MAY 19, 2009 -- ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TO KITCHEN BEING DONE!

Today they finished putting on the rest of the decorative raised panels, crown molding, and trim boards. Tomorrow they put the finishing touches on and the handles on the drawers, and we're ready for granite counter tops to be measured Thursday. It is getting very exciting, and I can hardly wait now to see the granite counter tops on! They are to be installed a week from Thursday, and appliances come Saturday the 30th!

ALMOST DONE!!! MONDAY, MAY 18, 2009

All the rest of the cabinets got installed today and most of the decorative flutes and corbels and raised panels. A few more to finish up and then the crown molding, so the installers should pretty much be finished tomorrow! Then the granite guys can come measure and make the template for the counter tops so they can be installed next week. Edgar has to sand and put another coat of finish on the floor and grout the tile walkways. So we are about done! It is exciting! We had hidden a newspaper with the date the cabinets were installed in our old kitchen, so Kent put the Sunday Telegraph with the date these new cabinets were installed above the refrigerator cabinet which will be hidden with the crown molding. Whenever these cabinets are removed at some distant future date, this newspaper will probably be of interest to those owners.

Hiding the newspaper


























Looking from diningroom down island towards breakfast room



























Close up of flutes & corbels on each end of island

2009 MAY -- PAXTON'S KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION

Friday night Paxton graduated from kindergarten along with Braden deGroot and Brody Miles. The two classes first were dressed like cowboys & cowgirls and sang several songs, etc. and then got dressed in their caps and gowns for the graduation. They all did a great job and were so orderly and cute! Hard to believe they are heading into 1st grade now.... Brad's and Kent & I went back to Brent & Johanna's afterwards for banana splits and fireworks with the kids to celebrate Paxton's graduation.

Ready for the program!

(Brent's pic)

Shaelyn sitting with Gramma Joan & Grampie

Paxton on stage with his class ready to sing













Shaelyn "reading" the program!













Paxton coming down steps to get his diploma














Congratulations, Paxton!












The graduate on stage (back row by barn)













Paxton with his teacher Mrs. Harbro













The proud graduate!













Brent, Johanna & Paxton

The whole family

(Brent's pic)

Paxton & Shaelyn

Paxton & Shaelyn

(Brent's pic)

2009 MAY 15 -- INSTALLING CABINETRY

They began installing the cabinetry today! The side walls are mostly done and the center island cabinets set in place ready to be installed on Monday. What a change! It is all metamorphing (Is that a word???) before my eyes! I am really excited to see it taking shape! Edgar is laying the tile in the inlaid walkways down each side of the island now that the cabinet installers have quit for the day. He will grout it on Monday, and then that will be done.
Installing oven & cooktop cabinets














Installing refrigerator side of cabinets













Center island cabinets set in place as seen from breakfast room












Island cabinets set in place as seen from DR














Edgar starting to lay tiles

Tile walkways all ready for grouting!










Center island cabinets set in place & ready to be installed Monday.

2009 MAY 14 -- CABINETS ARE HERE!!!

Edgar finished putting down the cherry flooring in the kitchen & diningroom yesterday and got two coats of finish on it and sanding in between coats. The two strips down the kitchen floor are for the inlaid tile down each side of the island, which Edgar will install tomorrow. So it's all ready for the cabinets which came this afternoon. The guys got them all unloaded and unpacked and set a few of the cabinets in place. They will start installing them tomorrow! They are gorgeous, and I'm so thrilled with the whole project!!!

The floor down and ready for cabinets.














Cabinets are here!













Bringing in the cabinets












Unpacking the cabinets














The double wall ovens & cook top cabinets set temporarily in place

MAY 13, 2009 AVA'S SPRING PROGRAM AT SCHOOL

Ava's 1st grade spring program was really cute. Ava was the "little red hen" in their class part and spoke right up at the mike and did well. No one wanted to plant the seed, gather the grain, make the bread, etc., "so I will do it myself", says the little red hen. And she did! And ate the bread too! Brent, Johanna, Paxton & Shaelyn also went to the program, and Paxton introduced himself to the principal afterwards and told him he would be coming to 1st grade next year.
The whole 1st grade singing













Close up of Ava













Ava's class doing the Chinese dragon song









































The gym class bouncing balls to the music













Ava as the "little red hen" at the mike













...planting the seeds













...gathering the grain

2009 MAY -- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Hope you all had a nice Mother's Day! Ellie & Ava walked down to our house early before meeting and brought me a bouquet of yellow tulips ".... cause Gramma, yellow is your favorite color!" We went with Brent's and Brad's families to Black Forest for brunch after meeting and had a very nice time and scrumptious brunch! The kids were all excited to give their cards to us Moms and a book for each of us, as we all like to read. A very nice Mother's Day! Thanks y'all!

2009 MAY -- John & Ernestine's 50th Anniversary

John & Ernestine McCracken celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception in their home in MA put on by their daughters on Saturday afternoon, May 9th. It was lovely with gorgeous flowers and a beautiful cake decorated with fresh flowers. John & Ernestine had just gotten back from a week cruise to Bermuda with several other couples including Ernestine's brother and wife from WA. The daughters had put together a memory book and also had made a video of it, which they showed to everyone on a screen while they read what was written. Then the mike was opened up for comments and reminiscing, and there were plenty of stories to tell from brother, grandchildren, daughters, employees, old buddies, etc. Ernestine and John had to add their side of some of these stories as well.... Then John played the piano and some of the family sang the song that John used to sing to Ernestine -- "Have I told you lately that I love you...." John had a comment or two after that was done. The cake was cut and more visiting and reminiscing. A very lovely reception for a very special couple! And it all began with a cookie! That's the beginning of this romance....





The table with cake and flowers











The cake












John & Ernestine













Her brother who got them together












Grandson Connor













Granddaughter Kayla













Daughter Laura













Daughter Maureen














Buddy Fred Parsons had typed up pages to share but stopped at 1 story!












Dad reminisced about when John spent 3 summers at the farm working











"George saved my life when I fell through the barn floor! But I hurt so bad & was running around in pain while he was laughing his head off!"

John playing the piano

Some family singing along with John playing,
"Have I told you lately that I love you?"












Ernestine being serenaded




















....and then some comments!











.... and a good chuckle!













Ready to cut the cake














Try a bite...













John & Ernestine with daughters Maureen, Linda, & Laura (left to right).












How about a kiss?














Their home