Anyone out there?`

Greetings!
I've been procrastinating writing, but decided to and also to see if anyone is reading!

We've had a great summer. In June, I worked at Preschool making some plans and working on changes for fall.

In July, we flew to Phoenix -- yes, it is HOT in the summer there. It was a short 5 day trip--we golfed and looked at real estate. AND, ended up buying a 1300 sq. ft. patio home. We plan to rent it out during the winter for a few years. We are also planning to drive down the 1st of Oct. to take some of the "stuff" you need to furnish a home. I EVEN went to Wal-Mart to shop! Then we had a great 2 week trip to Pagosa Springs, CO and Rocky Mtn. Nat'l. Pk. with two other D.M. card club couples. Also had a fun visit with the Sobecki's and enjoyed a delicious meal at a German restaurant.

This month I hosted 4 other college friends for four days of R & R -- and we really know how to R & R. Then we just returned from Honey Creek Resort in SE Iowa where we spent 3 days with Jan & Bob and Jo & Eldie. We toured the area since it was raining, golfed one round, ate, and played cards -- it was a "wonderful" time.

It's almost time to go back to school and choirs for me -- I've really enjoyed the summer, but guess it is time to "get to work".

Hope to hear from some of you -- curious to know who checks this site !!!!

Love you all.

We have a new house!!

After months of wrestling with the bank, mortgage officer, and anyone else that wanted a piece of the action....we finally own a new house. We now live in the Southwest Valley and are extremely excited to move in, especially with a pool in the back yard.

We officially moved in last weekend, and it was a long experience that I would not want anyone to experience. Now that we are moved in, Todd is 20 minutes from work, I am 23 minutes and Kerri is just under 30. Todd has a much shorter commute but Kerri and I added about 5 - 7 minutes each.

We are very excited to go from a $2700 month mortgage to $800/month, we had to put $26k down, but have a 30 year fixed rate of 4.25%. I will have Todd post some pictures of the new house...2600 sq ft with a pool built in 2006. We are in a very diverse area (meaning we are in an Hispanic area and being white is most certainly the minority, but it is a cool experience). My new neighbor mentioned that a couple of the people on the block even speak English... It will really help my Spanish. I hope all is well and look forward to more post and information.

The Phoenix Smiths

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