Swim Friends

Great year with summer swimming came to a close the day after our return from Nashville.

Decatur Adventures

Thanks to my early birthday present, I can now take pictures and hopefully blog again.  Since I am so behind, the only way to start is with now and work backwards--

 Tommy sporting his sailor suit I after the manner of the sailor outfit I made for Ryan's blessing...

We just returned with from a way to short 4-day visit meeting our newest grandson, Thomas Richard Halsey--3 months old.  Tommy is a happy boy with a beautiful smile.  We enjoyed the big Decatur Celebration, Swimming, and just taking turns holding him, culminating with his blessing on Sunday given by Ryan.  Their church building is the same style as the White Plains Chapel that Ryan knew so well his first 19 years.  I guess you can go home.  Thanks for all your midwestern hospitality Libbi & Ryan!

Main Street Mile

 The photos are in and we have proof that the Main Street Mile allows all comers.  The woman with the orange windbreaker tied around her neck like a horse collar actually won!  (For her age group.)  JT put the hurt to most of the racers and still had gas left in her tank.

Northern Maryland Extreme Hiking

 JT took the lead through the woods on a Maryland hike.  Mom enjoyed our company, but spent the day wishing she was on the Appalacian trail instead.

 We stopped for lunch and sat on a large rock where the girls could soak their tired feet in the cold water while we ate.  (Fortunately, we chose not to drink the water from the stream.)

 Rocks were everywhere, but Dad did not find any of them comfortable.  Some seemed downright mean.

 . . . where is the Appalacian trail?

JT remained in the lead the entire hike, and occasionally had to clear the path.  While JT cleared the way, Mom and Dad took frequent breaks, as you can see above.

Easter Time

JT made a dress for Easter this year and graciously posed in it.  Mom wanted to post more pictures, but JT said, "NO."

Hazel and Averrett spent the day with us.  They brought their parents along.  We all listened to Joan's talk in church on the atonement and then had a nice Easter dinner prepared by Mom and Geri.  After dinner, we discovered that the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs in our back yard.

Seth and Hazel performed a duet and Hazel danced some in her new Easter tutu dress.

After dinner, several took to the mat for some PJ wrestling.  I think Averrett won.

A Return to a 1960s Springtime

 St. Patrick's day brought the usual overnight invasion of our property by a little green character.  Mom claimed that nothing came up missing, but Dad couldn't find the chocolate that he had hidden after Halloween.

 Here is a picture of two old people on their property.  They are still upright most of the time.

JT sits among the daffadoils.  There were 232 in bloom according to Mom, who counted each and then forced us to pose for these pictures.  She kept saying something about "Flower Power."  (We don't have a picture of Mom on the picket line, but she and some of her teacher friends went to the sidewalk in front of Walgreens last Wednesday night to protest the governor's plan to make the counties pay for teacher pensions.  We didn't see it, but apparently Mom carried a sign in one hand and a Louisville slugger in the other.  It seems that she has gotten onboard with the whole union tough guy thing.  Power to the people!  In response to Mom's activities, Dad has been walking around the house mumbling curses about draft dodgers and about the fact that the price of gas is over a dollar.  He's also taken to humming Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan songs.  1960s here we come.)

P.S.  Mom lost her voice on the picket line and now speaks in a croaky whisper, which reminds Dad of Janis Joplin.

JT's 13th birthday!

JT had a great birthday including, catching a ball during batting practice of a fantastic O's game,and just hanging out with her friends.