Race Weekend

What a fun weekend with the C's, the D's and Joe and his friend Zach. We went to Des Moines on Friday morning and picked up Joe and Zach from Dara and Alan Green. From there we headed to the Iowa Speedway to watch the practice for the Nationwide US Cellular 250 that would take place on Saturday. There were not a lot of people so we were able to see all of the events and visit the display booths and eat a little race food. It was really fun. After we finished at the race track we decided to do a little geo caching. It was Zach's first time. We had a fun time and found three caches. One in Mariposa State Park - a beautiful drive through the winding hilly country side. The second two were in Agnes Johnson Memorial Preserve. Lots of wonderful walking trails and varieties of plants. We snapped a few shots and just enjoyed the whole day. After we finished we headed to Des Moines to spend the night with Craig and Cindy. We had some great pizza at the Tavern.




On Saturday morning we had breakfast at McDonalds and went back to the track. We were able to watch the qualifying laps and then have a little lunch before the race began. We all decided to cheer for Brad Kesolowski to win. It was a great race and we were not sure of a winner until the last few laps. We rented a scanner with 2 pair of headphones so the boys were able to listen to the drivers and crew chiefs talk during the race. GREAT RACE!!!!!


After the race we had dinner at Cracker Barrel and headed back to Omaha for a late evening arrival. We stayed over Saturday night and Sunday. We went to Mass, breakfast and a little geo caching again on Sunday. On to Camp Grandma.

The girls have gone home and all is quiet again for a few days and then we are ready for some more fun with the Omaha kids.

Friday morning we picked up Katie and Izzie and spent the rest of the day playing and chasing around outside. I bought a very small pool at Target this year and they had a ball just getting in and out and shooting things with the 3 little squirt guns that I bought out of the Target dollar spot. In the evening we took the girls for a big walk before bedtime. Everybody slept pretty good. :)

Saturday morning we colored and took a walk, where we found a tree that I could put Katie up into. After nap time there was some bubble blowing, use of sidewalk chalk and just a lot of chasing each other around the yard. Craig and Cindy came late afternoon and we barbecued in the backyard and then off to the Dairiette. Yummy. Girls went to bed and we watched a little TV and then off to bed for all of us.

Sunday morning we went to Mass and then breakfast at Olde Boston. First time there for breakfast. It was very good.

Monday morning Ronnie started to paint on the house again. He is all done but about 1/2 of the back and 1/4 of the front. We will see the end of that soon. I started at about 10:30AM digging up my lily bed. I took all of the lilies out and broke them up and out came the barrel in the middle. We then brought some black dirt from that dirt pile that we plan to move into the yard and filled up the bed with some soil that is once again rich in nutrients. Back into the bed went the lilies - regrouped and ready for next year. Great job done. It was a beautiful day but it was about a 4 - 5 hour job and I got so warm that I had to take a break until the shade moved around to the back. This old gal ain't what she used to be.

Tuesday morning we are heading to Target to fax retirement papers. I checked yesterday on the papers that I mailed on June 2 and they show no record. Need those for retirement pay. Of course, that is how it would go.

We have kind of a lazy week going on here. Monday we came home from Des Moines and Tuesday found it easy to do little or nothing. Ronnie did go for blood work on Tuesday and results came in the mail today and all was good and no need for more blood work until next year at this time. :)

Today Ronnie mowed the yard and I put the next lawn treatment on the yard followed by spraying Weed Be Gone on the clover and dandelions. Hope it works as we have a lot of clover and creeping charlie this year. I thought maybe the first of next weeke we could hit the bad spots again. I also washed sheets and put them on the line on this beautiful July day. Weather is just fantastic.

Meghan had surgery this morning and all went well. They were able to remove most of the hardware that was put in at the time of her accident. That is an answer to our prayers.

Tomorrow morning we pick up Katie and Izzie for an overnighter with Grandpa and Grandma. Should be fun.

God is great.

Welcome back. Talking to myself again. It has been a week since I posted something and I am sure that at my age and with my fantastic memory I will not remember all that has happened.

On Wednesday evening we had our monthly get together with our special Moorland friends. We only had 8 there this month but the visiting was good. After a huge dinner at Olde Boston we headed to the Dairette to have a delicious dish of lemon ice cream. I think it could well be the best ice cream place in the state of Iowa.

Thursday morning these same people showed up at my kitchen table for some coffee and a little more chatting. This is one of my favorite parts of retirement - the time we spend enjoying the things and people around us.

Thursday afternoon we took off for Omaha to take Lucky puppy back to her family. We had a quick visit, some great food and a little of our favorite new pastime geocaching before taking off for Des Moines. We love being with family.


Friday night we spent the night with the Carlson's. Again more great visiting and more delicious food. DIET!!!

Saturday morning after a trip to Target to shop for a few items for Craig and Cindy's new house we left for the Reynolds family reunion in Johnston at the Stony Creek Inn. We had about 40 people come. I had taken some old pictures of my Mom's and they seemed to be a huge hit. We spent the afternoon looking at them and remembering folks who are no longer with us and just a lot of talking, laughing and eating. We all went to dinner together at "Legends" where we had a great meal and great service. After dinner we went back to the hotel where we sat in a meeting room and talked and played a little cards and some dice games. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and stayed up until about 1AM. Next morning there was Mass at a nearby church and then breakfast at the Village Inn before saying good bye. Some of us will get together again in October for Cruisin' in the Woods in Fort Dodge.

Sunday afternoon we did a little shopping at Jordon Creek mall and then off to Cindy and Craig's to spend the night. Monday morning we got up and helped do a little packing and box building for the big Carlson move that is coming up. After dinner, Monday evening, we all went and found a geocache and headed for some refreshing ice cream at the Dairy Queen. Did I say "Diet"? Once the girls were ready for bed we headed for home.

Had a great week but we are ready to rest up for the next round to start with a visit from Katie and Izzie this weekend.

Things were just not normal around here this week. As Ron would say "What is normal?" I picked up some sort of virus and was under the weather for about 3 days. I had a scratchy throat and ended up with a cough and sore ribs. It left as quickly as it came on. I am still coughing a little but feeling much more like myself. So far Ronnie is feeling fine.

We are having Camp for one of our granddogs this week. Lucky's family went to Colorado where they seem to be having a wonderful time.

In the meantime back here on the home front we are trying to remember to check her bowl for water and food and buy the right stuff. We have shopped twice for it now. She does seem to love our backyard and is in a constant state of sitting on the back of the couch and barking to let us know whenever anyone is trying to get us.

Friday night we went to supper with Joyce and Dick Silvey and Larry and Carol Hicks. Had sandwiches at Tom Thumb. We then ran a couple of errands and stopped at the Dariette and each got a medium malt which we were sure would last a couple of days. It was gone before our heads hit the pillow. The diet goes on.

This morning we were Eucharistic Ministers at Mass and then went to breakfast at Mineral City. This afternoon we watched the movie "The Secret Life of Bees" Loved the book and love the movie. Cried during both.










Nice weather the last two days. We definitely need a little drying out period. God is so good to us.