Had a Good Week

I love Fall when the weather is just right. Hopefully we have a lot more just-right-days before Winter comes.

This week started with a dinner in the city with all of our kids. Of course the grandkids were the stars of the night. Wednesday night, David took me out to supper and we went to Home Depot for a new ladder and mailbox. It was nice to get out. On Thursday, mom came to visit and we played Scrabble. Christy invited us to supper that evening. Mom came out again today to bring me her mail she needed some help understanding. Sunday, we are going to the annual family reunion put on by Dad Long's cousin on Grandma Long's side...George Lloyd. Dad & Loree & Aunt Ruth are going with us. Don & Norma are taking Aunt Carol.

Well, not much else going on here. What's new with all of you?

The Vacation was Great!

Our vacation consisted of Saturday at Jeff & Marianne's so David could go to Harley Davidson and take a tour of the place during their open house. We went home to sleep and then Sunday we left early for St. Louis. We spent the day reminising & going to the places we lived and worked while living there. Then we decided to go see our friend's, Joanne & Bob Owen, in Illinois. We had a good time visiting with them and spent the night there. We all went out to breakfast and then went to St. Elmo to drive around and see Bob's old stomping grounds. Bob has Alzheimer's but he seemed ok to us yet. Joanne is still having trouble with her speech. She had a stroke about a year or so ago. After the tour of St. Elmo, we headed for Washington, MO to pick up Mom at Aunt Barb's place. Gladys Wasinger and Mom were the only sister's left. Gladys W. is staying til the end of the week. After visiting awhile, we packed Mom up and headed home. Jen called and asked us to cut down on Hwy 13 and go out to supper with them. We went to Minetti's Italian Restaurant and had a very tasty meal and enjoyed the visit with them and Decovin. We got home around 10 p.m. The weather cooperated. However, we did run into a little rain between Warrensburg and home. Not bad though.

Anybody else having a vacation this summer?

We are taking a 3 day Vacation!

Tomorrow, we are going to Jeff & Marianne's. I will stay with the girls while David & Jeff go to Marianne's company (Harley Davidson) tour of their factory. Christy hasn't decided whether she will go with the guys or stay with me and the girls.

Sunday, we will head for St. Louis to drive around and sight-see for the day. Then on Monday, we will head for Washington, MO to pick up Mom from her sister's house. The 5 sisters and their friend, who was just like a sister, had their annual reunion. They have had a good time. Most of them are leaving on Saturday.

The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so have a good weekend & week...

Busy Weekend

Today is beautiful weatherwise. It rained last night as it did the night before. Tonight we will be attending a "Celebration of Life" potluck supper for our friend, Grady Elder. He didn't want a funeral and donated his body to science. His wife, Linda, is carrying out his wishes. We don't plan on staying very long.

Tomorrow, we are taking my mom to Washington, MO near St. Louis to her sister's reunion. We hope to visit with the Aunts for a couple of hours and then head back stopping at Jen & Bob's for the night. David took Monday off as a holiday. Pray for a safe trip for us.

Happy Birthday to Norma & Don Long

Christy had a supper party for Norma & Don's birthdays that will be this week. She had pulled pork, chips, & a brocolli slaw salad. Linda & Eddie brought a potatoe casserole & deviled eggs, Janette & Danny brought a sugarless fruit with sugarless pudding on it. Grandma Camden brought yellow watermelon, & we brought vegetables and red watermelon. Norma & Don brought a lemon and a cherry pie. We had a feast. Christy had us come over tonight to help eat leftovers. Good stuff!

David got the yard mowed tonight. He gets ansy whenever it gets very high. It has rained the last couple of days so he wanted to do it tonight before it rains again.

I finished reading the latest and last Harry Potter book. It wasn't as sad as I was preparing for it to be. It did have a few sad moments but nothing super sad, thank heavens. I wonder if the lady who wrote these will possible make another book about all the character's children?

MY RETIREMENT PARTY WAS FUN.

