It's Cold and Rainy...

...outside. So, I am stuck inside doing spring cleaning and cleaning out closets. Getting ready for the big garage sale here, if i can ever find a good weekend for it. Gotta get rid of 1/2 of my stuff...Who needs all of this CRAP anyway!? gotta get rid of it! well, that's about all I am up to. Then i'll go to some auction sales this weekend and buy more junk. Going to an amish auction on saturday or sunday, so that is something different. I have new neighbors...I hear they have 11 kids!!! what!? maybe it's a rumor, because i have only seen one boy. I guess they homeschool their kids. I have seen a lot of amish tracks on my road the past month, so i thought maybe they were amish folks, but now i see a van there, so they must not be. anyway, it could be an interesting summer! Maybe we can finally have a REAL ballgame in my yard this summer. We'll see. Chris and I (as well as all 4 kids) are looking forward to getting the camper down to the lake. It will be nice to have our own spot to mess up instead of cluttering up mom's house. We hope to see some of you again this summer. I was disappointed to hear that Skinner's and some of Bender's weren't coming this summer. rats! what are we going to do!? I guess the policing put too much restriction on their fun. Well, there will certainly be another time and I look forward to that. I hope you are all feeling well and staying away from the swine flu. remember...if you have symptoms, go get a swab done. if it is positive, they can give you an antiviral medication and your symptoms will be much less severe...i hear it is responding well to it. also-this is true at least in minnesota and maybe other states, too...IF you have no insurance, the State of Minnesota will pay for the swab to be done (this can be costly). Then you are responsible for the office visit, which is likely less than the cost of the swabs and cultures. that's all my boring news. love and miss you all. -Sara

Headed Home

After 4 months here in Florida we are ready to get home and see everyone their....I have done all that i can to corrupt the grandkids .. Had a really great visit with richard and lois and would have posted some pic we took but dont have the data cord to transfer the pic to the pc will do th at when we get home....

Twin Cities trips

Hi everybody!
Steve and I made a few trips to St. Paul/Minneapolis the past few weeks. We went with Caleb and Melody to a Twins game... against the Angels.... half of the crowd went home when the score was 9-4 Angels. (Ya, we're a fickle bunch) But we stayed to watch the Twins win, 11-9 in the 8th inning...it was loud and great!

Then this past weekend Steve and I went to a sister church near Minneapolis for a Leadership Conference and were blessed to be able to worship with Robin Mark (composed "Days of Elijah") and hear Paul Reid (Robin's pastor) preach. They're from Belfast Ireland and tell stories like only the Irish can! We learned a lot and were so refreshed.

This week we're back to work as usual, but Steve has a few people coming to our home office too. Plus there's cabin work to be done so i better get going....

OK, i know that wasn't the most exciting post, but now you've heard a bit from our house...what about some more entries?? YES, FROM YOU!!

love to all!

WHERE IS BENNIE ?? NEWS FROM iSLAND lAKE

Hope that you arent sick Bennie,
News from Island Lake: The ice left the lake during the night. We woke up this Sunday morning with the ice all gone from the lake.

We had a beautiful day Sat. No wind. and sun was shining. The loons are back and they were calling from all around the lake, the bald eagle were flying over us, heard geese and the swan are back in Steves bay. The martins also came back Sat. I didnt hear them today; we had some rain all day. Start Spring cleaning cabins tomorrow, Mon. We are completely filled for opening of season which starts May 9th. Hope we can be ready for everyone.

Sara, Chris and children came for the weekend. Had a great time and everyone enjoyed the beautiful day with uncle Steve taking the children in the boat and going onto the ice that was breaking up, cut down a tree that had fallen by the childrens playground, raked leaves and ended the day with a fire and weiner roast!! We officially opened the season this weekend. !!

It was one year ago today that Len left us for his Heavenly Home.

ToothFairy

I can't Believe it. Chloe pulled her first tooth tonight. We knew it was loose, because the dentist let us know a couple of weeks ago. But it wasn't even loose enough for her to know which tooth was loose. Then tonigt at supper she said that it was wiggling. She wouldn't leave it alone. About ten minutes after she went to bed she yelled for me to come upstairs, and there she had it. She had pulled her tooth. She was very calm and just fine until she saw that she was bleeding. Seeing the blood made it hurt I guess. Then she just kept telling me that Maybe she shouldn't have pulled it because she didn't want a hole there. I reassured her that there would be another tooth that would come in and that, that tooth wouldn't of come out if there wasn't one ready to come in. By the time, she went back to bed she was telling Madalyn how cool it was that she had a hole and that the toothfairy was going to come.

All of this in time for Kindergarten Round-up tomorrow night.

Another Sucessful Guided Hunt by Steve Grotnes

Had to call in this Tom Turkey for this character on opening morning...but didn't have to pull the trigger for him... Maybe you'll be seeing me on the Outdoor Channel sometime during this coming year!!!!!

It's SNOWING!!!

All i can say is oh my goodness...it had better not accumulate! I am going back to bed.

This is a true testament on just how much Great-grandpa Garry Loves his great-granddaughter Madalyn Rose. He actually aloud these couple day old kittens in the house. That's right I said kittens.

Hello. It was really great to see everyone. Here are pictures of the Jakway family. My husband Kevin, stepdaughter Jenna and our baby boy Jordan. Jenna is 18 now and graduated from high school in January. She is planning on attending Ivy tech this year and IPFW the following year. Kevin works for GW Berkheimer driving delivery truck. I am still at North American which is now Total Fleet Service. I am the manager of the paint department. I have really missed all of you and hope to stay in touch and see everyone again soon..

Hey Mr. B.

Stopped by your house to feed your dog.....boy, I now see why they say pets start to look like their owners after some time....

Cal & Lois' 60th Anniversary Party

Yesterday was the open house for Grandma and Grandpa's anniversary and it went really well! Cindy throws a good party! Thanks to everyone for coming and supporting them, it was so much fun. Here are some pictures. If anyone would like a copy of any of these, let me know and I can email them to you!

Caleb had to leave early and couldn't be in the pictures. For those of you who don't know all the spouses, Drew's wife, Jamie is in the green jacket. My husband, Carl is in the blue shirt with the orange stripe. Paula's husband, Austin is in the red shirt, holding Maddox. JD's wife, Amy, is in the brown shirt, holding Ashley. And you all know Kraig, he's been around forever!

Awesome looking bunch

We had a wedding Saturday and I thought I better get a picture of these kids looking pretty good. As far as the Godfather and his boys........ not sure if I want to mess with them!!

News Flash

Early this morning Brielle took a bat to the face at a t-ball game...she is ok but took 9 stitch's to close the cut.....in her eyebrow...looks like aunt Chris will be called on to remove the stitch's when she gets here next week.....

Steves New (to him) Campfire Wood Gatherer

Due to the addition of new equipment at the campfire wood pile, wood prices will be increased this year .... We are now accepting applications for skidder operator , winter hrs. only... Send applications to Logpile Central, Island Lake, MN. Only serious applicants need apply.

2 little snowbirds coming "south"

Hey, there- thought you all might like to know that Norma Jean and likely Janet will be leaving Detroit Lakes on the train at 3 am thursday morning (less than 12 hours from now!). Sounds like they'll be with you for a week. Leaving before Easter, though, i hear. Wish some more of us could come along! HAVE FUN!!!! love and miss you ALL. -Sara