Our 20th trip to Shipshewana, Indiana

 Samuel had just been sick the week before our trip with Roseola..but he was a very good boy

 The playpen/crib was a new experience---I think he liked it!!

 Anna and Lena took turns carrying Samuel around in his tote--that way he was able to get all of his naps while we shopped.

 Dinner at the Essanhaus Inn. Lena, Anna and I have made this trip every year since Anna was a baby. We think we have now gone for the last time. It is so busy there now and just not as much fun.

 Samuel couldn't decide between the peanut butter bottle or the apple butter bottle--they both looked good to him!!!!

 The apple butter won

 Anna's friend, Tasha, met us in Shipshewana. It was good to see her.

 Anna, Samuel and Tasha

 Then we stopped over at Joe's house and played with the children and spent the night. Bethany wanted to sleep with her grandma and her aunt Anna--Anna and I shared the futon!

Also was able to visit with Anna's friend, Stephanie.

FATHER'S DAY

Mother's Day 2012

Here we are--Mom and me.

 She is a part of so many of my memories.

 I remember shopping together one day in St. Charles, Illinois. I was pushing one year old Nat in the stroller, walking with mom, when a woman stopped and asked mom if the baby was hers..she acted rather offended and said she was the grandmother!

 I was 24 and mom was 50--she looked younger.

 Once we were on the train heading into Chicago for the day when I was 16 and she was 42. The conductor was paying a lot of attention to us and I in my youthful fantasies thought it was me that was drawing his interest--it was not, it was my lovely mother..always so young and happy.

 We were very different and did not always get along--

I could be gloomily introverted and mom was the happy extrovert.

 I guess it took quite a few years for mom and me to love to be together.

 After our first four children were born she and dad were finally ready to accept being grandparents--1980.

 Mom was 58 and I was 32.

 Now 32 years have passed and mom will be 90 this year and you can guess what age I will be!

I have often told my husband how I wish I had been a better daughter--he tells me that I am being a good daughter now.

 For three years Mom and Dad have been here at Sutter Living Center--their minds fading away. Mom is still the happy extrovert and I have happily escaped the sad fate of the gloomy introvert.

I wish we could reminisce together, my mother and me--

I look into her eyes and I see myself for she is forever a part of me.

I love you, mother dear.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Lena and Samuel's visit with mom and dad

Mom was holding a baby doll when we arrived but was overjoyed to hold a real baby.

I think it was baby day at Sutter Living Center.  Samuel laughed and smiled at all the ladies.

Flo with her baby

Dad just wasn't sure whose baby this was but we didn't care--kept saying Samuel looked like Doug and how many more were we going to have!!!!!

Is it the mango that he is eating or is he ready to go home?

Lena, Samuel and me

The lady in the purple shawl is 104 years old!

We had such a wonderful visit today. The baby brought out the best in mom. She used many full sentences and you can see from this picture how happy she was. Dixie got mom and dad all ready for our visit--you are the greatest, Dixie, and we thank God for you and all the staff at Sutter. I don't know how many times we have all said what a wonderful place this is for mom and dad and all the other residents. Bob was fun again today as he interacted with Samuel and so was Art who waved and talked a little "baby talk" with Samuel.

What a blessing you all are.