I was given a retirement party on Friday by my boss, Russ Claar and fellow worker, Becky Brintnall. About 20 people came and we had cake, punch, nuts & mints. It was great. I didn't think they would have so much. They put an ad in the paper and everything. I turned 60 yesterday and had lots of phone calls and cards. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

I Did It!

Well, I really did it. I retired Friday from working. My boss, Russ, had a basket of flowers delivered to me. That was the first lump in my throat. Then I proceeded to pack up all of my personal things out of my desk, on top of my shelves, and all the pictures I had on my bulletin board. It looked bare. That was the second lump. Then after I shut down the computers, turned off the AC, closed the curtains, shut off the fans, turned out the lights and went to lock the door for the last time, I got a third lump. THEN, I realized I didn't have the key to the office and couldn't lock it. I had changed keys and cars with David so he could go pick up Uncle Richard and Aunt Yamu from Jeff's (he had picked them up earlier at the airport). I went back in the office and called Russ who said to go ahead and go home and he would come in and lock it. I was mortified! I have a few more things to go back for so I will give him my key then. lol

We had a couple of family reunions on Saturday. Christy Jeff & Jenny hosted a birthday party to honor everyone having one. David's mom's brother's have come back to Kansas for a reunion. All of my sister's came also. It was a fun day. All of David's mom's family stayed over the week end and are getting together one last time in Ottawa before John & Judy, Kathy & Wayne leave for Cheyenne, WY. Uncle Richard & Aunt Yamu will fly back to their daughter's home in South Carolina before returning to India. Uncle Ross & Aunt Jeanne will be going back to Colorado.

We've had a good time visiting. I will be 60 on August 13 so I was given some funny gifts and cards. David got some also. Thank you to our kids and families for coming and enjoying the party.

2 Movies in 2 Days!

I haven't been to a movie theater to see a movie for over a year and here, at the end of my vacation, I go to two...two days in a row. Wow!

Thursday, Christy took me to the city for my second 6 month mammogram check-up. I have felt a very small pin head size lump in my right breast so they took a mammogram of it also, as well as a sonagram, but neither one showed anything so I just have to keep track of it to make sure it doesn't start getting bigger. The left breast that had the cancer in it is doing ok so the report for the day was a good one.

Christy took me to a new restaurant on 135 just a little ways west of Sam's called Trolleys Grill. Really nice, delicious food at very reasonable prices. Then she took me to see the latest Harry Potter movie. The visual effects are something else. After that we went to the COSCO store and she signed up for a card (David will get her extra card). We shopped a while and then we went out for supper at C.C's Grill (across from Sonic on 151st) It was delicious as well. A bit more pricey however but very good. It was a fun day.

Friday, Phyllis Long, our cousin, took me to my dentist appointment and after that we decided we would go to the Target store at 151st street but for some reason we thought it was on 135th. Since we were there, I decided to take Phyllis to Trolleys Grill and try another dish to see if it was just as good as the day before...and it was! Then we decided on a spur of the moment to go to the movie theater at the Palazzo there on 135th and see "Hairspray" that was premiering that day. After that we went to Target and then home. It was another fun day!

I am really almost out of the mood to go back to work. The thought of having to get up early Monday morning is being pushed to the back of my mind. lol But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel now...Friday will be the my last day. I will miss my job because of all the people, my boss, my co-worker, the girls in the Mound City office and all of the different underwriters, adjustors and people in our Manhattan office and a few in Iowa who have helped me over my 9 1/3 years at Farm Bureau. Oh and did I say I'll really miss my paycheck?

What vacation?

Well, one week of my vacation has gone by and I haven't done anything memorable. However, I did have fun watching Decovin. He was here Wednesday and Thursday. He is talking more now and understands what you say except when you say no to pushing the TV button on & off. He still knows that when he distracts Grandma, he can run like the wind to my rocking chair and get to the controllers and my cell phone. I came in once and he had climbed over to the table and was sitting there talking on my cell phone (You have to unlock it to make it work). His eyes just twinkle when he gets caught. Typical boy!

