Watching Kasey!

We got an early start on our babysitting when Amy's sister had her baby early.  Amy took Karsten north to North Dakota to see the new baby and her sister.  We thought you would be amused with some of the Kasey antics.  These pics are a day in the life of Kasey Cannode.

Traveling with Kasey

Yea! I'm with Grandma and Grandpa

I can feed myself

On a walk with Grandma

I love my tunnel

It is more fun on its side!

Who is that?

We are having a ball watching this young guy grow into a toddler and will be even happier when this little brother joins the fun.

Karsten pondering his future!

This is the picture we will soon see when we get to watch both boys.

For the next two months we will be watching the boys five days a week and we hope you enjoy their lives through this blog!  They really are the lights of our lives, just wish we had their energy.  Stay tuned for life with the double K's!

Karsten, Kasey,and more!

Grandpa and Grandma with Karsten

As you all know by now (or at least you should) we have a new grandson - "Karsten"  although he is new to the world he has been loved by all of us since we found out Amy was carrying him way back in March.  He is a beautiful baby (yes, we are prejudice) but he seems so small compared to his big brother.  Kasey has touched our hearts everyday of his life but we didn't realize how big he has gotten until we saw him side by side with little Karsten.  We are truly blessed to have two wonderful grandchildren!

Kris with his boys!

Our next trip will back to Ohio and it will be a very hard trip because of Kasey and Karsten but the good thing is that they will be joining us on Oct 2 for a week in Ohio.  We will be the advanced party for their trip and we need to ensure the babies have everything they need for their visit.  We will leave Colorado the first week in September and connect with Clyde and Rose and Dick and Karen preparing for Kasey and Karsten's visit.   After the kids fly back to Colorado we will pack up our motor home and join them so we can babysit the boys until Christmas, while Kris and Amy work.  Don't know how two old people are going to stay up with a couple of babies but it sure will be fun trying!  We also will be hooking up with Bob and Donna sometime in October - seems like an eternity since we all were together!  We have missed them on our late spring and summer travels. 

We have been pretty busy helping David build a 20x16 foot storage shed.  David and Nikki will be posting pics on their blog in a few days but you will not be able to tell how much work went into that shed.  David said it is the only structure that he owns or has ever work on that is square.  The floor, walls and roof are all square (we know amazing huh).  We are putting on finishing touches this weekend so watch for their blog (you can use the link on the top right to access their blog - Mr. and Mrs. Cannode).

George, Kris and Amy, and David took in a Bronco's preseason game.  Although, George and David sat in Kris and Amy's season ticket seats while they sat in Club seats courtesy of the owner of the company where Amy works.  But a good time was had by all - btw- do not look for the Broncos to do well this season and please don't bet on them 

George, David, and Kris in front of the Broncos at Mile Hi

(Amy's taking the pic)

As we wrap up our visit back to Colorado for Karsen's birth we would like to thank our sons and daughter-in laws for their hospitality.  They have been exceptionally nice to us on this visit because we didn't bring our home on wheels with us this time.  We hope we were not too much trouble and promise to bring our home with us in the future.  We have enjoyed their backyards as much as any we found on our travels - probably more because we love all six of them and if it was not for Skype we could not stand to be away from them for very long.

Our message for this blog is: enjoy you children and grandchildren - remember they may be deciding which nursing home you are put into - shady pines or autumn leaf!  Not that you will know much by that time!

Take care and enjoy all your backyards 

Karsten George Cannode's Birthday!!!!

A very tired and loving Amy and a sleepy Karsten

He is here!! Karsten George Cannode was born early on August 25, 2010 at 5:41 AM.  His stats are 21" long, 7 lbs. 3 oz.  Amy and Karsten are in great shape (although very tired),  He has a full head of dark brown hair (see pic below) and a very soft cry for now.  He has very long fingers and by the size of his feet - well you know what they say about big feet!  His big brother, Kasey, Grandma Mattson and Grandpa and Grandma Cannode joined Kris and Amy at the hospital for Karsten's birth day. 

Look everyone I have more hair than my big brother!

Presenting Family Cannode -  Kris, Amy, Kasey (big brother and big smile) and Karsten (the little one under Amy's hand is Karsten)

  Long night Kris?  We think Dad is a little tired too!!

