Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day a day late. This was a busy last week for us--went to Monica's last Tuesday to help get ready for Morgan's graduation on Sunday--planted flowers, cleaned house, finished drywalling the garage, etc. Got to watch her play 2 softball games, too--first base and a pretty good hitter. Graduation was good, they had 130 in their class, she gave the welcome (also a 3 minute speech for bacalaureate), had several honors, got 3 scholarships (which will help as she is registered at UWGreen Bay). Her reception was after graduation, about 150 people attended--didn't have ribbon sandwiches because she doesn't like Cheez Whiz! But, we DID have mints (also made them for 3 other gals' receptions).

On Friday, Eldie and I went to Williamsburg/Thornburg for my 50th graduation celebration--all classmates (15) were there Friday or Saturday except one who lives in GA. We had a great time reminiscing--am really glad we got to go. Sunday, we returned to WI with Matt and Gavin and Annika. Sheila and Brenda were there Sat. and Sun. to help finish set-up details--shades of the graduations we have done in the past!!! We came home last PM--haven't done much worthwhile today--need to mow, but it rained much of the day. Spent some time today setting up a family getaway for August at Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun--the sister's annual outing.

All is well with our family, the kids all are growing up too fast. We have no specific plans for most of the summer except golf, lawn care, travel to kids (going to Brenda's with Christian for a few days in 2 weeks while Morgan and parents go to college registration). River Days is here in 3 weeks--last year's celebration was flooded out. Oh, yes--I forgot to tell my sisters---we went past the farm--they have built a double attached garage on the west side of the house--it must come into that small room off the kitchen ( I may have to knock on their door and ask to investigate it!). It really looks quite nice. The land is out of CRP and Mike has planted it to soybeans--hasn't been cropped for about 25 years.

No other special news here--I keep checking the site for information from everyone, think this is the way to go. Love to all.

Greetings from Sioux City, IA

Well, is everyone enjoying spring? Here in NW IA it is often cool, rainy, and very windy, so we haven't had a "wonderful spring" yet. I'm just hoping that it doesn't suddenly heat up to the 90's and stay there -- altho' for those persons in AZ, 90's probably sounds "cool".

IA Funeral Director's convention started the day after Easter in Ames. Dan was finishing his year as President of the state assoc. so he and Carin had lots of "official duties". The spouse's luncheon also involved a spa day with facials, paraffin hand treatments, and a chair massage so that was fun. Then on Mother's Day we headed to Rapid City, SD, for their state convention. They were recognizing Terry for holding a SD funeral license for 25 years. Their spouse's day included a tour of the Landstrom's Black Hills gold factory, lunch, and a visit to a chocolate factory, so that was pretty good as well.

Choirs are over for the year and I have 3 days of preschool left. I'm ready to start summer with golfing, reading, and who knows what else.

We don't have lots planned yet -- will be going to Pagosa Springs, CO, July 11 - 18. Hope to have dinner with Rhonda and John on the 10th. We're going with Jon and Lynette who have a time share in Pagosa. Another card club couple will also be joining us. Hope to ride the train from Durango to Silverton (I think), take in a chuck wagon supper, and golf. Then we'll go to Fort Collins and spend some time in Estes Park. So it should be fun.

Terry had his yearly trip to Las Vegas for the funeral service golf outing the end of April. And leagues have started, but he hasn't gotten in as much as he would like. And I've only been out on our course once. I start my evening league this Wed. (Carin is going to golf some of the times) and the morning league on the 27th. Think Terry is meeting Eldie in Hampton Tuesday for a tournament.

Henry and Cora are growing so fast. They turn 5 and 2 the end on June, which is hard to believe. Henry is excited about school and 3 recesses. Cora is saying more words every day and starting to use 3 - 4 word sentences. Anything Henry can do, she can do also.

We did get a new Town and Country van this spring and are enjoying it -- Terry bro't it home on a Thursday and we bought it on Sat. -- I didn't even have to go on a car lot! We went for their 3 year 0% interest payments. Terry thinks that since Chrysler Financial "went under" we won't have to pay for the van! I'm not sure it works that way, but I bet we will find out!

