Michael is an orthodontist !

We enjoyed a wonderful graduation dinner with Michael and Lea at St. Louis University. After 4 years of BYU, 4 years of dental school, and 2 and a half years of orthodontic training, he is ready to practice his profession!

A Happy Thanksgiving

A fall picture of Mike, Lea, Mazy, and Evey. They hosted our Thanksgiving meal this year in St. Louis. They will be moving to Colorado the middle of December as Michael will graduate from Orthodontic School and begin practicing in Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs, CO.


Evey is 8 months old now and crawls just about everywhere - even up the steps if she gets the chance:) She is already pulling herself up to the furniture and getting her balance! She is a happy baby, always returning your smile.

Mazy is trying out Grandma's ipad - given to all SPED teachers in the school district this year. Mazy knows all about using touch screens!! Her ankle is bandaged up after spraining it over the weekend.




Evey talking and reaching for the ipad, which Mazy then protects:)

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.

Labor Day Visit

It's always fun to visit Mike, Lea, Mazy, and Evey:) Michael barbecued a superb steak on his grill the first night and we brought in Pappy's ribs another night. Yum, Yum!
We also visited a butterfly house and an historic settlement. I saw cotton growing on a plant which I'd never seen before.















Grandpa and Mazy watching together.



The butterflies seemed to like Rob's red shirt!






Lots of fun, then back to school and work:)

Pres. Obama Visits GHS Aug. 17, 2011

President Obama made an impromptu visit to Galesburg High School Wednesday! He was on his way to the little village of Alpha, just north of here, and decided to stop his bus right here. He went to the football field and watched practice for about 20 minutes, then spoke with the coach and the team. He then visited and shook hands with a group of student athletes who just happened to be on the field getting their pictures taken. Some administrators and teachers heard the "rumor" when someone saw his bus pull in and made it to the field. I was one of the "too late" ones. I got as far as the sidewalk by the band door and a Secret Service man said, "Sorry m'am, you can't go any further." So a group of us waited just to see if his bus would pull out in our direction, but no, they took the rear exit, so all we got was a grand view of his big black bus (and a big red one that accompanied it.)
So, GHS is becoming a Democratic President magnet - first Pres. Clinton, now Pres. Obama :) Hey, he is the sitting president!

Michael & Brian - if you want to see a few teachers shaking his hand, go to galesburg.com for more pictures. I saw Mrs. Eisemann and Mr. Wolfe whom you would know.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

That song popped into my head today - guess I am recalling what a great summer I have had, but it is coming to an end as school begins on Monday. "I wish that summer could always be here!"

My last escape was to St. Louis last week to visit Mike, Lea, Mazy, and Evey. Mazy and I got to cool off in the apartment complex swimming pool one evening. Michael was busy going to school, work, and working on his research project. Lea is still recuperating from surgery. And Evey is sweet and happy and just learned to flip over:)






Yep, they're cute!

Cincinatti :)

I enjoyed a visit with Jim & Jolene - also got to see Lyndsay and Jill! It was just as hot there as it has been in Illinois and everywhere else. But we escaped the heat, mostly by SHOPPING, always fun because there are so many malls!

We went down to the riverfront on a Friday night, the one time we ventured out in the heat. There was a bluegrass band playing that we enjoyed. Cincinnati is really a nice little "big" city, clean, with lots of activities.

Holy Smoke - I never realized how much we look alike!

We met up with Lyndsay on Saturday who joined us for some shopping, then home for Chinese take-out. All is well with her, her job, and I met her dog who came along to visit.

Jill was out of town for a wedding, but met us for lunch on Monday. Jim, Jo, and I had been shopping at a neat resale shop where we found some great bargains:) Jill continues to travel quite a bit for her job with Chiquita.

Thanks Jim & Jo for a fun and relaxing vacation!

Florida Vacation

We took a "plan as you go" vacation over the 4th of July to Dunedin, Fl. - just went to the beach, cruised around, went to one restaurant, and drove over to Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral for one day. We stayed in a remodeled double wide coach (we used to call them trailers) at a retirement community. It felt good to have no schedule to stick to:) Here are a few pics - we didn't take many since I don't like to take the camera to the sandy beach!


