summer photo session

It has turned hot in Iowa (we had a lovely June really).   I wanted to get Carolyn's senior photos this summer, so that we also could get a family photo. Unfortunately, Carolyn had her wisdom teeth removed so early this summer that we couldn't get it done before now.  I admit defeat though, because it will be too hot to do a big photo session before fall.   Therefore no big photo shoot with the whole family (as Matthew is out of pocket all fall due to marching band season at UI).

Therefore I decided to take some "mom" photos before things got tooooo hot this summer, so I might get something for a Christmas photo.  The "normal" photo didn't turn out as someone was blinking in every one, but I like some of these "blast to the past" photos.  (they make me so happy!!)

Spring 2019

In no particular order (at least not chronologically)

Vacation Bible School Crew Leaders - note to Anna - when you ham it up the pictures are much more fun!!!

Catholic Youth Camp (went right after performing a VBS song at church)

 Girls on the Run - On Anna's birthday!!  5K baby!

Lunch with Ken's sister, her hubby and Ken's folks in the Amana Colonies

 Jordan Scholars- Carolyn in pink - 3rd from the right

Reiman Garden and Butterfly house

followed by lunch at Hickory Park (Ames) - big McCleary tradition!

Rest in Peace Bri

Bri was our Foster dog of 2019, but she  was with us only a short time due to kidney disease.  Hope we made her last weeks a bit happier.

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When Bri thought she was a lap dog.

 Bri LOVED being outside - so much to see

The fastest garden planting ever!

I didn't have a much drive to plant a garden this year.  I decided that it would make sense to just plant less!

  We did plant less AND I had major help!

Matthew cleaned the entire garden and turned the soil for me this week.  Then today - he planted almost everything!!!  WOW not only fast - but EASY PEASY.....I just passed plants and he planted!  (which also explains why we have 2 hot pepper plants including one that might melt your tongue)

 Anna went with us to the plant store and asked "aren't there any fruit we can grow?"  (and she didn't mean those "pseudo-fruits" that are really veggies (she is looking at you tomatoes!!) ...although she loves cucumbers.  Alas I bought her a tray of strawberries.  Matthew objected, saying we tried this in Indiana and birds ate all the berries.  (I absolutely don't remember this...although I know we tried raspberries.  We have raspberries off of our deck right now in fact.)  Who really cares.... it made her happy and sometimes that is better than the fact that we might recoup our cost in strawberries.

Easter 2019

We had a nice celebration of Easter with Matthew and Ken's folks spending the weekend.  (Then they returned him to Iowa City for us.)

 Ken's sister Cheryl and her husband John stopped by on their way through Iowa (they live in Colorado).

 Family photo💗💗 We don't get many of these....although Matthew is coming home this summer (confirmed today), so we are going to get another family photo then!  Don't let the photo fool you.  Carolyn is taller than me and Joel is catching up quick.  (I think we are on a slight slope...)

 Love this fun photo!

 This one too!

 Yes - we still search for eggs.

winter!

Because sometimes I just don't care about chronological order!

Joel is 15! (feb 5) We celebrated at Outback and with German Chocolate cake (and a new game controller)....Can't give you all the pictures because my computer doesn't like my camera card anymore and Ken isn't here to pull the photos for me!  Here is a picture from my phone

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Schillings

 Boys in the kitchen (more Thanksgiving)

 Anna goes to show choir camp....we were there to cheer her on during the performance!  (unfortunately a big camp counselor kept getting in my way of good shots during the performance)

 Anna on the defense!!!

 Christmas Morning

 Show choir fun....heading out again on Saturday

Eternal Rush presents Madam President

 Chaos presents:  Chained to the Rhythm

 Matthew plays in the Outback Bowl

Carolyn was Marcy in Almost Maine.....She and C.(with her below) also did their one-act for State Speech Competition and were selected for All State....she was walking on a cloud.

 Pre-Christmas at Grandma and Grandpas....playing Bananagrams

Chinese - Christmas Eve!

There you have it....a snap-shot of our life...in snap-shots.