Camp Stanhope

Well... WE MOVED!!! Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:13:00 +0000

We hired movers--and I'm glad we did! They brought their semi truck because it was what they recommended.

The shed in our new back yard. I think those are a couple of old-fashioned rose bushes to the right of that green bush along the wall of the shed.

We strong-armed our son to come and help us move.... he and his dad enjoying the first day of sunshine we'd seen all week---something I specifically asked for (no rain!!!!).

The new kitchen (picture from the real estate site) at the new house.

The "before" picture of only one room in the old house!

We only moved about 7 miles north of the old house.... but this one is MUCH easier to get around (versus the 2-story 1920 house we lived in for the past 23 years!).

Alex and Samantha (our kids) trying to figure out where to start unboxing!

Maybe Mondays don't end on Monday??? Wednesday, April 10th, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 21:08:00 +0000

Maxwell (grandson, 19 months old) at his house in Minnesota last week while we were there babysitting (while his parents went to London on vacation!).

Wyatt on Saturday enjoying the warmer temperatures at his house.

Bogie, trying to keep warm today because the furnace broke (again and again and again and again.....), and it's gotten much colder since last Saturday!!!

The old van John uses to get around when he's at the other end of the road needed work, too. Sunday when I got home the water heater was under water again because a drain in the basement backed up. What will happen next?

Miss Olivia's unicorn hat looks lovely with her art clothes at her preschool yesterday.

Mr. Wyatt at day care playing outside Monday.

Wyatt enjoying his lunch at day care the other day.

My brother's 60th birthday party!! March 31, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 18:00:00 +0000

This is our nephew, Joe, and his new daughter, Avery Jo.

That's Elysce (Adeline, Avery, Ava and Asher's mom) with Adeline (in high chair) and Ava and my mom across from her. That's my son-in-law, Marty, my hubby, John, and our daughter, Samantha at the table behind them.

Elycse and Avery Jo (at Mema's after the party).

This is our nephew, Ben (Joe's little brother) holding his new niece.

The 'birthday boy' holding his new granddaughter for the first time.

We are a little bit of a Cubs household so we had the party at the Iowa Cubs restaurant (Cub Club) yesterday. It was fun and the view was nice. There wasn't a game yet (opening day is April 9th!!), but it was still fun.

The view of the ball park from the Cub Club.

"Uncle Billy" (Audrey and Izaac's dad) with Wyatt.

From left: Adeline, Elycse, Bob holding Avery Jo, Joe, Ben and Kylie (Ben's wife).

From left around the table: Audrey, Amanda (Audrey and Izaac's mom), Michelle (Harper and Reed's mom), Harper, Billy, Reed and Izaac.

Grandpa John with Wyatt, who had just woken up from a nap.

Samantha (Wyatt's mom, our daughter), holding Miss Avery Jo, and Elycse with Adeline making sure Avery isn't crying.

"Aunt" Michelle (My sister, Shirley's youngest) with Wyatt.

Asher, Harper, Audrey and Shirley. Bob and Avery Jo in the background. I tried to get a shot of everybody in the blog, but think I missed Mema this time.

ANOTHER LAZY WINTER DAY! March 7, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 04:04:00 +0000

Well, this happened yesterday. That's my mom with her newest great-granddaughter, Avery Jo. She makes 13 great-grandchildren for my mom!

So, this is the standoff between our cat, Bogart, and the grand-dog, Stig. They had their moments off and on during the day when Bogie decided Stig was just annoying..... so Bogie chased him a couple of times, but didn't catch him.

This is how Stig entertains himself sometimes.... by putting his plastic ball into a cat cube and attempting to retrieve it.

Bogie and Watson relaxing after a chase session (they were chasing each other but only in a fun way).

Stig comes to get help when he gets stuck in the cubes. It doesn't deter him from trying it again, however.

A Wyatt weekend (last weekend). March 6, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 19:19:00 +0000

I got to spend some time with Wyatt just for fun last weekend (at his house)... and it WAS fun!

He's so silly sometimes. I think he was practicing his 'spring layout' for my photo book!

He's now 13 months old but not quite walking.

He stands with pretty good balance, but gets places faster by crawling.

We got him this small slide so he can have some fun inside in the winter weather we're still enjoying(?).