Hope your spring has been great and you're looking forward to some fun experiences this summer. Take care everyone. Love you all.....Aunt Sue

Easter sugar - yummy !!!

We just got home from a delicious Easter dinner at mom's house (see, mom, you can do Easter on Saturday) and had a great time. Dan's folks and our family and Ed and Jane were there and we had lots of laughs. Cora ate way too many hershey's kisses - she was even sneaking them behind my back. Then because she's so cute and smiled at Bop-pa (grandpa Smith) he gave her more of his chocolate bunny. Can anybody say "sugar high"?

Today was quite a day for the kids. Henry's first soccer game was this morning which Grandma and Grandpa Eckhoff were here to see. He scored two goals - way to go Henry. However, as is the case with 4-year-olds playing, one of the goal points went to the other team because he couldn't remember which goal he was supposed to head for. And he was so proud of himself when the ball went in. He looked at me and yelled, "I did it mom!!" I had tears streaming down my face as myself and all the other parents around me laughed hysterically. Then we had an Easter egg hunt at the local park which he thoroughly enjoyed. The best part is the bunny that was running around with the kids was a gal from church we have babysit for us occasionally so she tormented Henry and chased him all over the park. It was great. Cora didn't recognize her of course, because she was dressed up as a bunny, so she was terrified of the bunny and cried through most of the egg hunt. Oh well !!

Welcome Sheila. It's so great to see almost everyone finally getting on board - it's only taken a little over a year. But it is fun to see what everyone has to say. When we were in DC and saw Ranae she mentioned she would really like to be on and just needs to have Todd walk her through registering. So maybe you could call her sometime, Todd, and get her going. It was wonderful to see her and John and their beautiful house and we really enjoyed getting to spend time with her.

Tomorrow we head to Ames for IFDA convention. Dan will pass over the gavel and become a past president. He's had a good year and enjoyed it, but I think he's ready to turn it over to someone new. But we will have a fun-filled week of meetings, dinners, receptions, more dinners, some lunches thrown in, a few more meetings and more dinners. So I'm taking my "fat" clothes along. :-)

Hope everyone has a great Easter and it's so much fun to read your posts. Love to all --- Carin

Wow, the blog is running full force...Yeah

Great to hear from everyone and that everybody is healthy or at least recovering and soon on the way to the golf course. I had not checked the blog for a week or two and all of a sudden there was news, post, and information from almost everyone, kind of like getting the actual written round robin, except it was up to date information. Too bad the weather sucks in Iowa, been very nice here in Phoenix. We are not looking forward to summer but enjoying every day under 90 that we have left.

Kerri and I are still working at our current jobs and things are well. I have had an extremely busy first quarter, maybe the best start to the year I have ever had. The juniors are way down, parents are saving money on the kids I guess, but my adults are extremely busy. I changed the way we charge for lessons a little over a year ago (shorter, cheaper lessons more like a gym membership) and it has paid off. I have been working a more than ever and am hearing stories of other Teaching Pros being very slow and leaving the business.

Kerri and I (and Todd) will be moving in the next 30 -45 days. We have an offer on a house in the SW valley and hopefully will be moving in to a new house in mid May. We should find out in the next couple of days...maybe even tomorrow. Hopefully things will work out in our favor and we will be moving into a house with a pool (Kerri's only requirement for the new house). I will try to keep the GFRR up to date.

It is great to see lots of activity on the GFRR and hopefully if we continue to use it will become a more of a daily or weekly habit and entice the other cousins to join in.

Smitty

Mom and her dearly departed thyroid

I will tell you all that Monica and I were able to be in Greene with Mom and Dad a couple days surrounding her surgery last week. The three of us went to eat after her surgery, and then she sent us home at 8PM. The next morning we called to check on her before heading to the hospital, and she told me that Monica and I should head home, get on the road, rather than come see her. Needless to say, we ignored her directive and visited her anyway. I told her I'm not sure where her bossy gene is located, but it obviously was not part of her thyroid!