Aunt Nikki (who took off work early) and Uncle David couldn't wait to get their hands on their newest nephew.  They are very proud of Kasey and now Karsten!   In a light hearted moment, David told Amy (when everyone was cooing over Karsten), " Amy you now know how the FedEx guy feels!!! --- Everyone looks forward to the FedEx guy delivering a long awaited package but as soon as he delivers the package, he is no longer important!"

David with young Karsten

Nikki and Karsten

Uncle David and Aunt Nikki with Karsten 

Doesn't David look just a little scared? 

Grandpa and his new grandson!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog - dedicated to our newest grandson.  He and his brother are very special.  George's dad's favorite saying about babies holds so true again,  "God doesn't make any Junk!  Kasey and Karsten are our Gems and we hope you join us in wishing them a very good and successful life!  If you would like to see more of Karsten and get Dad and Mom's perspective go to their blog...you can reach it by following the link to the Life and Times of the Cannode's in the upper right hand corner of our blog under blogs we follow!

Thanks for sharing another treasured day in our backyard!

45th Class of '65 High School Reunion and More!!

We have been playing a lot of golf since leaving the Rease family reunion.  If I can brag on Pat's golf game just a little...she has been doing great!  She hit a 150 yard shot into the cup for an eagle, she has hit two chip ins from about 20 yards off the green for birdies on the same 18 hole game, and her drives are always straight and very long!  I think I will start caddying for her on the tour as soon as she gets better at putting - "she hates to putt"!  I guess that is why she is starting to hit them in from off the green.  We have had the pleasure of playing several courses in Ohio and enjoyed playing with George's brothers, old high school friends, and extended family members and even just the two of us!  The weather has cooperated with us here in Ohio, although we do get to the courses very early and beat the heat of the day.

Pat teeing off  Kenton Veterans Memorial Golf Course

Pat and George arriving at the Reunion and Dance

We attended George's 45th high school reunion and renewed friendships with many of his old classmates.  Since we were in town early, George had a chance to visit with many of his high school friends before the reunion and was invited to attend one of the last planning meetings.  You can not image all the hard work and planning that goes into putting on his high school reunion.  They had a dinner on the Thursday, a pig roast on Friday, a golf outing, the  reunion and dance on Saturday and a breakfast on Sunday! 

Pat and several classmates at Sunday Breakfast

The  organizers have been working for months putting this all together and about 140 of his classmates, spouses, former teachers, and friends of the class attended from as far away as Austria, and of course many states.  George said it was one of the best reunions he has attended and his class really knows how to put on a show.  We can't think of any high school reunion that goes all out to welcome their old classmates back and celebrate friendships like his Class of '65.  They said they don't turn back the clock - they rewind the clock!  His class also started a new tradition and voted to have a scholarship fund set up from donations from his class and classmates - they are really some special people.  George's high school classmates epitomize the hard working and generous people of this country, they know how to have fun, enjoy life and give back to their community - we are proud to be a part of this rich tradition!   

George's classmates enjoying the evening!  The young lady at the table is his cousin, Peggy!

Even one of the bartenders got into the spirit of the evening.  He was "conned" into performing a tribal dance for the classmates

Classmates waiting for the next dance!

Pat and Jan Sorgen enjoying a drink!

We say goodbye to the 45th Class of 1965 Reunion!

We don't know how many of you attend your high school reunions.   Maybe you don't for one reason or another, but we have found that reunions are a way for us to reconnect, to reach back and discover new things about old friends, to learn from the past, and to remember the good things about growing up!  We want to thank the organizers of the Kenton High School Class of 65 reunion for making this another memorable backyard adventure for us - one that we will cherish for a long time!

Kasey Update from Grandpa and Grandma!

Kasey is Flying!

It has been awhile since we mentioned our little buddy so we thought we would give our friends and family a peek at our grandson!  Kris and Amy has sent us a few pictures and we really liked this one.  We skype them or they have skyped us on a regular basis so we have managed to keep up with Kasey.  He is getting so big now that he is almost seven months old.  He is eating his veggies and from what we hear he really likes them.

                                                                                                                        

Amy talking, Kasey smiling somethings never change!

On July 16th Kasey becomes an official member of the Cannode clan.  We are sure the kids will have a big blog news event with pictures of the judge and Kasey on this important event in his young life.  There was never a doubt in our minds that he became of a member of our family on December 23, 2009 (the day he was born).  But making it official with the government has taken a few months.  So with very open arms and loving heart we will also "officially" welcome Mr. Kasey Cannode into our family and wish him the very best.  Also, we want to extend to everyone involved in the adoption process a big thank you for all the efforts  they took to bring this Kasey into our lives.

