BEACHWOOD ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL

Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the games at the carnival. They all came home with lots of prizes and had fun on all the rides and slides!

Ricky's 11th Birthday!!!!

Another reason I wanted to visit NJ was to celebrate a very special birthday and to visit with three of my four grandkids. It was a tiring few days that I wouldn't want to change for anything.

All Ricky wanted was for Nana to bake his birthday cake. Me and my cake decorating tips traveled from Illinois to NJ to do just that and a few other things!

When asked what kind of cake he wanted he requested a chocolate cake with Naruto on it. I had no clue what a "naruto" was or how I was going to convert what little information I was to get into a birthday cake. But Ricky came through and provided me with a poster that had a detailed picture of "Naruto" on it. I still don't know who this person is but I guess he was pretty important to my favorite 11 year old!

We shopped, watched movies and went to a school carnival all in the short time that I was able to spend with them. I miss them so much and it was good to see them and spend time with Liz and family.

Here are some pictures of the good times we had. . . .

Central Regional HS Class of '69 Reunion

I had decided when I realized that my high school reunion was in September rather than the usual August that I would be going by myself, that is if I was going at all. Whether or not I was going to attend was still up in the air on the Thursday before the reunion. It was a short visit to NJ, did I really want to take time out of visiting with grandkids, family and friends to see people that I hadn't seen since the last reunion? In the end I decided to go. I couldn't even use the excuse I didn't have a ride, one of my classmates picked me up!!!!

It was fun and great to see so many old friends. Everyone talked of retirement and grandkids which only 10 years earlier wasn't even thought about. Many, like me, traveled a long distance. We had classmates come from Hawaii, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, Florida and Maryland.

We had a graduating class of about 168 considering it is 40 years later the attendance for the evening was pretty good. Someone said that there were about 75 attending, that is pretty amazing.

The evening was fun, informal and I'm so glad I went.

THE PARENTS

I have been reminded by those near and dear to my heart that I've not blogged in awhile. Well, after looking at the last blog I would have to agree with them. Since Dale and Dick left in August (such a long time ago), my parents have visited Eldred. I didn't take any picture during their visit but I can at least update you on their stay.

I think they had a good time and also realized that I'm pretty happy out here and enjoying my life in Illinois.

We did the usual tour of the farm and equipment and my dad was pretty impressed. I don't know how it happened but when everyone from New Jersey was here for the wedding, Mom and Dad missed the tour bus and didn't get to see the sheds and equipment. This visit we made sure they saw most of everything. We took them on a "crop inspection" tour and I think they went home with two ears of corn and some soybeans of their own.

I was asked by my favorite daughter in law to make lasagne and invite the whole family over for supper while the NJ parents were here. . . of course I thought it was an excellent idea and we had a great time and hopefully my parents got a chance to get to know my family here in Illinois a little better.

Dinner at the Brass Door enabled them to have and enjoy the famous Brass Door porkchops on famous "Port Chop Night" and of course a visit from those back east would not be complete without supper at the Barefoot.

Lastly we took them to Ameristar and my Mom was lucky enough to win $1000 in a slot machine. So I guess her visit to St. Charles was well worth.

The visit was over too quickly and before I knew it they were headed back towards New Jersey with stops in Nashville and Asheville along the way.

Trailor for the next post . . . lots of pictures of my NJ visit, 40th high school class reunion (I can't be that old!) and harvest. Stay tuned!!!!!!!!