This is the firetruck my mom got him for Christmas and he LOVES the storage compartment. He's stashed a diaper, his sippy cup and his toys in it so far.

After the storm.... February 27, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:20:00 +0000

We live in the country, and our great neighbor, Alex, (who is a couple of years younger than our OWN Alex) came by in his green tractor with the scoop (is that the right word on a tractor??) and pushed the snow around so we could get in and out of the driveway/garage, etc., easier. I'm sure it made it nicer for the mailman, too!

We appreciate having neighbors like him!!! This is the front of the house after a few days of melting, but I'm not really sure how high it was on Sunday because I didn't venture out--and John didn't venture too far that day either!

This is looking west this afternoon. The drifts have gone down slightly, but it's still cold for the end of February, and snow is back in our forecast!

This is the same (almost) view from 2/24/2019. It was a pretty sunset, though! (That makes this the 'before' picture of the one just above it.)

The weather people got it right, unfortunately! February 24, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 19:29:00 +0000

(Above) The 'before' picture from yesterday looking east. (Click on each picture if you'd like to look at any of them a little bigger.)

The 'after' picture from this morning! Now it's blowing so much you can't see across our road to the field!

The 'before picture looking west yesterday (above).

This morning's view to the west, including some blowing snow.

That's a snow plow stuck at the north end of Stanhope. (Photo taken from Facebook from a resident in Stanhope.) It's been there a couple of hours already! The road through Stanhope is closed, as are a number of other roads in the state, including I-35 from Ames, (Iowa) north into Minnesota!

Pictures of our trip to the Grandkids' house... February 21, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:48:00 +0000

This is my favorite picture of Max from our weekend stay. He's eating the remnants of a cake we made to celebrate Olivia's 5th birthday.

This is the decorated cake for Olivia. She frosted and decorated it mostly by herself!

At brunch, Olivia was gifted with a Unicorn headband (it was metal). Max had to try it on for fun. That's his dad (and our son), Alex, beside him. (Brunch was delicious!)

Olivia and Max watching something on her tablet.

I think this is my favorite picture of Olivia smiling over the weekend (that I captured on the camera). She and Max BOTH like to do the 'cheese' smile.... but I don't always think they're the most attractive of smiles!

Pain and Snow!! February 7, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 20:53:00 +0000

No, Max (above at day care yesterday) does not cause me pain. I did not have any pictures from today's adventure in traveling to the pain clinic and back in this horrible weather we're having (again).

So, I'm using pictures of my adorable grandchildren to make the page more interesting. This is Max (now 17 months old!) having lunch at day care a couple of days ago.

This is Olivia (on the left) with a friend playing in the snow in Minnesota yesterday at day care/pre K school.

Olivia (who will be 5 on February 10th!) smiling for the camera at day care yesterday.

My friend only came back from a vacation overnight Monday and I bugged her yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to take me to Ames to get a shot (today) to relieve some of the excruciating pain I've been having with my herniated disks/spinal stenosis.

Wyatt (who turned a year old last week already!!!) in his new 'stander' helping Gramps (John) with cooking last Friday.

Of course my friend said she would take me-and she had heard the weather reports!

Wyatt at his birthday party--when we realized for sure he did not feel well.... he was not a happy camper!

Gramps holding Wyatt Tuesday after a nap while recovering from a very weird virus he was having. Stig (the dog) was not letting Gramps get by with only giving Wyatt attention....

Gramps and Wyatt reading a book.

I'm grateful for my friends (my friend's hubby ended up driving us due to the weather concerns) AND my grandchildren!

I'm also grateful for doctors who are compassionate, and for the people who cancelled their appointments for today so that I could have one of them.

Happy First Birthday Wyatt! January 30, 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:19:00 +0000

From this little 'peanut' size when you were born....

I just put this one in because it's one of my favorites of my mom holding her newest great-grandchild! (He was number 11, and another cousin, number 12, is due the first week of March!)

To this little human being a year later!

You have a smile that melts my heart.

Bath time if fun time!

This was last weekend, when you were recovering from a tummy thing.... but you were still smiling!

Random Pictures from our Christmas Party

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:13:00 +0000

All of our hand-knitted Christmas Stockings hanging from Samantha's (daughter) fireplace.

