California bound

1988, mom and dad's 40th with all kids and grandkids

me with my parents, Don and Rosie, 1950
my family in 1957, me, dad, Jo, Dan, mother, Jane
Us again in 1968
1971, I was engaged to Von then, and dad got a hair piece

1996

My parents are marking their 60th wedding anniversary, Sept. 5, and we've been planning a celebration for them this weekend, Aug. 30, at their church in El Centro, CA. Sheila, Halie and I leave tomorrow, Aug. 27, picking up my sister, Jo, in Las Vegas. We're getting down there by Thurs. to help with the set-up. We're putting together a memory lane of photos and memorabilia of our past. Von and Rosie's family will travel down on Friday, Aug. 29. We've planned for about 150, since church family and chorale members have been invited along with relatives, friends and neighbors.

Sheila's new home

front of house
back of house


Halie's room

We've spent the last month moving and settling Sheila and family in their new home, which

is Jon's mother's home. She recently moved to New York, leasing the home to Jon and his brother, Joe, who lives in the basement. Much reorganizing, cleaning, storing, dumping, and in time, new paint. They have two bedrooms, an office, a bath and a half, livingroom, kitchen and eating area. Nice big back yard, and carport.

Dave on deployment

On July 4, while in flight over Afganistan, Dave swore in a soldier's re-enlistment with the usual ceremony in the rear of the plane.

Von's 59th birthday

More backyard fun. Von and former neighbor, Russ Stobbe (Sheila's age), have the same birthday, and for many years have combined families to celebrate. John and Tammy Stobbe, Russ's wife, Angela, and our family enjoyed an evening BBQ, card games, and story-telling.

John falls asleep anywhere anytime, and Russ showed us a picture on his phone of John asleep sitting on the kitchen counter! How did he do that?

Angela made two cakes, and I put a tank on one (Russ is in the Army), and an Air Force jet on the other, and they battled it out during the song.

The kids played and fooled around with water balloons. Kristin couldn't decide between an ice cream cone, or cake and ice cream, so she had both. Doubt she ate both!

Von received a special flag that flew on Dave's aircraft back in March, along with a certificate explaining about it.

dress-ups

The kids love to play dress-ups with our old costumes and clothes in the basement. Tyler, Kristin, Halie, and jiving Camron. Hayden didn't know what to think.

cousins, cousins, cousins!

Jenn and children arrived from Omaha for a few weeks, and tonight the girls and families gathered for some backyard fun...hotdogs, swimming, sliding, foot races, and whatever their imaginations could come up with. Hayden, Tanner, Kristin, Tyler, Camron, and Halie all enjoyed the water, while the rest of us watched.

Sheila and Halie during a hospital visit