Getting ready for Africa!!

This weekend is designated as "getting ready for Africa" weekend! Wayne has been making mental checklists and now we are physically getting things done. He's done a great job getting items donated for the mission sites he'll visit (like lap-top computers for the seminary and medical supplies for the hospital). Of course all of this will need to be packed in his luggage. He started his anti-malaria medicine and of course has had all the required shots.

He'll fly out of Sioux Falls on the 18th at 2:45 pm. with connections in Chicago and then landing in Zurich, Switzerland. They'll stay overnight and fly into Cameroon the next day. While there he will be visiting/teaching at the seminary, visiting a hospital and medical center, a game preserve, attending the installation of the Bishop, and spending time with our church missionaries. He has enough memory for the camera to take almost 3000 photos and a journal to keep track of his days. :)

Happy Birthday Grandma Irene!

We enjoyed a nice Sunday afternoon celebrating with family in Aberdeen. Grandma Irene is 91 years old! She had a big party last year, but a more intimate gathering this year. She is doing pretty well, but will go into the hospital tomorrow (Monday) to have a surgical procedure on her leg. Enjoy a few pictures!

Mmmmmm..... cake! Landon and Riley are ready for a piece!

Wesley is looking at pictures of his adorable cousin Aubrey!
Great-great Grandma Irene, Great Grandma Jensen, Grandma De, Ashley and Wesley.

Flowers, Friends, Fun, Food and FAMILY!

What a fabulous weekend! My surprise birthday weekend has been terrific. We had a nice dinner on Friday evening, good friends here for supper and dominoes. When Lisa, Travis and Aubrey showed up we all had birthday cake and enjoyed visiting. Then Eric called to wish me a happy birthday....he heard through cyberspace that there was a party going on!

Saturday and Sunday we had some good food, played more dominoes (Lisa is the Domino Queen!), played with Aubrey and went to church. Wayne preached a great sermon, reminding us that we are all part of the priesthood of all believers. Thanks be to God for the saints who have gone before us and for the promise of eternal life where we'll be reunited!!

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes via phone, Facebook, email and of course snail mail. Here's a few pics.

SURPRISE!!

So there we were, enjoying Friday night fun with our friends Gary, Vivian, Sam and Mary. We had eaten a nice supper and were playing a rousing game of dominoes when the door bell rang. Guess who........ Travis, Lisa and Aubrey!! It turns out that everyone was in on the surprise and the little Gallipo family came to help me celebrate my birthday. What a great gift!! I can hardly believe that Wayne kept it a secret (that's a hard thing for him!) and I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend. Yes! they are staying until Sunday afternoon :)

Just for Fun

When I was posting vacation photos a while back, I mentioned all the mushrooms, berries and ferns we enjoyed while hiking. Here's a few examples. Photography by Wayne.

Highlight of the week.

It was a busy work week for both of us. Then on Friday Wayne had an all day meeting in Sioux Falls....so....we took advantage of the trip and visited the little Gallipo family again! They are so gracious to welcome us to their home and share their daughter!!

Aubrey showed us a couple of new faces and entertained us with her play. We had a girls lunch out - Aubrey, Lisa and me. Mostly we just played. We woke up this morning to a light covering of snow on the ground. brrrrr. Now we're back in Watertown and headed out to a pig roast soon. That's it for now. Hope you are all warm and healthy.

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Reading. Yes, she can read upside down.
Playing with her baby. Cute new jammies, huh?
Look out! Here I come!

Its October!!

Well, I guess we have to give in. Fall is here. Temps have dropped and leaves are turning. Oh well, its the season for pumpkin pie!!

Seems like we've been busy, but nothing too fun to post about...with the exception of our latest Aubrey sitting trip to Sioux Falls!! Had a great time with one year old Aubrey who enjoyed showing us lots of new cute expressions and tricks. One of the funniest things is when she gets a power surge shortly before bedtime. She didn't stop moving for 45 minutes and then crashed and fell asleep in 2 minutes!! Unfortunately the camera battery went dead after two pictures.

Last night we enjoyed a concert by Peter Mayer. Folk, acoustic guitar playing, singer songwriter. Good stuff -- amazing guitar playing. He played in a small theater at the convention center and was part of the Friends of Acoustic and Blues series we enjoy here in Watertown.

Today we'll enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon before starting another busy week.

What are you looking at?
Sitting with Grandpa. Her shirt says "Grandma's Angel"