Happy 14th Birthday Brandon

Deb and Brandon on camping trip to Siloam Springs...July 2001 Checking out their playground equipment...(please excuse the pepto-bismol color)

Jeff and B exploring the stream

Brandon hitching a ride...

I LOVE this picture!

Happy Birthday Brandon...it is hard for me to believe that my cute little boy is now a handsome young man. I know you get tired of me telling you...but, I am so proud of you and what you stand for. You have accomplished so much in your 14 years... I thank God everyday for giving me the privilege of being your Mother. You have been a pure Joy! Happy Birthday son. Love you lots and lots and lots...

What Fathers Day means to me........

Celebrating a daughter starting her own life.
Two families becoming one. Being a father of five, not four. Finally having a son.

Watching my children grow up to be great parents themselves.

Loving every second when my children are around me.

Most of all, I love having a wife who says I am the best father ever. Her love for my children thrills me.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO EVERYONE AND I MISS YOU DAD!

Do I miss........

.....the convenience of living in town? Sometimes. Do I like filling my truck up with gas more often? No. Would I trade our life for anything. Never.

Riley, Deb, and I found 4 cups of Black Raspberries in our timber Saturday. Deb made a wonderful, delicious pie out of them. We also will soon have gooseberries and blackberries. Deb and her mom have also picked 7 gallons of strawberries from our garden. Homemade jam and strawberry shortcake soon followed. Life is good at Slater Creek Farm.

a few extra pictures...

Boz sisters in law....

Boz brothers....

Love this picture of Jenna and her daddy....(thx Cindy!)

Jen and Josh's wedding reception

Riley with her beautiful sister, the bride, after she caught the bridal bouquet...

Emma and Riley...

B and Jeff with Jen...

Love this picture...

Dancing...dancing...dancing... What a beautiful bride Jen was...I didn't have my camera during the ceremony...looking forward to seeing pictures soon! Love you Mr. & Mrs. VerDught! :)

Happy #33 Danny!

Hope you have a great birthday tomorrow! I hope Jessica spoils you like you spoil her the other 364 days.

Sun of the Month Banquet

(I am tired of trying to cut and paste the words before the pictures...so just going to post as is...) Back row...L to R... Geoffrey, Brandon, Dwyer, Kara. Front row...L to R... Cassie, Kayla, Maddie, Ali and Allie.

Of course, we had to try and get a silly pose too...

Last night was Southeastern's Sun of the Month Banquet. They combined the high school with the junior high recipients. Catered meal, nice recognition of "some of Southeastern's finest"; spoken by the Principal. They announced each one individually and they each received a certificate and a $50 savings bond. It was a very nice evening!

Here are a few pictures of the Eighth Grade Sun of the Month recipients for 2009/2010 school year...

Emma Softball Season for Macomb High

Emma does a great job at first base...(following in sister Jessi's footsteps)

It was hard to see what pics I was downloading...but, Em is a powerhouse at bat too! Go Em! (unfortunately, Brandon's trackmeets have seemed to fall on the same dates as Emma's home games...so I haven't been able to see her play yet this year... Jeff goes one way and I go the other...)

Thanks for the pictures Jill! Looking forward to this weekend, Emma! Love you!

Happy 15th Birthday Emma Jane

Hope you have a wonderful day! We love and miss you tons!

Slater Creek Farm Update

Deb and Riley ready to go to Jenna's shower in Hamilton. They had fun and Jenna and Josh came over on Sunday to spend the afternoon with us.
Riley bought the beer for Jenna. We will be having a talk with her.

That time of year. I love this picture because of the awesome colors.

Riley has found more four leaf clovers in her short life than I have found all my life. She found this one after just a few minutes. I took a close up of it but it was way to blurry. She is trying to teach me but alas I am a lost cause.

I am trying to teach her in the importance of a good nap. I think she is learning pretty well. Lou enjoys them as well.

Happy 8th Birthday Hailey!

Happy birthday Hailey-Bailey! Hope your birthday party was fun last weekend! Grandpa and I miss you and look forward to seeing you next month!

Love you!

Saint Boniface

The patron saint of the Germans. Now this is something I can wrap my arms around. I am not Irish. His saint day is on June 5th. That is a much better weather day. Jenna and Josh are getting married June 5th. Coincedence? I think not! I ask you not to wear green today. I have been green free on St. Patricks day since my sophmore year in high school. Paulette and your offspring are excluded from this email. Let's celebrate on the great holiday of Saint Boniface day. I am sure it is the reason Jenna and Josh chose the day. I am tired of green crappy beer. Lets hoist a good pilsner and drink it out of a stein. Corn beef and cabbage or weiner schnitzel and saurkraut. Hmmmm? Catching on isn't it? And I thank you for your support.

Jay will now lead us in the German National Anthem......Deutschland Deutschland Uber Alles......

Princess Tea

Riley with Cinderella.

Riley looking like Aunt Jane when she had curlers in her hair.

Every Spring Grandma Judy takes Deb and Riley to a Princess Tea in Denmark, Iowa. This is the 4th year that they have went. Riley gets curlers in her hair on Friday night!

This little girl is Jasmine. She is a great niece of Grandma Judy's and goes every year with Riley. They have become really good friends.
A close up of the little princesses. Deb says they get along really good. Too bad Jasmine lives an hour away from us.

Brandon took this picture of Princess Riley and my queen.

Usually only the Disney princesses show up. This year Prince Charming also was available to come.

I think everybody.....

has a bad case of Spring fever around here. I love four distinct seasons, but we have been spoiled with some mild winters for awhile. I am ready for some gardening and fishing. I want to stay out to 9:30 and still see each others faces. I love our weekend sit around the campfires that we have. The look of a freshly mowed lawn. I miss baseball. Impromptu wiener roasts with the in-laws. Freshly turned dirt by the farmers around here. MUSHROOMS! I can't wait for sweet corn and tomatos. Did I mention baseball. Windows open for a breeze. Bluebirds and yellow finches.

Listening to Riley giggle outside while chasing fireflies. Coming home to find that Deb and Brandon have already mowed the yard and she is waiting for me with an iced cold beer. Picnics at the "Bozarths" in Quincy. I love everything about Spring. New life and new attitudes. New beginnings.