Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tree Climbers & Helicopters…

Nathan is ‘one’ of the Tree Climbers… If he’s climbing others will follow…

Jordyn is a wannabe climber…she had to have a little help to get into the tree…’wonder who her helper was’ and what did she eat that is still on her cute little face??

Ben is the other tree climber…if Nathan is in the tree Ben must climb also… Here he let me take his picture and as he paused he ended up getting his head caught between the trunks and started to panic….Grandma had to go to the rescue!!

Here the whole ‘Riley Clan’ is in the tree…not the best pose but this is the first picture of all THREE in a tree together!

Nathan actually asked me to take this picture…

Mark’s NEW toy… Mark flies it pretty well but I’m going to wait until he masters the controls before I take my turn…

Beautiful blossoms on my ‘weeping cherry tree’… and the end of this blog…

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Happy Birthday JOLENE!!

Jolene….Age 2

Jolene….Age 3

Jolene….Age 4

Jolene….Age 5

Jolene….Age 6 and 1/2….

And TODAY she turned SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW…it seems like just yesterday when Jolene was born and I traveled to Illinois to help LauraLee with her new baby… Jolene…

WHERE has the time gone???

CONGRATULATIONS, BIRTHDAY GIRL!!! Grandma and Grandpa wish you a VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)

Friday, November 06, 2009

ENJOYING FAMILY VISITS

Enjoyed a fall afternoon and evening with Aunt Edith in Freeport… Did you finish the puzzle??

‘Brothers’ got to spend some time together and have breakfast in Byron a few times…

Hadn’t seen Alan in years.. got to visit with him as well as Christopher & Taylor…

Dale and Judy… ‘The Riley kids’ We don’t get to see Judy and family very often so it was FUN catching up in Paw Paw…

Lisa was born 4 days after Dale’s and my first date in 1966. Now Lisa is all grown up and has her own family in Lee Center. We had a good visit with Lisa and her boys…

Enjoyed good conversation with Dana and Larry (our cousins from the Satterfield branch) in Leaf River… Dana is one of my email buddies and great friend!! I could sit and talk with Dana for hours…

Surprised Larry and Sandy when we dropped by for a visit (our cousins from the Zeller branch) who also live in Leaf River…where Dale was born.

Enjoyed a visit and dinner with Duane and Valdene. I always enjoy time spent with them…

Dale captured a picture of Sheila and I in Mt Morris before we became ‘gate crashers’ in Grand Detour at the craft festival… Thanks for your hospitality, Sheila, and MANY laughs!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

ILLINOIS…

Illinois
Written by C.H. Chamberlain
Composed by Archibald Johnston

By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo on the breeze.
Rustling through the leafy trees, and its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.

Tribute to Ronald Reagan in Dixon, Illinois (Dale and I visited here while on vacation…) The statue is located on the banks of Rock River.

“Begins the Trail”…

The Wellman home in Lee Center, IL where our daughter-in-law, Andrea’s grandfather and grandmother use to live along with their family.. The home is currently being restored by Teresa and Jane who live next door (see the next picture).

These homes are right around the corner from ‘Lisa’ (our niece) who also lives in Lee Center with her family.. This home was built in 1862.

Lisa has her hands full with Trey and Trevor… Trey doesn’t slow down much as you can see from the picture and Trevor plays high school football as a freshman..

The Whitney Mansion was built in 1856 outside of Lee Center and has quite a history per Lisa. When I have time I’m going to do some research..

Sheila and I visited the ‘Blackhawk’ statue which is located outside Oregon, IL also overlooking Rock River.

Next year Blackhawk will be 100 years old.. I use to think that in the ‘olden days’ visitors could climb a staircase inside the statue and look out Blackhawk’s eyes… but that is just an old rumor.. the statue is hollow inside.

Attended a craft festival at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, IL… actually we (Sheila, Dale and I) didn’t realize an entrance fee had to be paid at the front. We parked along the side and were questioned when we entered ‘unknowingly’ through the back gate. I guess we were “”gate crashers”” and didn’t know it!!! Made our way to the front and paid the fee.. what a way to end our Illinois vacation :(

We watched a blacksmith work over a coal fire in this barn.

Visited a museum in Princeville, IL with the Plattner’s. This old school house was moved across the fields to this spot per Marlene, Plattner. A local school board meeting was scheduled to be held that evening in this historical building.