My second week should be a little more interesting. Tuesday night is Dinner Theatre night and we are going to see "OKLAHOMA". Thursday is my 1 year mammogram. (fun, fun) and Friday, I get my teeth cleaned! Wow, don't know if I can stand the excitement. I go back to work for a week and my boss has postponed my open house until the 8th which is the day he pays us. It will be my last paycheck. Ho Hum.

I have a two sided water doodle that the kids can draw or write on with the water pen. They love it.

ALL IS WELL...KIND OF

This was all of us on the 4th of July except for David because he was taking the picture. Christy and Bob are in the background.

The flood waters have been receding and now it is the smell that is nasty. There are still a few areas with water standing but the roads have been repaired so we no longer have road blocks. The people whose homes were ruined with flood water are beginning the job of clean-up. Our prayers are with all of them.

My boss called me tonight and said I should take my vacation for the next 2 weeks and then asked if I would mind working the whole week when I come back. Then he said they were going to have a get together for people who want to come and say good-bye to me and then I will be retired. Wow, the time went by fast once I decided to actually do it! I couldn't believe it. Kind of sad and glad all at the same time.

I go for another mammogram next Thursday. It is my second six-month check up since they found I had cancer. Can't believe that a year has passed so quickly either. Wish me luck. A few prayers would be nice too. Thanks.

RAIN, RAIN, & MORE RAIN!

We are waterlogged here. The middle creek is out and just now Uncle Don came by for coffee and said the river was out. So we are blocked in from the east and the west now. David said the road that goes north is in bad shape so we just haven't made any plans to go anywhere. Our neighbors that live on the lake behind us, can't get to their house because the dam they have to drive over has broken. David said that if the other dam breaks too, the lake may drain.

It is supposed to clear up today. Hope so. If not, we may not be going to church tomorrow. Well, hope the sun is shining on you.

VISIT WITH THE LONG'S

We went to Jeff & Marianne's on Sunday afternoon. Marianne was out to a movie with a girlfriend from work. The girls and Jeff were happy to see us. McKendra took a nap and I colored with Katrina in her BIG coloring book. She would help me now and then. David and Jeff visited and checked out Jeff's wooden swingset project for the girls. It is like ours but bigger! I played with Katrina & McKendra when she woke up. McKendra has learned to walk behind her walking toy. Marianne called later and we all went to meet her and her friend (sorry, can't remember her name) at BRAVO's Restaurant. Her friend reminded me of someone but I couldn't remember who until the next day. It was a co-worker who used to work in the Mound City Office. She just happened to call that next day and it was like, "click", the light bulb went on. We had a leisurely meal and left for home from there. Hope everyone has a good week.

HERE HE COMES AGAIN!

Decovin & Jen came to visit us two weekends in a row. D is growing up so fast and he is fast for sure. He just literally runs everywhere these days. Jen found us a neat baby gate that has a door in it which makes it nice not to have to take out the whole gate and put it up again everytime the adults want to leave the room. We put it in the kitchen doorway to the laundry room so he can go most everywhere now. We do keep the doors down the hall shut though. He's a cutie & he knows it especially when he is getting scolded. It is hard to do when he is smiling at you or gives you a kiss when you pick him up. He jabbers up a storm quite often & looks like he is telling you something important. We even hear him talking to himself while he's playing by himself. He is such a joy and we love having him around.

David is still working overtime now and then. Unfortunately, he found that our basement walls are pushing in again. We are going to have to have reinforced walls poured around 2 or 3 sides. We don't know for sure when our contractor can do it yet. We will most likely put a deck on the front side of the house when that is done.

I have been enjoying my four day weekends. We would like to take a vacation somewhere. Just haven't had any free time yet. In August I will be finished working and then we can go anytime.

Not much going on here so will write more later.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

We started the day by going to church. We went to Mimi's Cafe at 69 hywy & 135th Street at 3:00 and met with all our kids & Bob Plummer's family for a meal together. It was fun visiting with Pam & Jim and their girls & son-in-law. They got a kick out of seeing Decovin of course. Jeff's girls are getting big also. Katrina was so proud to show Grandpa the card that she had drawn a picture in it of him. Christy gave David a HUGE remote control and set it up for the tv and satellite. She also gave him a music card that plays "You Can't Touch This!" Jen was here last week end and put her name in a drawing for her dad at the grocery in town. Her name was drawn and she got a $30 gift certificate for meat for David.

