reunion #2

Last weekend found us hitting the road yet again to head north & west for another family reunion.
This time it was my Dad's Kellenberger family getting together and the weather took a break from scorching hot to bless us with an 85 degree, lovely day!  It was a pretty good turnout with about 100 of us present out of a approx. 160.  Recall, this is the family where my Dad was one of 12 kids and I'm one of 43 first cousins!

so one of the highlights of the day was Uncle Calvin producing some old letters that an electrician recently found while doing some work on the old farm place...they were letters my Grandma Elaine wrote to Grandpa Henry while they were courting-priceless!  

this is my Aunt Susie and I reading through some of them

 

 cute Zoey

 Aunt Theresa & Haven playing kickball

 an intense game of bocce was had my some "outlaws" :)

 cousins Alissa, Chelsea (holding Riley) & Tiffany

 Arlan & Uncle Doug

 Grandma Iowa with Macy, Mali & Zoey

these two were compared a lot this weekend: my cousin Megan's girl, Grace & Havers

Evie's girl Mallory

 Macy after popping a balloon!

 the kids had a blast with the balloon games: sisters - Zoey, Mia & Ashley (Ladell's girls)

brothers Weston & Clayton (Benji's boys)

 Rosanna (Brett's wife), Mom, Tiffany & Dana (Kyle's wife)

 Ms. Mia

 the newest member, Lehea (Megan's girl)

Havers & Zoey

Friday's Funny ~ faces

the many faces of Haven...

family time

Yesterday was a cooker...isn't every day like this lately in IL?!  When will the heat relent?
Our Miller & Schlipf family was brave enough to come on over, watch the kids enjoy the water & heat and hang out outside.  It was great food, great food, and great conversation...thanks fam!

I wonder...

The history teacher in me loves reflecting about the founding of our country during this fabulous summer holiday...the American Revolution was my favorite time period of American history to teach.  While most teachers would spend about 3-4 days on it, I usually spent a good week-8 days.  I mean, what other time period of our country's history was a blank slate, decisions, and opportunities in front of our framer's?  The history teacher in me also likes to remind any students out there of another very important happening on July 4th...except this happened 50 years after the signing of our Independence from Great Britain.

Two great men, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826.  Both men had political careers at the same time and actually had very different ideas of how government should be created and run.  Yet when their last breathe was breathed, both had reconciled and had a deep respect for each other. 

I wonder...

what both of these early leader's think of our country today?

what would they be proud of?

ashamed of?

what would they think of what being a "politician" means today?

Most of all, I wonder if their ideology of separation of powers is what they pictured it be in the 1770's?  Is this the country the dreamed of?

Happy Fourth of July!



 

summer evening

This past Saturday evening we hosted some friends for summer evening get-together.  While the weather here has been exhaustively hot & humid, Saturday evening was a bit cloudy and actually not too bad to sit outside, kid-less and enjoy great appetizers, good friends & many laughs!

Thanks again for coming friends...we were honored by your presence & blessed by your friendship!

 the beautiful flowers are complimentary of my mother-in-law's gardens!