Veranda

We went to Busia and Papa's house on Sunday. They just had a new patio put in, and needed help hanging a retractable awning. Three generations got it up. The patio is beautiful - Matt says it reminds him of being in Italy.

Getting the awning up was no easy task. The 4 of them worked quite a while getting it to sit just right when open. It wasn't until Allen came that the task was complete.Talk about teamwork. And yes, this is a Costco purchase.

Pics from Texas

Well the Texas Rodens survived the Chicago Rodens and the Plymouth Rodens. From what I am hearing everyone had a wonderful time. The weather was great, the food was great, and best of all the company was great. I guess Phil was so pleased with how things were going he tried to convince everyone to stay an extra day. Brian made the perfect statement. "Mom can't stay, she has to get back to set the table for Thanksgiving." For those of you who know Busia - this will make total sense.

Brian and Heather thanks for sending the pics.
Gwen - I love the top you're wearing at the graduation ceremony. You look awesome in it.

7 down 10 to go

We spend the month of June going from graduation party to graduation party. So far we have been to seven parties. We have invitations for 10 more. Of course the one we wanted to be at the most we have to miss. Morgan graduates this Tuesday. Dan and I had planned on going to Dallas for her big day and then making a vacation out of it. With all the snow we had this winter, we have to make up 5 days of school. This puts our end date at this coming Thursday.

Busia, Papa, Brian, Heather, Bennet, and Neil are going. I'm sure they'll have a great time. They leave today and come home on Wednesday. In addition to the graduation stuff, Norm, Joan, Phil and Bri are planning a golf date for Monday. This will be the first time that Norm has golfed in quite a while. Go get 'em Dad.

We'll be thinking of you on Tuesday Morgan!!!

I made the fold of the newspaper

The Hillsdale Daily News is no Detroit Free Press. Things that are school related are actually news (with pics above the fold). The other day I put on the annual 8th Grade Ethnic Luncheon. The newspaper actually showed up and wrote an article about it. I guess it doesn't hurt that the editors son is one of my students.

Hillsdale, Mich. — Eighth-graders from Davis Middle School celebrated the end of an era Tuesday during the annual Eighth Grade Ethnic Lunch.