My girls

This little one kept Nana hopping, the weekend.

She kept Nana busy and honest!

She is a character

and agile and quick. 

Did I mention Busy? 

What a little sweetie pie!

Audri is 3 years old.

Three and artictulate.

Three and inquisitative.

Full of questions . . .

 who?  what?  when?  oh . . .and "how come?"

Cutie pie!

New age hair curlers? 

New age Walkman?

Madeline is imaginative and creative.

Madeline, I think you look like a new age Princess!

Creative little cutie pie!

Today, this girl is down 1.75 % front teeth. 

Good thing the home-grown sweet corn is done! 

Get to wiggling, Sissie!

You need all your teeth to sing!

You need those teeth to smile and dance

and race horses,

 you imaginative little cutie!

This girl is growing up too fast! 

Oh My.

And getting way too pretty.

She's kind and sympathetic

and wants everyone to win! 

This girl is going to be a "tweenie"

way too soon!

Love you,

Morghan Grace,

Gabby N,

Maddie Mae,

Audri Lu and

Bella Bu! 

I love my girls!  

                Nana

Balloon Days

Himself and I have somehow been out of town the last 6 or 7 years for Balloon Days but here we were, this year.  We worked Friday, came home and had supper but were oblivious.  In the dark.  Not a clue! We had forgotten about the balloons. 

We were sitting out on the patio Friday after supper and I saw a hot air balloon, up.  Up in the air, to our south.  I said, come on, honey, let's go see the balloons?  And we jumped in the Jeep and went looking . . .
we chased hot air balloons.  sort of.  We drove east.  We drove north.  We drove south and back north again and found this dirt road . . . we parked.  And it was good. 

Himself calculated balloons north.  He counted balloons south.  He averaged and found the Norm and announced there are at least 21 balloons in the air.  And we sat and enjoyed and counted and recounted!  And enjoyed the math!  lol

And the sights and the beautiful evening.

And the balloons. 

PS:  and yesterday, a good thing, I think I finally got that spot off my camera lens!

Years gone by . . .

 Written by:  Your son, Craig Hofmiester

years gone by . . .

GIFTS

Lazy childhood

summer play,

Golden dreams, fun

filled days.

Sisters, brothers,

family ties.

Cheerful greetings, fond

good byes.

Words of comfort,

manners, strength.

I could go on at

any length.

The chance to try -

to fail or soar.

Encouragement to try

once more.

Support when I

felt need of

some. Discipline.

And love.

Cherished, these,

and many others.

Gifts, presented me

by Mother.

                         Nancy

                         2-6-86

years gone by . . .

            Ode to Dad

I couldn't find a boughten card
with picture or with verse
that said just what I thought it should
so here, for what it's worth --

Here I'll try to rhyme a poem
the way a poem should be
when it is for my "Birthday"
Dad, forever dear to me.

James Whitcomb Riley, I am not
nor even poet, really.
And you may say it does not rhyme
but it is meant sincerely.

I'm proud that you are who you are
and that I am your daughter.
Nothing of you would I change, oh
good and thoughtful Father.

To Dad, who's there through thick and thin.
To Gramps, who really cares.
To Husband who through all the years
has truly loved and shared.

Shared and nurtured, taught and led
the way a father ought to.
Respect you have and much love too,
from #8, your daughter.

                                                 Nancy
                                                 8-17-85

Is this illegal?

This all started because Audri wanted to play on the deck and Kiera (sp?) had jumped in because she wanted to play on the deck.  So Aunt Erica tucked Audri up safely in the kennel.  Aunt E said her own children played in there and in went Audri.  Before long, there were three little girls enjoying the day . . . and as it usually happens, along came little boys to tease and trick and acted like they were locking them in! 

And you can see how concerned the little girls are, with it all.  Gabby, aren't you worried?  Madeline, what is your brother doing?  Audri, those boys are teasing you!

vi·gnette

As usual, my vocabulary exceeds my pronunciation.  My Mama always bemoaned the fact that I didn't have my year of phonics.  Afton Elemetary was messing with the curriculum, the year I was in First or Second Grade.  They promoted me anyway, and the next year went back to teaching Phonics.  Meanwhile, I missed my year of Phonics!  And was never able to catch that train again.  My Mama was right.  I needed those Phonics.  I still need those Phonics!   PS:  my Mama was always right. Tho I didn't always like to admit it! 

Anyway, back to Vignette:  : a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter; also : a small decorative design or picture so placed

2a : a picture (as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper b : the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering

3a : a short descriptive literary sketch
 
Here!  But  rather than a short descriptive literary sketch, insert a short cameo.  A quick pic.  A moment in time!  Photos of my summer!
 
 

I cannot make these photos do what I want!  They won't increase in size . . . or they won't decrease.  Doesn't matter.  Whatever I want, they don't.  But sure did enjoy this summer with my children and grandchildren at the cabin!  Let's do it all again.  And quick!  Thanks for a great year, ya'all!

Birthday purse

I love this purse!

I don't know why I don't show my pleasure in this photo.

It is probably that "oh no" I'm not going to like

that picture of me one little bit -- looks too much like me!

I love this purse

and have it packed for vacation with assorted little organizers inside. 

I'm not carrying it every day because I walk

a  mile or two every morning before work and the purse is heavy!

I think, with all those studs

 and  all those little assorted organizers inside,

it wears 10 pounds. 

Every woman should have one purse

like this in her lifetime. 

Thank you children!

US Army, retired

Himself wears this old army "fatigue" when he works out.  No.  No, no!  Not that kind of work out.  He doesn't work out at the gym.  He works outside.  He wears it to paint.  Can you tell?  He wears it to caulk and grease and oil and . . . well, whatever he happens to be doing at the moment.  He wore this in 1969 and 1970 . . . and wore it proudly and well.  But now, I think this should be put aside.  Retired.

US Army, retired.