So we encourage you to check out Kris and Amy's blog after July 16th and see Kasey's final adoption process.

THE REASE REUNION

The Eunice (Rease) Lawrence Family Photo

(can you pick out Pat and George)

We made it to the Rease reunion in Columbia, South Carolina.  As always the party starts a couple days before the reunion and this year was no exception.  Most of the out of towners arrived on Friday and the party started upon arrival.  Pat's brothers Charlie and Cloyd pulled their 5th wheels down from Ohio and we drove in on Thursday from Augusta, Georgia.  We all pulled into  their cousin Arthur Wells Rease's 5 acre yard and it looked like a campground sprung up overnight.

Poolside accommodations at Arthur Wells

David accompanied us from Augusta and we drove to Atlanta to pick up Nikki on Friday so the Cannode's were well represented at the gathering of the clans.

Nikki, David, and Pat at Atlanta Airport

The party really starts on Friday night as all the out of towners and most of the 2nd/3rd generation Rease's get together to renew the family bonds over a few drinks and a lot of food.  Melanie and Arthur Wells have been are our gracious hosts for at least the last 10 reunions and this one was the best ever.

 

Party started at Arthur Wells house

Pictured are Pat's nieces - Kendra White (facing camera)and Tami Harris (across table), Nikki (back to camera), Ruby Rease (sitting -Pat's aunt), Charlie, Pam (standing) and Arthur Wells (standing with drink), Pat's aunt Toots in the wheelchair. 

The elder Reases - l to r

Toots, Marie (leaning over), Wilbur, and Betty

(not pictured is Ruby, Arthur's wife and the real hostess of the reunion)

One of many mini get togethers at the reunion

l-r  Tony Harris, "Too Tall" Laura Rease with baby, David (side shot),  Evan Rease (with sunglasses and too tall's husband),

The official reunion was Sunday, June 27th and it was a very hot and muggy day, but we did get a few minutes of respite when a rainstorm passed over the the reunion.  It was immediately followed by hot and humid weather though.  We think it was the best reunion with cousins Wayne Rease cooking pig and chicken, Melanie and Tracy cooking the sides and everyone chipping in to put up the bouncy gym and tent for the enjoyment of all.  These people know how to throw a party --- a great big thank you to Ruby Rease's family, who continue to plan, organized, and put on a wonderful reunion every other year.

After the reunion, we decided to stay an extra couple of days to visit and relax before heading to Atlanta to take David and Nikki to the airport for their flight back to Colorado and for us to drive north to Ohio.   The Ohio trip has some surprises for us but that is the story for the next blog. 

We hope you all are enjoying friends and family this summer.  Our next blog will be posted in a few days because we need to rest from the little bit of work we discovered in Ohio!  Live life to the fullest and than add a little extra to make it special.... 

 

In Charleston, South Carolina w/family

Lib, Wilbur, and Marie

Pat's family reunion is coming up on June 27th but we thought we would get a head start and visit with her aunts and uncles in Charleston.  Her uncle Wilbur was a WWII decorated vet that was wounded at Imo Jimo and has some really good stories of life in the 1940s.  We visited with Wilbur and Aunt Lib yesterday and had a great time talking about family and solving the current world's problems.   Today we were at the Mall in North Charleston and received a phone call from Wilbur who was just outside the Mall.  Lib and Wilbur met up with us in the Mall and Pat asked if they wanted to drive out to Aunt Marie's.  We all headed to her house and again visited for several hours catching up on Marie's family.  We all promised to continue the conversations when we meet again at the Rease reunion.  We are so glad to have this time before the hussle and bussle of the reunion to spend some quality time with the Rease elders.  There never seems to be enough time at reunions to really spend quality time with anyone.
It seems to us that we (all of us) never actually sit down and talk to our mom and dad's generation; get their opinions of what is happening in the world, find out how they grew up and what was important to them - in the past and now.  Maybe that old saying of slowing down and smelling the roses should be applied to stopping for a few minutes and learning about life from those who have the most experince.  We cherished the time  with her aunts and uncles and hope we get to spend more time with them before it is too late for us to enjoy their stories and wisdom - it was a great time!
Suggestion:
If you have a little time we suggest you spend some of it with the generation that made America great.  You might find out that we have lost some of the magic that made this country great and we think that you will have a great time just listening to their stories.  It will also make them feel pretty good, another plus in our opinion.