Here's Some Misc. August "Stuff"

Peter & Kaija came over for dinner last night and we got caught up on what's been going on. They've been entertaining out of town (meaning out of the country) guests for the past 2 months, so we haven't seen much of them lately. They've had several different families staying with them over the 2 month period and have been very busy traveling and sight seeing.

Kaija is a couple of weeks into radiation therapy and slowly getting back to running. Her hair is growing back and she looks great! Although I don't know what Peter was doing in this picture, he really was awake and visiting with everyone.

Kaija baked this HUGE fabulous blueberry cheescake. It was so big we decided to ask our other neighbors Tony & Philippa to join us. They came over for cake & coffee and we all enjoyed the evening.

Of course Bentley was so excited to visit his favorite girlfriend. Their baby Logan slept the whole time so I was not able to cuddle with the little guy. I took a picture of him without the flash so I wouldn't wake him but it turned out too dark so I'm not able to post it.

Here's Codi being cute as ever sleeping with some of her favorite toys. Every day she pulls toys from her basket and surrounds herself with them. It doesn't matter how many times we put them away, they are always on the floor from Codi pulling them out over and over again.

I was taking some pictures of her and she just woke up and I was able to snap this photo.

Here are the latest and greatest card creations from my monthly class. We learned more masking and coloring techniques.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT BURGER KING!!!!!

This is a gourmet hamburger that Hank made for himself last week. He said it was really yummy!!!

My Latest Card Designs and Codi's Weekly Event

Here are the latest cards I made at my monthly "technique" class. The leaves on this first card are heat embossed, which I just learned how to do. The oriental lady was made with a punch, which I do not have, but I can wing it by cutting it out by hand. The green background was made from the Big Shot with a dry embossing template which I also do not have. So some of these great cards I am making I cannot reproduce at home because I don't have the proper tools to make them... but they sure are fun making in class.

This card was also created with a Big Shot dry embossing template. The Big Shot is on my Christmas list!!!!

I just love this card; the first masculine card we've made. It's heat embossed, colored in with pens, and I learned how to mask (which is where the sun meets the yellow & orange background). Although it looked complicated to me at first, this is so easy to make and something I can do without a lot of special items. I was so excited I just went out and bought the heat tool for embossing.

Codi is really slowing down these days, but she loves her walks and bringing in the Sunday newspaper every week. This was Codi last Sunday but before she brought in the paper you can see she had to stop to check out Stanley (the cat across the street) and when she was ready, she brought in the paper and got her treats.


This is Codi's favorite bear that squeaks that she's had for many years. I can put her toys on her and she walks around with them on her back... too cute. Although she cannot hear the squeaky any more because she is deaf, she still knows where it is and still squeaks it. We guess that she can feel the vibration. She is just so cute and patient with Mommy!!!

Babies Logan & Sofia Have Arrived

The past couple of years sure has been the time for baby blessings. The latest 2 babies to join us are Logan and Sofia.

Logan James Hunt was born on July 14, 2009 at 11:54 am at 7 pounds and 19 1/2" long. The proud parents are our neighbors, Tony & Philippa Hunt. As soon as we saw little Logan, Hank & I both said he looks just like Tony. He'll be a race car driver just like his Daddy.

Check out this adorable baby announcement that the Hunt's received as a gift from a friend. They've had it on their front lawn for the past 10 days. Apparently you can rent these customized signs... how cute is that!!!!

Logan has quite the personality.

This is Sofia Giuliana Russo, born to Tom & Marisa Russo. Marisa is Jessica's cousin.

She was born on July 23, 2009 at 8:32 am, 7lbs 11oz, 21". We have been told she has Marisa's nose.

We welcome these two precious babies into our world.

American Century Golf Celebrity Championship - July 2009

This was our 4th year as volunteers for the Celebrity golf tournament. Hank's job as walking scorer and my job as standard bearer are the best jobs you can have. We get to walk the course side by side with the celeb's. Most of them are very nice people and we have a great time. Hank records the scores of each player and I carry the sign with their scores.

Here we are at the tee box on hole 14 working as Marshall's on Thursday. Not such a fun gig, but it's not too bad Marshaling on the tee box because you get to see everyone come through.

