HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON

When did this young guy,

become this handsome man?

Today our son celebrates his birthday.

Actually it is the second of July here in the USA but in Australia it is already the third. He should be flying home from a quick business trip to celebrate a belated birthday with his older sister and her family. Have fun together!!!

Girls Weekend 2009

Mom and her girls at the Drake Dinner for breakfast. We spent the weekend shopping, shopping, shopping.

When Kelsey was about three she called one Saturday morning and wanted to know if I would go with them shopping, shopping, shopping. That is something we do well in my family. I think the shopping gene has been passed on from Mother to daughter in all cases.

Father's Day

Dad - High School Graduation Picture

I just love that suit and tie. It has a rather European cut; sporty and timeless. I wonder what color the solid tie was. It had to have been a white shirt.

Dad, also known as Grandpa Gene, was with us on Sunday. We had three generations of fathers at our indoor barbecue. Indoors because of all the rain we have been having. Warren managed to cook the ribs in the smoker between rains. The humidity and wet grass kept us indoors with the air conditioner running.

$ Smile $

New Smile

Old Smile

Kelsey was being goofy with some scraps from a 4-H poster she made. I think it highlights her old smile and her fun attitude.

Yesterday I took her to get the braces off. She is one happy gal. Her Orthodontist sent her home with the used braces and a gift bag of things she can now eat. Regular popcorn is now on the menu.

Today we spent the morning at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market and at the downtown sidewalk sales. I found a very reduced jacket downtown and bought another plant at the market.
The highlight of our morning was having lunch at the Maid-Rite Shop. This is the first time we have eaten there in the 30 plus years we have lived in the area. I think we may have eaten at the Marshalltown shop when we were college students. Our orders consisted of a maid-rite with fries and drink. It was good for a maid-rite. We have had enough local color for a while and agree that it could be another 10 years before we stop again.

My gardens are showing color.

I went outside yesterday to take a picture for a new blog header. I am rather pleased with this picture. Mom told me that my Grandpa Hultman's favorite flowers was the lupine. After many years of trying these are the ones I have finally been able to keep alive. The look the best I have ever seen.

Household Chores

I am doing some seasonal changes to the house today. Wednesday I have my church circle gals here. It is nice to have a push to get things done from time to time.

It is past time to change the March cross stitch of the lion and lamb to a summer one. A number of years ago my sister, Cindi, cross stitched twelve squares, one for each month. Some months they get changed, some months they do not. I missed Easter and the month of May. Perhaps the flag or watermelon will show up for the summer months.

Another project was getting the inserts cut for a couple of Waterford picture frames. I got the frames on E-bay and the inserts were missing. Hobby Lobby has the heavy plastic for inserts. Today I got around to cutting the plastic to size. I will use a picture of myself in one of the frames so while I was at this project I scanned it into my computer.

I suspect that the dark green plaid skirt was from my Aunt Betty and Uncle Evan. Mom told me that when they were living in Iowa City and Evan was in law school they bought me a skirt that was of the same plaid that the Highlanders wore. At that time the marching band had bag pipers, who wore kilts. It was a lovely tradition that is no more.