Signing off....

This broadcast will be temporarily interrupted. We will be leaving for three weeks to the HOMELAND! (a.k.a...Minnesota!) Goodbye from our family to yours......

"The Haircut"

Yes....I think "I need a good cut, maybe less layers but for sure below my shoulders?" Or.. a bob is ok too"....

Yesterday I made my way to the "Haircutter, hair dresser?" and asked for a cut....my hair went from this (bottom photo) to this (top photo!) in 20 minutes..... ahhh I guess you can always use a good cut! (Chris took that photo this afternoon and I had been both running and swimming with the kids so not the best shot!!!!!!!!!!)

Quotable Quotes from the Carlsons as of late...

"Sometimes my dad has to work so we can eat" said by Gunnar at the dinner table to his cousins when we were eating and daddy wasn't home!

"How little do they make straight jackets?" said by Poppy referring to his youngest grandson!

"Daddy, you are the best baker of beef!" Audra said to her daddy referring to her yummy steak made on the grill!

"Gunnar! I said stop running over your Woody!!!" Said Amy to Gunnar when he was using his bike to run over his doll...Woody (from Toy Story!) over and over!

Kids

Some things ARE just that funny!

Happy Independence Day

Audra says on occasion...."I feel I am never going to be a grown up!". When will she get her "independence"? When will she get to make her "own" choices (I think this means stay up late and drink beverages that contain caffeine?) Alternatively....I think on occasion when oh when "can I be dependent again?" When can I sleep in, have my bills paid without even knowing it, when can I reap the benefits of someone else's (my parents) hard work? When can I not be the one who has to "run" when I hear somebody go splat on the concrete? Today we celebrate our Independence as a Nation? I wonder if these days we look back and wonder, just on occasion, if we could be "dependent" again..... just for a day?
(this is a picture of Lucy this afternoon celebrating her 4th .....4th of July! She turns 4 end of next week!)

Goodbyes

One of Grandmother's legacies is her grandchildren and great -grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday! In fact I received my precious birthday card from her in the mail the day she passed away. She loved her grandchildren and these great-grandchildren loved her. This is a part of her "fruit" there are 6 other great grandchildren that weren't able to be there (including Katherine and Lucy & I think Anders was already strapped in the van!!!)
It amazes me how quickly kids can "bond". These great grandchildren had a good couple of days together and this was their "cute" goodbye at the cemetery Friday morning.

Granddad and his posse

There is nothing like running around a backyard on a hot summer's night. These "Great Grandchildren" took to it nicely. We had two great meals at "Uncle John & Aunt Jan's" house and the kids enjoyed the enormous backyard filled with goldfish pond, a bridge, a huge pecan tree and lots of room to run! They sat still for a minute to get a "photo opp" with Granddad.

Just returned....

We've just returned from a brief visit to the "Land of Enchantment" (a.k.a New Mexico) to celebrate the life of Opal Lankford (Chris' 90 year old grandmother who went home to Heaven on June 21st). She was a precious amazing woman.... We got to be with Chris' parents and extended family and this shot is Granddad and his grandchildren (missing his grandson Shannon who works for the government and is currently in Bogota). We celebrate you grandmother....