Limb Down

I had just gotten home from the groceries store and was putting the few things I bought away and I heard a crack. I know that sound and took off for the hallway.
The neighbors tree limb fell on our deck.

It took out our tables and chairs. Thank the Lord no one was out there. I had just moved Mike's new grill underneath the over hang before heading out to the store. Whew! A portion of the limb hit the roof and bounced back onto the deck.

I knocked on the neighbors door and told him That HIS tree limb fell on our deck. He claims he didn't hear it. 

"Gee, That's too bad. Good Luck with that. You better call your insurance"

And that was all I got from him. I went over there the next day and asked him to remove the limb from our deck. He gave me a phone number for the guy he knows.

"You should be able to get him cheap."

I guess I was on my own.

I called our insurance - He came out and gave an estimate. $3515 for everything.

We have a $1000 deductible so I got to work getting the tree removed. 

I got this far on the clean up. I hacked at the branches and moved them to our fire pit for burning. Then I called MY tree guy. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do anymore. The rest was just too heavy for me. He came out that afternoon and told me he would stop by that night and get the rest for me. Boom - 15 minutes later the limb was gone! Only $125.

The insurance is sending out a contractor on Tuesday to give us some bids on what we want done. New gutter and roof repair. New railing and security screen for sure. They even included a new paint job for the whole deck in the insurance. That was one of my summer projects so Yes to that too.

We decided to go with padded deck lounge seating instead of a table - so a shopping we will go.

Dylan's Graduation

Our first Grandchild, Dylan Michael Kribs, is finish with High School.
No more watching him take the field to play some football or run around that field for the HS track team. Mike and I are both going to miss that.
I know he is ready to go out there and start making his own decisions, making his own money, and making his own mistakes and successes. I'm pretty sure that he can handle it all.
The ceremony was short - 134 students.
The weather wasn't the greatest, so we took some after pictures in the hallway below his football picture.

The Graduate

Walking in

Got the paper to prove it

Bored!!!

Throwing of the cap

Proud Grandparents

Mom and her Baby

After the celebration Stacy had us and her mother and stepfather over for a late lunch. I'm thinking she just didn't want the day to end. His party is later in the summer.


Dylan was born 3 days before the Y2K. All the rage back then was to put some keepsakes into a time capsule. According to some people all computers were going to cease up and the world was stopping.


It sat in our basement all these years and Stacy asked us to bring it so Dylan could finally open it.
There was some surprises in there, but my usual "birthday" newspaper was included along with baseball and basketball cards. I also included the old paper money $1, $5, $10, and $20. Dylan asked if it was still good. A movie poster from Carrie (she was working at Suburban Video at the time) and of course a wrestling magazine from Uncle Bryan.
Stacy also included clothing. some of his (Tiny Baby), some of hers (her daisy dukes with button fly) and Kory's neon see thru Addias warmup pants.

Dylan modeling the pants

He is headed off to Kishwakee College to begin his future.

Mother's Day

Mothers Day we spent in the city with Bryan, Mary and the kids.

Mother and Son

Mother, Son and Grandsons

Every Mothers Day I make 2 of my Moms favorite salads. 3 bean and cucumber. Usually I eat it all myself. Mike doesn't like them and I do. It brings back memories of Mom for me.
I asked Mary if I could bring them knowing that her and the kids are not going to eat them. She agreed knowing that Bryan would like it seeing that she doesn't make them. I love that she lets me still cook for him.
 One of my favorite things to do with Mom was decorating cakes. I have her old kit. I'll confess I borrowed it and never returned it. She was not using it and I wanted it. I use it all the time too.
So I baked some cupcakes to take too.


Last year some time, I saw these cool cake decorating tips online that looked really easy to use. I bought a set for me and a set for my friend, Steve, the cake baker. Turns out they are not easy to use.
In honor of Mom I was going to get them back out and play with them till I got it.
It took me a few tries, but I am getting better. It helped having my Mom looking down and whispering in my ear.

blue roses and Oscar



Pink roses

Kaylyn is now a Teenager

Dinner celebration at Buffalo Wild Wings. 

Kaylyn has been in a hurry to grow up every since she's been three.

She has always thought that she should be included in things her older brothers did. 

She can push you into saying yes. Just ask her Father - who sometimes agrees with her. She wanted her belly button pierced. Her Mother put her foot down and said NO. You can get a piercing when you are 16. (but no belly button ever).

Last year Kory took her out and got the top of her ear pierced. That lasted about 1 week. She didn't like sleeping on it.

This year he lied and told them she was 14 and got her nose pierced. Lets just say Stacy was not happy.

This one lasted less than 48 hours. She had to take it out in gym class and couldn't get it back in. She was ok with that too. Kory not so much. Wasted more money. The guy needs to start being a Father and not a friend.

 Happy Birthday, Kaylyn.