You Say It's Your Birthday

Today's theme song.

Ellie turns four on August 20. Audrey turns two on August 30. We had an early joint party for both of them. The cake was simple but the girls didn't care. Nothing better than kids and birthday cake.  

Home tonight. Our flight out of Lansing, Michigan, isn't until mid afternoon. We hear that there is a small but pleasant zoo in the state's capital city. More little person entertainment.

A Kansas Farm Birthday

My wife's youngest sister, Mary Lee, has cerebral palsy and is severely handicapped. She has not had an easy life. Still, her brothers and sisters watch out for her. She is precious and much loved. She turns 60 this month and it was time to do something special for her.

She lives in a group home in a small Kansas town, quite some distance west of KC. The family brought her to town this weekend for a celebration. The suburban town of Overland Park, Kansas, has a remarkable facility, the Deanna Rose Childrens' Farmstead. It distills the essence of Kansas' farming tradition for kids who now live with air conditioning, cars and video screens. Good venue for the occasion. Above, my wife, Carolyn, is in  turquoise. Clockwise from her, Dorothy Holst, Mary Lee, Mel Kruse and Ron Kruse. 

Each of the pix below has a short note after it. And, by the way, it hit 108 F / 42 C in St. Louis today, breaking a record for the date set in 1901. Time to pay more attention to Al Gore.             

Greetings, urbanites.

Your face here.

My new business.

Lay or bust? Sounds apocalyptic.

I thought that's what scotch is for.

Happy 98th, Elvira

My wife's mother, Elvira Kruse, will be 98 years old on Tuesday. It's the reason we come out here every Thanksgiving. She's rather frail physically but her mind is perfectly sharp. She remembers many things that her children do not.

Here she is surrounded by two of her grandchildren, my daughter Emily on the left and niece Tricia upper left, and great grandchildren too numerous to name. (And there are many others.) Only my Madeleine is out of sorts.              

Madeleine Monday

The other occupant of this house reminds me that I have not edited any pictures from Madeleine's second birthday party a week ago and it would be in my interest to do so. Being somewhat less dense than a post, I have responded. That's Grandma Horrocks from Houston in the third picture.

There are still more photos from the Lantern Festival, unless everyone is tired of them. Then there was the Festival of Nations the following weekend, the Japanese Festival this weekend and the art fair coming up. My right index finger is going to get a cramp. 
                       

Lil' Blue Eyes

I have no new local material. Maybe this weekend, but I have to spend some of it in the office to pay for vacation. It doesn't bother me, though, to post another picture of Ms. M. Those eyes are head turners.                      

Two

My favorite small person, Madeleine Horrocks, turned two yesterday. Her mom, our daughter Emily, has a birthday on Saturday so there's a party on Sunday. Grandma and Grandpa Horrocks are coming up from Houston.

This child is smart and happy. Being two, she delights in looking at pictures of herself in my album on Flickr on the computer. She became quite frightened of the candle in a cupcake but we will try again over the weekend.                    

Filler

Today's the big travel day. We won't get to our destination until tomorrow. The town is known for its salad.

So if I have absolutely nothing else to post there are always pictures of Madeleine. These are from last week's parties. Top, flipping up and down with dad and a friend (she thought it was quite amusing). Bottom, with Uncle Andy, who, to my great regret, is wearing a Chicago Cubs hat. Otherwise a good young man.

If I get a post up Tuesday it may not be until the afternoon my time.                                      

One

Guess who's one year old today? My precious granddaughter, Madeleine, that's who. My son Andy, who knows all about such things, put together this video slide show of my photos documenting her first ride around the sun on this planet.

I may skip a couple of days in the near term, depending on how things go. There are parties, people are coming in from out of town, work has been hell on wheels and Mrs. C and I are trying to prepare for our first extended trip outta here in a while (and I can't wait). If I have to go off the air things will resume next Wednesday, maybe late Tuesday, when we get to our destination. It's going to be very nice.                

Soaked

There are lots more cake pictures around and we'll get back to that. But it's pouring so I thought I'd post this, shot a few days ago. Gloomy. Look closely at the sign. Do the authorities really want people to explore St. Louis today?

PS: there is an occasion today that calls for a theme song.

PPS: okay, I openly admit that I, um, appropriated the following from a Facebook post by Virginia. However, whether single, married or in a relationship, photographers may find it fall out of your chair funny. I did. And non-photographers probably won't get it at all. 

                                

Zero To Ninty Five

My wife's mother, Elvira Kruse, on her ninety fifth birthday yesterday, surrounded by her great grandchildren (or most of them). Madeleine is in her lap. The little one above and to the right with her hands in her face, Olivia, is actually three weeks younger. Elvira doesn't move around that well but she's completely sharp. You can see the clarity.

Below, son Andy points out the most important rug rat in the place, who is being held by sister in law Dorothy. I believe Madeleine would rather be doing something else.         

A Special Day

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Yesterday was the 90th birthday of my wife’s mother, Elvira. Her children organized a big party in the community center in Hanover, Kansas. About 100 people attended. I think that my mother-in-law was delighted but it disappointed her that there were so many people that she couldn’t greet all of them.

Elvira was not quite the oldest person at the party. At least one cousin was several months older. The young lady below, Mya, wasn't quite the youngest person but less than 1 is young enough. She and her twin sister Payge are the daughters of my niece. A friend of the family, Martha, was invited to entertain the guests with her accordion. She was great but why no polkas?

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TODAY: a 7 to 8 hour drives back to STL. Could run into some snow. I'll be able to resume posting comments when I get home.

TOMORROW: CDPB monthly theme day, if I get the silly picture finished.