Happy Birthday Sam

It's Sam's birthday on Saturday. I remember when he was born, he would never smile much or react when we talked to him. Mom and I were afraid something was wrong with him. Turns out, our Samuel has just been blessed with the Van Hofwegen dry sense of humor, and he just didn't think we were entertaining at all. He had a pink tee shirt on the other day....I said, isn't that a little girly for you...he said, very dryly, apparently you don't know, Lauri, pink is the new black. That boy brings me joy. HB Sam Joe!

The Games People Play

Mom and I are going to a Women's Retreat this weekend with church. Part of my job here is to type up the schedules and stuff and I noticed that there will be a time of "stretching and relaxation" on Saturday afternoon. I told Mom, bring a book, cuz I don't think we'll be taking that in.

Now I just noticed that on Saturday night they are planning to play Bunco. I just called mother and told her we have to cancel.... We don't do games like that, never have. We play Mafia, games where lives are at stake. We don't do well with dice and stuff. They tend to just fall out of our hands. So, we're thinking maybe we'll go find a bar or something and get a cool drink while the rest of the nice church ladies are "bunco-ing". Yeah, I like that better.

Hide n' Seek

Everyone likes to play hide-and-seek But it's no fun for me.. Close my eyes and count to a hundred, But I can only count to three!

Dalaynee likes to play this game. One time it was her turn to hide and when I finished counting all I saw was her little arm pulling a chair under the table so I wouldn't find her so quickly. Yesterday it was my turn to hide, but the chick counts faster than Auntie Lauri moves, so I just stayed in my chair and pulled my shirt over my head. She saw me, but she loves the game so much, she walked right by me saying, Lauri, where are you? She went to Dad and said, Papa, have you seen Lauri? She did the same with Mom...then as she was just gonna walk by me again, I reached out and grabbed her. She giggled so hard she could hardly stand up. It was a good day.

Dalaynee Jo and the "Other" Babysitter

This is my dear niece with Auntie Teri. She is the lady that takes care of the child when Mom can't do it for some reason. Teri goes to our church and we used to work in Kids Klub together. When Jayne was pregnant, we would sit around and talk about how we just knew it was gonna be a girl and what was she going to be like etc. We were not prepared for a Dalaynee Jo...but we're happy with what we got.....

Somewhere Along the Road

I know, I'm wierd, but I take my camera with me wherever I go. There is a handy dandy hiding place in my car where I can put it, so that nobody even knows it's there. I think I took these the other night when there was some sort of eclipse. Not sure. I just thought it was cool that the moon was out...and it was still kind of light outside. I know...I'm wierd....I already said that!

Danny and the boys do Joshua Tree

Just got some pics from brother, Daniel. He and the boys traveled to Joshua to camp for a couple of days with a big group of dads and sons. They have been doing it for years. Danny always complains of how cold it is and uncomfortable...but he went for the boys. This weekend was freezing...and we sympathized with poor Danny stuck in Joshua Tree freezing his butt off.

I just found out...he got a hotel room and the boys camped. Uh huh, poor, poor Danny.

I Was at Death's Door....really

I got the flu last week...that turned into the plague. I got the stomach flu on Sunday, by Monday night, it was so bad, mother made me move in with them. Because of the diabetes, when I get it , it' s like getting hit by a truck. So, I moved into Hospital Hofwegen. A really nice hospice/bed and breakfast....but don't tell anybody. Dad doesn't want that getting around. I hid from Dalaynee for 2 days so that she wouldn't catch it, but she was finally allowed in the bedroom with me. And what a nurse she turned out to be. Who knew? She sang me my "favorite lullaby"...rock a bye Lauri, in the tree top. The word picture that creates is horrifying by the way. She would watch Elmo with me and she patted my leg an awful lot. What a dear girl. She just said to me on the phone a minute ago. "I so sad you not here anymore, Lauri, but I glad I was helped to make you all better." Florence Nightengale could not have said it better.

Playing Games

Every day, when Jayne picks up Dalaynee from mom and dad's she says, Mama, I have a new game...let me show you. This is a photo of how thrilled Jayne is about the new game. I think they are both a little nuts.

I am the greatest aunt....

I let my nieces and nephews use my camera...I know, I'm an idiot...but I got some great pictures of the coast and the Golden Gate Bridge from vaca because Sam and Cal were in charge of the thing. I was yelling instructions from the drivers seat, but they took the picture. Claire has taken a few cool ones too. Mostly of herself in the bathroom mirror, but still, they were focused and everything. Look how well they did...So now, Dalaynee wants to give it a try...so here are the results...me and grammy and papa yesterday....not bad for a 2 1/2 year old, huh? All that natural talent all 4 of them have comes from me ya know.

...and here's the pics

I didn't have the Canon with me when the chick got her hair cut, but I took some yesterday so you can see her in all her "adorable-ness"

First Haircut

Dalaynee got her first haircut yesterday. I remember the days when we prayed she would actually "have" hair...and now we are getting it cut. She sat real still and when we asked her what she thought, she looked in the mirror and said...I look adorable. I concur.

...NOW I'M ON A ROLL

...mom found these old black and white negatives in the drawer the other day...so we got them printed up...and it is a blast from the past...here is what we found...

Just a little nothing

I saw Danny this weekend. He was out on his motorcycle with Samuel on the back. They look like clones especially when they both have helmets and sun glasses on. It's spooky. I was going through some old photo files and found these. We seem to be having a good time...hmmm