It's almost scary to see how we are our parents, but it becomes very clear when spending down time with them, without children around. I came home and told Matt to take me as I am, because there is so much Peterson and Grush hard wired in me that there's no hope for change! (Only the good stuff, obviously...!)

Todd, the 100's don't sound so bad, as it still feels like January here. The robins have got to be wondering which one of their "robin elders" screwed up and came back in the middle of winter!!

Take care, all... Sheila

Spring???

Hello to all. I just wanted to make sure that those Arizona people knew that we in Iowa were lucky enough to have snow over the weekend. In Greene, we only had about 1" and it's all gone now, which is good. That way, the mole that is already working in our front yard can continue his pathways ( at least until the Uncle gets out his TRAPS).

Things are going well here--I spose most of you know that I was lucky enough to have my thyroid removed last Wednesday (what a way to spend April Fools)--home on Friday, no pain, no drain, low Calcium (Tums work great for that), and sutures to be removed this Friday. So, Life is Good.

Eldie is acting house husband, which I really appreciate--find that morning and afternoon naps are good things. He has followup appts in Mason City next week for knees, and Iowa City the week after for followup for his kidney---I am really glad that we are reasonably healthy, because all this doctoring does not fit into our schedule very well. We are anxious to start yard work, glad we waited until the snow was gone!!! Have a Happy Easter, each one of you--God's blessings continue to shower on you.

Catching Up

Greetings to one and all !!
Yes, I am behind in writing, but here it is!
First, welcome Sheila! It's really fun to read "anything" about our great Grush family.

Todd already brought you up-to-date on us, somewhat. We did return to Phoenix Feb. 26-Mar. 9 ---driving straight thro' in 24 hours each way. It seems bad at the time, but when you are at your destination you figure you have saved a hotel bill and about 12-15 hours. We did enjoy some great meals with the AZ "kids". Terry and I managed to golf 7 times in 8 days. We also looked at condos, etc. with our friends. I don't know that they have purchased anything, but it was fun to look.

This is a busy time at Preschool. We just finished up a Scholastic Book Fair that we run in our church -- sold over $1000 worth of books (we get to take out $400 worth of books as our incentive). Our "unannounced licensing visit" was Tuesday and we passed with flying colors -- his only comment was that we needed barrier masks so we could use our CPR skills. Tues., the 7th, is our night of conferences with our parents from 5:15 - 8: 45--we decided to go for one LONG night, instead of 2 shorter ones. Thurs., April 23 is our Registration Night for next fall -- so we are busy answering calls and getting forms all ready for new students. We are changing our schedule for next fall --- will go to 5 mornings a week. I've never worked Monday a.m.s in my whole career--so you can imagine how I am whining about that! But it may be the only way we will survive, so we have to try it.

Terry is busy at the funeral home -- retirement is looking better all the time. Convention is in Ames, April 13-16. Dan will finish his year as President and move to Past President. Terry also received an invitation from the SD association to come and be recognized for his 25 years of being licensed in that state May 12. He has had a license all these years, but hasn't actually conducted a lot of business in that state.

Carin and Dan returned last night from a trip to "George Washington" as Henry called it. They were able to spend time with Ranae and John and really enjoyed it. Carin also spent a day with her friend Heather and her new baby Katharine. So yes, we were in charge of "babysitting". I was the "mean" grandma and Henry couldn't wait for his "real mom" to get home! Funny how I didn't think that pushing friends around was an okay thing to do. However, the kids slept through the nights, which they don't usually do for Mom and Dad! I told Henry I really appreciated that.

We'll have Easter dinner here next Sat. night -- it's really hard for me to have an Easter egg hunt the night before Easter. I can do Christmas anytime, but it doesn't seem right for Easter. However, since we all need to head to Ames on Sunday afternoon, I guess we will adjust.

Hope that EVERYONE has a wonderful Easter and Spring. (As of tomorrow, we are supposed to have 10" of snow, but we're hoping that is wrong.)

Looking forward to hearing from everyone.

Love, A. Sue

P.S. the pictures weren't real flattering, Todd, but it does show that we played wii.