We ran into Emmit Smith (we had him last year) at the scoring tent, so I snapped a picture.
These are our good friends Norm & Pat Zimmerman, aka "VIP's", they practically run the whole darn tournament!!! They've been working the event for the past 20 years and are very experienced. Norm is my boss; he's the manager of the walking scorers. Pat is the manager of the hole reporters. They are the ones that originally asked if we wanted to be volunteers and got us our great jobs. Thanks Norm & Pat!!!

OK, here's Jim McMahon, AKA one of the biggest jerks on earth who thinks his you know what doesn't stink. He always dresses like this and plays with NO shoes... what's that all about?!?!? He looks like a pimp for God's sake!!!

You never see the guy without a drink in his hand... no wonder he plays like crap!

This was Friday, our 2nd day of work. Here's Hank in side the scoring tent with Dan Quinn (former NHL), Billy Joe Tolliver (former NFL quarter back), and Joe Theismann (former NFL all pro quarter back). These guys were all really nice and very serious golfers. Dan and Billy Joe were always on the leader board.

Here I am with Joe Theismann

Billy Joe Tolliver

This was Saturday and the only picture I got of all the guys together. Marcus Allen (hall of fame NFL running back), Jason Kidd (NBA all star), and you can barely see John Lynch (former NFL all pro-safety). Jason & John were really nice but I can't say that about Marcus.

Hank in the scoring tent with the group.

This is Jason Kidd on the 18th green.

John Lynch & Marcus Allen leaving the scoring tent.

18th green... one of the party holes

John Lynch & Hank

Teeing off on the 1st tee

On Saturday night they give the volunteers a party. They have a buffet dinner, sodas/beer/wine, and lots of prizes. We won two shirts, 2 bottles of wine, a hat, and some chotchkie's. We wanted the golf bag, golf clubs, or the 2 tee times at Edgewood... but we were not lucky enough this year.

Some of the 320 volunteers

These are pictures from Sunday and we had the BEST group... these guys were really nice.

Paul O'Neill (former MLB all star), Mike Shanahan (former NFL head coach; we had him 2 years ago), and Todd Heap (NFL all pro tight end).

Scoring tent

Hank & Todd going to the scoring tent

Hank, Todd & Kathy (Todd is REALLY tall... or maybe we're just really short)

Paul O'Neill

Todd & Mike

So here's Ray Ramano up close and personal... but not with us!!! We've been wanting to get Ray for the past 4 years, but we always miss his group by 1-3 tee times. As volunteers we earn free tickets to the event. This year we gave our tickets to our friends Hal & Debbie Martin. They befreinded Ray and hung out with him!! Here's just a couple pictures of Hal's family and Ray.

And last but not least... here is Charles Barkley with his crazy golf swing. Watch the video and he uses his "new" swing in the practice, but once he gets up to the ball it's back to his regular awkward swing. I guess all those golf lessons didn't help... LOL.

Our Youngest Grandson Took His First Steps!!

Joey is ready to walk!!! His 1st Birthday party is August 8th and I'm sure he'll be walking all over the place by then. Once he learns what he can do, there is no stopping him. Check out the video.

Building Our Side Gate

On the left side of our house is where our shed is located with all of our lawn equipment and other 'shed' stuff. BUT, the gate to the back yard is on the right side of the house. Therefore, every time we do yard work in the front yard or need something out of the shed, we have to walk all the way around the house then back to the front and of course all the way around again to put it back. We've been wanting to install a gate on the left side for over 3 years. But you know how busy us retired people are, so we're now just getting around to it... LOL.





















Here's the front fence view"before" the new gate.

... and this is the back fence view "before" the new gate.

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This is Stanley helping out. He's the kitty that lives across the street and he comes to visit us often. He's a very nice cat that frequents all the neighbors front yards.








We had to dig a big hole to cement in a new post for the gate.
We're leveling the post and getting ready to cement it in. Then we had to cut the post and install the supports.




We used as many of the old boards that we could.

This is the construction of the new gate.

The finished product... and it is so much easier to access our equipment. It was only a $40 project and well worth the few bucks that we spent. Next we will continue with a cement walkway from the side to the front porch. We'll get to that when the 100+ weather gets the hell out of here!!