Max (16 months old, son of Alex/Allison) taking a test drive on Wyatt's new fire engine.

from left: Grandpa John, Wyatt (11 months old, son of Samantha/Marty), Max, Olivia and Samantha. (Allison is behind Olivia dealing with a tag in Olivia's "Frozen" leggings.)

Wyatt, Olivia (will be 5 on Feb. 10) and Max on New Year's Eve. (That's the weekend we celebrated Christmas.)

Grandpa John, Max and Alex sitting around the dining room table eating something delicious!

Wyatt, Olivia, Max and Allison on the morning 'after' gifts! We were all tired!!

Allison holding 'the boys'; her nephew, Wyatt (left) and Max. They are a handful of adorable now, but I think they may be a handful of trouble some day soon!

Olivia, Samantha, Wyatt, Marty. Alex is sitting on the couch and Mema (my mom) is sitting in the chair behind Marty.

A BIG thanks to Samantha and Marty for hosting the whole weekend at their big house in Des Moines!!!

Grandchildren visit Santa November 27, 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 21:18:00 +0000

Olivia (4 3/4 years old) and Max (15 months old) visited Santa last week in Minnesota.

Wyatt visited Santa on Monday. He's 10 months old.

This is the Christmas sock John's Aunt Mary knitted for Wyatt. It's a tradition in the family, but this sock is bigger than any other Christmas sock she's made!

Wyatt in his house! November 24, 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 23:11:00 +0000

Wyatt enjoys eating. I think my grandson likes playing with it, too, but he was eating, and isn't too picky. He's almost 10 months old already.

This is Wyatt's house. His dad loves to hunt and today put these decorations in his yard. You can see Wyatt looking out the front door in the picture above, and I tried to make it bigger in the picture below.

The Minnesota weekend visit November, 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 02:30:00 +0000

This is our grandson, Max, at day care the other day, making the face he makes when he sees a camera! He's just started walking/toddling around and we enjoyed our time with him. He loves to chatter up a storm and we could recognize a few words. Max is now 14 1/2 months old.

This is our granddaughter, Olivia, trying out a new step machine at her day care/preschool. She's 4 1/2 years old and very energetic!

October 3, 2018 Just another day....

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 16:36:00 +0000

The Minnesota "Walker" clan (my son, Alex, Allison, Max and Olivia) in LaValle, WI, taking in one more boat ride for the year. (Yes, it was COLD!)

At day care yesterday, Max (13 months) whipped off his pants and used them for a pillow. Sometimes he barely sleeps while at day care, but apparently yesterday he was ready for a nap!

Olivia (4 1/2 years old) in her preschool room.

My other grandson, Wyatt (son of Samantha and Marty) is now 8 months old and a very jovial boy! He's crawling the 'right' way now and gets around pretty fast.

My mom feeding Wyatt last Sunday at her house. He was almost asleep, so she didn't want to maneuver him differently on her lap... he's almost outgrown her lap!!!

My son-in-law, Marty, with his son, Wyatt, on a blankie on 9/23 at Little Wall Lake. Marty wanted to teach Olivia to hold worms for fishing (which she did!). They caught a few small fish and threw them back into the lake for another day.

Marty, Wyatt, Olivia, Max and Allison on the blankie at the lake. I REALLY love it when I can see all 3 of my grandkids together. "My cup runneth over."

Grandchildren September, 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 01:35:00 +0000

This is my youngest grandchild, Wyatt, when he was visiting our house last Sunday (because his cousins came from Minnesota!).

This is Olivia (4 1/2 years old) with her brother, Max, just over a year old, on a slide in Minnesota. It looks like Max is FLYING off that slide, but I was told he was fine after landing on his behind....

Wyatt at his house on September 18th.

Max at day care today (9/27/2018) STANDING on his own.... he crawls so fast to get where he wants to go that the fascination for walking hasn't been that tempting for him.

Max and Wyatt at my house mid-August.

Olivia on her first day of 4K (at their day care). She likes school.

CATCHING UP!! July 22, 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 01:33:00 +0000

So my daughter thinks I should start blogging on a more regular basis again. (Above) This is Wyatt at my mom's house today in Des Moines celebrating his parents' birthdays. That's his grandpa John behind him. Wyatt is almost 6 months old now!

This is my nephew's daughter, Adeline, with her mom, Elysce. She's 10 months old and has a mouthful of teeth already....