We found out this week, as some of you may already know, that Jen is pregnant again and is due the first week in February. Bob's married sister is pregnant also and due shortly after-correction-before Jen's date. The more, the merrier.

We hope that all of you fathers had a great day today.

Family Far & Near

Visited with a cousin we hadn't met until Friday night. Ricky Martin lives in Hawaii and is my mother's sister's son. It was so much fun visiting with him. He has a good personality and was so interested in knowing all of us too. Hope he comes back again.

Jen & Decovin came for the weekend. Decovin is such a joy to be around. He is getting to be quite a character and makes you smile a lot. He has such a cheery disposition. They will be back next weekend for Jen's 10 year school reunion.

A DR. IS NOW IN THE FAMILY!

CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA! We enjoyed the overnight in the hotel and watching you get hooded as a Dr. We wish you much happiness and success.

2007 Camden Family Reunion

We had approximately 43 people come & go during the picnic.

Saturday was a beautiful day for a picnic. Breezy enough to keep the bugs away and kept us all from sweating to death. It was lots of fun seeing family we haven't seen in years. Still not sure of some & who was who or whom. Uncle Vern & Uncle chuck provided the brats and hot dogs. Everybody brought something and it was a delicious meal. Then we traveled about 8 miles from the picnic spot where we had the barbeque to the place where my dad & his sisters and brothers lived for a time in their lives when it wasn't a park. We couldn't do the bar-be-que there because there was a no fire rule there. David, my Mom & I made the trip up and back in one day. Plus stopped in K.C. to get some things at Sears & Sam's. We ate at MIMI'S before coming home. It was a fun day. A big thank you to Uncle Vern and Uncle Chuck for the Brats and dogs.

P.S. This is David and my 41st anniversary today.

Mother's Day was FUN!

Having a meal at a Japanese Sushi/Steakhouse bar is always fun. This is all of us except Judy who unfortunately was in the lady's room at the time. The waiter took the picture for us. Thank you to my kiddos for all the cards and thank you Jeff & Marianne for Grandma's and our meal. Delicious!

Love you Lots!

GUESS WHAT SUNDAY, MAY 13TH IS?

LOVE TO ALL AND HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!

It is so soggy around here that it is enough already!!! The satellite keeps going off and on so no TV. David got called in to work and says he doesn't know when he will get home. I have a PPR (Pastor Parish Relations) meeting at 5:00 at the LaCygne Church so that will be something to do. Mom called me 5 time this afternoon. I guess Juanita was with her daughter at church and afterwards for a dinner there. I went to church by myself. We were supposed to have our outdoor service and a picnic today but it was called off on account of rain. Actually, they did go to the Homrighausen's big barn to have their picnic after church. I didn't have anything with me for the picnic so I just came home.

I wonder what they will do if it rains out the family reunion? Yes Ruth, we are going. Mom isn't sure she wants to go though. The fact that the bathroom will be so far away is giving her some anxiety. I wonder what time they are having it...noon or two o'clock. I have heard both times. What do you hear Mel, Judy, Ruth?

We are going to the dinner theater Tuesday night. David's mom said it was hilarious. It has Jamie Farr in it and it is a mystery. Should be fun. Christy went to Jen's this weekend and is taking a couple of personal days off. She will meet us at the theater Tuesday night. Then the next week, on Thursday night, we are going to the Zona Rosa Comedy Club up by Jeff to see a commedian we have seen on TV before and really liked.

Mandy's graduation will be on the 26th which we are going to go to Des Moines to see her get her diploma. Wow...she is Dr. Camden now. Or are you going to be Dr. Mandy or Dr. Amanda? What are we to call you kiddo?

Well, gotta go to the meeting. Bye now.