoot! On Claire's team all of these girls = 6 blonde ponytails + 2 black-haired ones - go bobbing down the field in shorts that hang down over their socks, and with socks have been doubled over. They have boundless energy! The same was true for the boys. For the girls black & white soccer balls are passe. So, we watch pink or purple or whatever color go zooming up and down and around the field. It's all great fun to watch. It's a perfect Saturday morning for kids, parents, and grandparents!

Happy 11th Anniversary, Mark & Susan!

Eleven years ago today we were all in Lawrence for Mark's and Susan's wedding. It was exciting, fun, memorable, special, smiles all around, and hotter than heck! We partied and celebrated and laughed and cried happy tears and had a super time seeing all of their friends and visiting with Susan's family and our family, too. We've had so many good times together since then, and we look forward to many more. With the grandchildren all about the same ages - except for Sara and Luke - it's a super, busy time now when we all see each other.

But the memories of that day 11 years ago always bring smiles. Happy Anniversary, Susan and Mark. Much love from Butch and RoRo

We're Back In The Saddle Again!

School has begun in Claremont, and that means that Eric is at the high school from early morn to late afternoon. Maria has switched her 50/50 job share days, and now is teaching 1st grade on Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other Wednesday. Zac is now in the 2nd grade and Claire is a Kindergartener! Luke will be going to the Early Childhood Center Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and he will spend Tuesdays with Grandpa Butch and Grandma RoRo. These two aging phenoms will be walking Zac and Claire to school and pushing Luke in the stroller on many days.

The first day we all hit the sidewalk for the trek to school, and it was already super hot. Butch took Zac to his classroom, and Luke and I took Claire to her room. She has the same super teacher that Zac had. How nice! Claire, of course, could not eat breakfast because she was so excited and anxious about this new experience. When we got to school and I asked if she had any questions, she replied that she wanted to know what she was supposed to do if her tooth came out on the playground at recess? Zac, in a very matter of fact manner, informed her that the teacher would take her to the office and they would take care of her. Claire seemed satisfied with that answer.

There were only about 200 million parents and grandparents at school to see their "preciousnesses" go in their classrooms for the first day. As Luke and I checked out Claire's classroom, I noticed that one mother was videotaping and taking still shots at the same time. That's quite a feat! Butch reported that when the teacher told the 2nd graders to select the seat where they wished to sit, Zac went right over to the grouping of desks near the teacher's desk, sat down, put his books in his desk, and turned down offers from friends to move to other locations in the room.

Yes, Butch and I answered Maria's quick call at recess to see how things had gone. Butch made a solo run in the afternoon to pick Zac and Claire up, while I stayed with a sleeping Luke. It wasn't long before two smiling, happy kids came in the door with ice cream from 21 Choices. Grandpa Butch is a good man! :-) All reports were good and everyone - both children and adults - were happy campers! Life is good indeed!

Dining Out With Friends

To me one of life's biggest treats is dining out with friends. It's fun to relax in a special place that we've chosen and enjoy good conversation over/around/above good food. In the deepest sense, the food doesn't matter. What is important is the connection and the caring and the genuine desire to spend time together. Today I'm getting to experience that twice. How spectacular!

Happy 49th Anniversary, Butch!

On August 18th we will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary. We will also celebrate the fact that we have known each other since the 5th grade. To share almost all your life with someone is special indeed. We'll look at pictures of when we got married, we've already talked to Mark, we'll spend time with Maria and Eric and the kids, we'll do something just for the two of us, and we'll smile when we think of all of the fantastic times. We'll hold close in our hearts those who aren't here to share this special day with us. Happy anniversary, Butch! I love you "all the much."

In Celebration of Claire

Today would have been Claire's 44th birthday. In this picture from childhood friend Jenny that she posted a while ago on Facebook, Claire is the one sitting on the basketball.

First thing this morning we got an email from Wendy. That really touched our hearts. Then we found that Wendy had posted on Facebook, and the responses from other friends were heart-warming and simply beautiful. We miss Claire and all of the love and gifts that she shared with all of us. We celebrate the fact that in a most meaningful way she lives on not only in our hearts and minds, but also in the lives of the girls who are named after her. It means so much to be in touch with all of these Claire's either directly or through their families.

This afternoon we saw the youngest Claire - our granddaughter - who came over with her family to swim and have dinner. Yes, she had on a princess dress. I hope that sometime she'll have a chance to wear one to Kindergarten this year. Princesses seem to bloom where ever they're planted.

Fun Family Celebration in Dallas

The celebration in Dallas was just that - a spectacular time for family and friends to gather to celebrate Shelly's and James's 1st Wedding Anniversary & to meet Owen, Ben, and Henry. We all loved being together - all of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cousins - plus friends from childhood and all through our lives. Mary and her family and friends planned wonderful opportunities for all of us to visit with each other. The smiles were nonstop as were the conversations. Yes, this is a super hot summer in Dallas, but the excitement of getting to see each other far overcame that. We laughed, we danced, we talked, we smiled, we took lots of pictures, and we celebrated all the love and caring shared among friends and family. Thanks to Mary & to everyone who came together to make this a once-in-a-lifetime, oh-so-memorable experience. Fantastic!