Jack

I wanted to post a few more pictures of Jack now that he is getting close to 7 months. Also we have switched websites and now use Shutterfly; if you want to view his pictures you can use the link below and the password is jack. There are A LOT of pictures because he has so many expressions....and he is too cute:)

http://thekrouses.shutterfly.com/

He is too funny when he gets on all fours and does the “praying mantis” sways back and forth, we are waiting for him to pick up a leg or arm and move forward….any day now.

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Celebrated Mom's birthday today. Went to church, then after her noon meal, had a "party" with the other residents with a chocolate birthday cake (with two big numeral 8 candles) and ice cream. Can't really attest to the amount of significance she attached to the day as a whole, but before I left this evening I asked her if she had a nice birthday, and she said "Uh-huh." I guess you could call that a conversation - closest we've come to one in a long time. Thanks for the cards and flowers. She also had cards from Nelson, Ann and Ralph Podas and Chaplain Jensen.

This is the Neighborhood House in St. Paul. They provide services for immigrants and refugees.

We've had a great time in Northfield, for St. Olaf's Homecoming and Family Weekend. The weather couldn't have been nicer yesterday for the football game - St. Olaf beat Augsburg 24-14. Today we're going to church on campus, then heading home after lunch. Whitney will be home at the end of October for fall break.

More family travels I know about: Tomorrow Megan and Steve will go to St. Olaf for parent's weekend and will go to the homecoming football game Saturday - "as long as it doesn't rain." Whitney has been going to her "practicum site", the Neighborhood House in St. Paul, once a week, and will be going there every day starting in October. I don't remember what social work category the Neighborhood House fits into.

Had good recent visits with Sally and Mike last Friday, and Scott Tuesday and yesterday. Sally and Mike were on their way to Lakeside for two weeks. Don't know what the weather there has been like. Here it has been warmer than normal, but not very sunny; and next week will be cooler than normal. Scott was in town to sit in on a new ASTM course on flammability of mattresses and upholstered furniture scheduled in Columbus. So he came here the day before and came back again Wednesday for a while after the session. Next visitors will be Eileen and John on 10/16. Family travels that I know about are Pat, Steve, Melissa, Dave and Molly to Carmel on 10/3, and Maureen and Scott to Bermuda on a cruise also on 10/3. Tomorrow I'll pick up a cake I ordered along with some ice cream to take to 600 to have on Sunday to celebrate Mom's 88th birthday.

Molly and Jack

We visited with Melissa, Dave, and Molly over Labor Day weekend and we just returned from a visit with Kevin, Emily, and Jack. Both babies are bundles of joy and they are growing quickly!

Luis' visit

Here are some pictures that Luis took during his stay with us at the end of August.

Whitney and Luis in Harmon Park, near our house.

Whitney and Luis, at the Frank House in Kearney.

At the Jenkin's ranch - this was Luis' first time horseback riding.

Whitney and Luis met up with a friend in Minneapolis, and saw the Vikings-Cowboys pre-season NFL game.

And I couldn't resist including this beautiful picture from Mexico.

Had a pleasant visit with Steve, Pat, Melissa and Molly on Labor Day afternoon. Steve and Pat were in the area to attend the wedding of John Clime's (old friend in Bucyrus) son on Saturday. Steve got to the 600 hall around 1:00; Pat, Melissa and Molly a little later. While they were here, we visited in the chapel area. That's a nice place to do so - better than the smaller rooms Mom and I live in. Mom seemed to enjoy the time together - seemed to be interested in our conversation and would smile from time to time. Molly has really grown. She slept most of the time. After she, Pat and Melissa left, Steve came to my room and stayed until it was time for me to go to the dining room. Looking forward next to seeing Mike and Sally on the 18th as they stop here on their way to Lakeside. Then Scott will be in town on the 22nd and 23rd. He will sit in on a new ASTM class on Flammability of Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses being given in Columbus. He likes to sit in on one of the early sessions of a new course, so he can do that and get in a visit as well.