LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN ON ....

the last day of school when kids ride horses down main street bottle necking up traffic, water balloons being thrown, skateboarders dressed in costume and the city police out in full force; all being witnessed on my walk today!

MAY IS . . . . .

Birthdays, camping or not camping on holiday weekends because campgrounds are full on the Monday before the weekend :( graduations, Mother's Day, family, Respect for Law banquet, golfing, Memorial Day, finding out it will be a baby boy James in September, (one more generation for the James name), viewing good and cute engagement pictures, planting a garden and watching everything grow and warm weather

GO CAPS GO

We went to a Capitals hockey game when we visited Julie and Jason in November. It was a blast. I didn't, still don't understand much about the game but became a fan (probably because the kids are). We have been able to watch a couple of the playoff games on TV but the last couple are only on their local stations. So here to the Caps with hopes of them to keep winning.

This past Friday night Milan and I did some errands in Davenport. Milan bought me a digital camera for Mother's Day. I am not his mom, but told him I probably act like it sometimes. I can't wait to figure it out and start using it. I have been playing with it a little bit. So maybe you will a picture or so on our blog every now and then! It is our goal to perfect using it in time for the wedding in October.

So I wonder if the person giving Julie a hard time about her blog is the person that doesn't have one of her own up? What do you guys think?

We had a nice Easter with family. It always go without a hitch but man can a house fill up in a hurry. It was a beautiful day. This last Sunday we went to Mom's church to their spring dinner. It was very good and I enjoy it because I see people I haven't seen for quite a while.

Well I hope everybody is well and enjoying the nice weather.

Ta Ta for now

FUN WEEKEND

Friday evening our church hosted our annual fish fry. It started on Thurday night when Ash and I went to help set up for it. On Friday Ash and Milan went down to the hall at 1 to help with whatever needed to be done before serving time. Milan always takes big pieces of cardboard down to put down on the floor of the garage that is donated to us to use by a neighbor to fry the fish in. Now this neighbor is not a member of our churce so it is truly appreciated. Our meal consists of fried fish, baked potatoe, colseslaw, an added treat was hushpuppies, cherry sauce and homemade desserts. We served around 550 to 580 people. I went down after I got off work and we were all home by 9. For some that is a long day being on their feet. Saturday we went to Grandma Fs to do yard work and put in a new doorbell. She had quite a bit of rock in her grass from the snow plow this winter. So we raked that out and Ash cleaned up her flower beds. We even evened up the grass line to one of them. Mom and I took the brush to the dump that afternoon only to find that the gate was locked. There was another gentleman there wanting to do the same thing. So I said I would just climb over the gate and they could stick the brush under the fence for me. Well I got to about rung 3 and the gate started to wiggle. So me the chicken that I am LOL got back off of the gate and climbed under the fence also to take care of the brush. Saturday night Ash and I went to our high school's production of Grease. The kids did a good job and it was very well attended. Sunday we just hung out, Milan worked, as it was not a very nice day anyway.

A FUN WEEKEND

Our busy and fun weekend started on Friday night. Our church had our annual fish fry. We served about 550 to 580 people. We serve of course fried fish, coleslaw, homemade desserts and this an added treat was hushpuppies and cherries. And of course I forgot baked potaotes. On Thursday night Ash and I went down to the hall to help set up. On Friday Milan and Ash were there by one to help with whatever needed to be done early on. Milan always gets big pieces of cardboard to take because we actually borrow a neighbors garage to cook the fish in. This neighbor is very generous because he is not a member of our church and lets us use his garage for free but I am sure he at least gets tickets to the dinner. I went down after work to help until the hall was cleaned up which was about 9 o'clock. Milan served baked potatoes and Ash I believe was one of the mainstreamers to help keep the workers in the dining hall in order and organized. Saturday we went to Grandma F's and did some yard work and put in a doorbell for her. She had a lot of rock in her grass for the snow plow this winter so we raked that out and Ash cleaned up her flower beds and we even evened out the grass line on one of them. Then Mom and I took the brush to the city dump. Well when we got there the gate was locked. There was another gentleman there wanting to get rid of his brush also. So I said I would just crawl over the gate and they could hand me the brush or put it under the fence. Well I got three rungs up on the gate and it statrted to wiggle and I got chicken LOL. So I too crawled under the fence with the brush and did my good deed.
Saturday night Ash and I went to our high school muscical Grease. The kids did a good job and they had a full house. Sunday was a relaxing day since it was not as nice as Saturday.

IT SURE WAS A FUN AND FAST WEEK

Julie and Jason fly out this evening at about 6:15 :( It was a fast and fun week though. Wednesday was pretty much a do nothing day. We had steaks for supper and then the kids were off to their Cousins Ryan and Mindy's so they could meet Cadence who is almost 11 months for the first time in person. Jason went to coffee with his dad for a couple of days to kick off his morning. Thursday Julie Ash and I went to Dport so Ash could order her dress for the wedding. It is so pretty. Then we went to Von Maur so I could show Julie the dress I had picked out for the wedding. She gave the okay! so I have ordered it and it is already at the store. As we were walking out of Von Maur Julie just wanted to walk past the shoes. So we did and low and behold she found bridesmaids shoes she liked. So when we got home she did the internet search and found out that this weekend they were 30% off plus the price was cheaper than in the store to start with. So that was all kind of fun. Thursday night we went to Genos in Preston for pizza and then card playing after we got home. Julie learned how to play Rummy. Friday night we went to a hockey game at Moline and watched the Flames beat the Iowa Chops. Saturday the kids got their engagement pictures taken and then to Bluff Lake for supper where we met Dan and Gretchen Chapman. The kids were going bowling with Dan and Gretchen afterwards but to only find out that they were having a tournament at the bowling alley so then they went to a bar and had a couple of drinks before they came home. They were also here to witness hopefully the last snow fall of the winter season in the springtime. At least the weather was just starting when they did their pics so they did get some outside ones done also. I can't wait to see them.

Wedding plans are in full swing and getting really exciting.

Now we all get to get back to the real world and go back to work on Monday. We are all grateful I think that we all have our jobs to go back to.

I hope everybody has a good week.

SAFE AND SOUND

Julie and Jason arrived in Iowa about 11 p.m. last night. There flight from Chicago toMoline was about two hours late. But that allowed Milan and I a trip to the book store for reading material as we sat at the airport to greet them. Now Moline airport is not busy so for a while it seemed we were the only ones there.

Milan, Ash and I are all on vacation this week to enjoy our company. I think tomorrow Ashley, Julie and I will go to Davenport so Ashley can order her dress for the wedding. That will be fun! I know the girls should go by themselves but I just can't help myself and will tag along.

We have been very spoiled by all of the spring weather. The trees etc. are really starting to bud out. But I guess we are back to a reality check for the rest of this week. We all know though that warmer weather is right around the corner to have with us for a few months.

It sure sounds like from all of the blogs that people are doing well and are keeping pretty busy. We have not done anything to earth shattering except looking forward to having Jason and Julie come for a visit. I am sure it will go quick.

I hope everybody has a good week and weekend.