Father's Day

The Old guys, Don and Max
The "Joe's"
The "Jim's"
The backyard in bloom


On Father's Day we had a BBQ for the "Joe's" and the "Jim's" (as they say in Wisconsin), along with Max and Ellen and Lynell Hansen. (Cari and Juan and Scarlett were out of town for the week.) It was a fun day and great to spend time with the newest little grandguy Eli.....jah Joseph. And of course, Luke, Mia, and funny, funny Chloe. Now that she is starting to talk she says the funniest things. Well funny to her Nana and Grandpa, anyway. The weather was great, in the low 90's but with the delta breezes we get it felt in the 80's. The backyard is so pretty now, flowers are blooming, of course so are the bees, but for the most part we let them make honey and they let us swim. Joe and Jim are such good dad's it was nice to share this day with them, and of course the big guys, Don and Max.

Vaaaacation

Don and I are getting ready for our Mediterrean (sp?) cruise in a couple of weeks. We are leaving on June 25th and coming home on July 14th. Well I'm getting excited and Don is looking a little..uh....glazed. He's walking around with a calculator and I don't even want to talk about leaving the shopping bags in the trunk until he leaves for work, whew!!! Just kidding!!!! (sort of!) Anyway, it's our once in every 5 years big trip and we are really looking forward to it. We'll be going with Janis and Butch Caston from Elk Grove, Warren and Sue Wainwright from Mt. Ranch/Merced, and Kent and Sharon Chappell from Milford, New Hampshire. We hope to see some workers and friends and also maybe get to see the convention grounds in Greece. The trip ends with 2 days of convention in Norway. Thanks all to Esther Lynch, who is a travel agent from New York, born and raised in Norway. She and her husband John go back every year for convention so she made all of our traveling plans. She's just the best. I can't even watch Don pack. He says things like, "if we are going to be gone for 15 days, and I can wear 1 pair of pants for 3 days, and they have laundry on the ship, I can probably get by with yada yada yada (this is where he totaly loses me). I can't relate. I'm wondering how I can possibly get by with less then 6 pairs of shoes. He's got his dress and his casual. THAT'S IT! Men are certainly from Mars and women from Venus.

Chloe and Scarlett trying really hard to organize Nana's cabinets.
Jim and Alyssa, Luke and Mia after Sunday lunch.
Chloe giving "loves" to her baby brother!

Elijah Joseph Strassburg

Joe and Shana had their baby boy this (6/3/08)morning at 3 a.m. His name is Elijah Joseph Strassburg, weighed in at 9.5 lbs and 20" long. He has a hunk of dark hair but looks a lot like Chloe did as a newborn, but bigger. He is soooooo cute! Shana is doing really well and had a relatively easy (as these things can be easy?) time. They all will go home tomorow. Chloe hasn't quite figured out the "baby is coming home with us" bit yet. She is just having a fun time playing with all the stuff in her mom's hospital room. Plus GrammyZ is here so she's having a great time. Elijah is our 5th grandchild and 2nd grandson. YIPPIE!