We saw the Carnival Legend leave from Tampa Bay.


We had dinner with Shirley at the Columbia Restaurant - great food and......


A flamenco dancer show:) They were very energetic and fun to watch!

On July 4th we went to the Tampa Museum of Science & Industry, expecting it to be really cool like Chicago's. It was disappointing, but had a few good exhibits.


I am on a bicycle pedaling on a wire suspended above the first floor. I got nervous and didn't pedal very far before returning!


Rob is feeling the wind force of a hurricane. There was a better one when we entered the museum where we both went in to feel the hurricane force winds.



This is the ship we viewed fireworks from on the night of July 4th. We were only a few hundred yards from where they shot them off in Tampa Bay.

We had some rain from time to time, but only one full day when it poured!


We had a great view for the fireworks near the front of the ship. We only had to lift our eyes up to see them instead of craning your neck for 15 minutes!

Well, the ocean was warm, the swimming pool was great, and we got a needed rest from the hectic everyday work week.
Back to reality now:)

St. Louis McEwans

On my way home from Utah I had a short visit with Michael, Lea, Mazy, and Evey.

Mazy took a ride up the sidewalk with me while Lea, Evey, and Grandma Jan went to an appointment. Mazy liked to wear her helmet even when she wasn't riding:)






Evey is growing fast! She is just about sleeping through the night - a welcome event for Mom & Dad:)

Michael & family have exciting news - they have decided to accept an orthodontic opportunity in Colorado after Michael graduates in December! Now we'll have a new state to visit:)

Summertime Visit to Utah :)

We went to a water conservation park/demonstration where Brian got some info on sprinkler systems and we walked around looking at pretty flowering plants. Megan was getting ideas for perennials in the future. This band provided some music Claire was enjoying.

Claire got her face painted and a butterfly balloon. Grandpa spent some time talking and listening at the KSL booth where they were broadcasting. After all these years, he still listens to KSL even in Illinois!

On Father's Day, since Brian & Megan have church in the afternoon, we drove up to Salt Lake City in the morning to go to the live broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It is really something to hear and is still in the "old" Tabernacle.

We were up in the balcony where Lloyd D. Newell was doing his broadcast with the teleprompter.

The program was a father's day tribute. The best number I thought was "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof. They ended with "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."

This little guy is adorable!

Taking a walk with Jack and Claire - they rarely get tired!

Here we are at the church's picnic area. Claire is wearing her princess dress.

We visited the Children's Museum - lots of fun for kids - you get to touch everything!


Jack and Claire loved climbing on this frog:)



Claire in the boat's driver's seat with Grandpa!


Grandpa and Jack playing at the Children's Museum:)


The new pool was great entertainment for Claire and Jack in the afternoon. In the background you can see part of the sprinkler system - Brian has worked hard to get it functioning. Rob was able to help him with some of the repairs.

The family together for Sunday dinner.

Our nieces, nephew, and granddaughter: Christiana, Shannon, Darren, and Claire. Christiana and Darren were in Provo for "Especially for Youth."

Whenever I visit Utah I go to see Diana Boyle, the missionary who taught me the discussions that led to my becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We're friends forever:)

Wow, this was a fun visit!

Ok, what follows is my attempt to embed some videos from YouTube. Hope it works!

Video of Mazy at "Little Gym"

Evey's Blessing

Evey was blessed by her Daddy in St. Louis on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Both Grandpa Sargent and Grandpa McEwan were in the Priesthood circle.



A beautiful baby girl and a beautiful blessing by Michael


These were booties crocheted by a friend of Lea's Mom. Mazy had worn them too for her blessing.


We were also celebrating Lea's birthday (May 6th) and Mazy's second birthday May 9th.) Mazy got this cool tricycle from her parents.



Equipped with storage area for all those sticks!



Mazy with both Grandpas :)

We're counting our many blessings!