That's Olivia on the left (our granddaughter), Harper (my great-niece) and Audrey (also another great-niece). Harper is the oldest but they are all three about 4 1/2 years of age. They were in our boat on Little Wall Lake on June 30th. They didn't have to coach them into smiling---they had a great time on the boat and on the tube!

These are our grandsons at Little Wall Lake on June 30th hanging out while the bigger kids got to go boating... That's Max on the left (10 months old) and Wyatt on the right.

Wyatt was baptized on July 1st at our church in Stanhope. This is after the ceremony and lunch before they were leaving our house... From left: Samantha (Wyatt's mom, our daughter) with Wyatt, John with Max, and Marty with Olivia (Marty and Sam are married). Olivia and Max belong to my son, Alex, and his wife, Allison, who is on the really far right side of the picture. (They were gathering things to go home!)

Happy Birthday Dad!!

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:34:00 +0000

My dad turned 88 yesterday (2/15/2018) and this is him last Sunday holding the newest great-grandchild, Wyatt (Sam and Marty's new baby, born 5 weeks early on 1/30/2018).

It was a baby-admiring weekend in Des Moines last weekend when Alex/Allison brought their two kids (Olivia, who turned 4 last Saturday, and five-month old Max) to Iowa to meet Wyatt. (My mom is on the left, Sam, holding nephew Max and Allison holding her nephew Wyatt.)

Grandpa John and 'his boys'; Max and Wyatt

The youngest Great-grandchildren: Max, Adeline (5 months old), Olivia and Wyatt.

Adeline and Wyatt.... there's a little difference in size, too (and age....).

Merry Christmas 2017!

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 16:36:00 +0000

It's a little bit of a white Christmas.

Miss Adeline (grand-niece) resting up before she opens her Christmas presents at Mema's (my mom's) house yesterday.

Joe (my nephew) getting a sign to add to his Cubs collection. (That's Elycse in the chair, and they are Adeline's parents.)

Ben got the same sign--we ARE a family of Cubs fans!!! (Ben is my nephew, and Kylie is his wife, sitting in the chair.)

More Grandchildren pictures.... December 23, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 20:46:00 +0000

Max, contemplating how his fingers taste.

Max, smiling, just because.

Olivia getting ready to sing in her church program last Sunday.

Olivia playing in the Minnesota snow at day care this week.

New Max pictures! December 14, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 19:47:00 +0000

Max's shirt says "Star of the show", which, of course, he is!

Alex (his dad, my son) sent these to me yesterday. Max is getting bigger and he looks very wise in this picture.

Less Boring, but not fun! December 13, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 01:20:00 +0000

Well, the clothes washer decided to spit all the water it was trying to put INTO the washer on the floor UNDER the washer. ICK!!!!! It looked like a small flood.

I guess I won't have to worry about cleaning the cobwebs and cat hair from underneath this for awhile, since they seemed to have 'washed' themselves out from under there. (A call has been made to the repairman.)

Another boring week.... December 11, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:32:00 +0000

A visitor outside the family room late last night sniffing the air. Both of the our boy cats wanted out pretty bad, but I didn't want fighting to ensue on any of the animals, so they didn't get their wish and whined about it.

This is Miss Adeline on her big brother's lap. Asher is 7, and their older sister, Ava, is 8.

A very cute picture of Miss Adeline.

This is a great picture of Izaac (the oldest great-grandson of my mom's, and my great-nephew) from this past summer when he was vacationing with his family at the Wisconsin Dells.

Attitude from Miss Adeline!! December 5, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:09:00 +0000

This is my Great-niece, Adeline. She is my nephew's daughter (Joe, with mom, Elycse). She was born on September 9, 2017, a couple weeks early.

This was her first time in the 'bumbo' chair at Great-Grandma's (my mom's) house on Sunday, and she didn't mind it too much.

Then her mom put her dad's baseball (yes, of course, it was a Cubs hat) cap on her.

"Auntie Samantha" took this picture of her earlier when she was really smiling and trying to carry on a conversation with us. She's adorable!

More pictures.... December 4, 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Camp Stanhope Happenings) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 01:31:00 +0000

Alex and Olivia making bread for Thanksgiving week meals (at home and at Alex's school).

Olivia playing outside on a cool but non-snowy Minnesota afternoon at her day care. (I LOVE her turtles stocking cap!) This picture was taken on November 30, 2017.