Betsy's blog

The first day of our visit to Julie’s & Chip’s new house was spent at home, touring their new house and exploring the neighborhood.  The house is in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN, an older neighborhood, convenient to both the airport and Chip’s new job at the University of St. Paul and within walking distance of Como Park / Zoo and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  The houses are older, the Small house being built in 1905, and the neighbors are mostly long-time residents.

Pretty kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logan decided to sneak off and have an apple snack while we were touring. 

Can’t say I blame him.  They were yummy apples.

Down to the basement

 

 

Down, down….

Nice play area

Thought I had more pics of the basement, but maybe they are on my phone.     The basement is a very comfortable family living area.   That’s where they toys are, and the tv, too.  (We watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics after the kids went to bed Friday night.)  There’s a nice tiled bath with a shower.  John and I slept on the futon, and felt like we had a private suite.

The back yard is built for kids.  A playset with two swings, monkey bars, a slide and a club house resides across the back, next to the garage and its basketball hoop.  The driveway area just outside the garage provides a nice space for riding toys, bikes and sidewalk chalk.

I thin we've got a ball player

He's really pretty good.

Thursday morning we’ll be heading out to Minnesota.  Will see Julie, Chip, Henry and Logan in their new house.  I am so excited that I just couldn’t wait until Thursday to share. I’m not sure what we are going to do this trip…I think a block party is on the schedule, so we’ll get to meet all of the new neighbors.  I’m pretty sure we’ll be having take out too, according to Chip’s blog (http://roseville.patch.com/blog_posts/keeping-cool-in-a-sweltering-summer?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001) although if coolness is the goal, maybe eating in the restaurant is a good idea?  Whatever – good food, good company, count me in.   So….one more day of work…then off we go….

New house - - - John's favorite attribute (yes, he's a UNC fan!!!)

Last Wednesday, April 11, I packed up my brand new Toyota Highlander, and headed to da Burg.

 
Enjoyed some quality time with my sister. Pizza, shopping, Bingo, more pizza. That’s the life!

 
Morning coffee in the sunshine at the picnic table with neighbors.

Frank, Rocket and Diane

Nice time at Sue’s house with all of the old gang. We look so sober and serious, don’t we? What good acting!

Left to right: Mary Lou, Barb, Betsy, Mary Kay, Sue, Germaine, Cindy - In front: Liz and Cathy (oh, and Stella is in Betsy's lap)

Late night with lots to eat and drink, games to play, catching up and lots of talking.  After just a little sleep, we had a lovely breakfast then headed to downtown Pittsburgh to see Ruthless, the musical, at Pittsburgh CLO.

A few additions to the party folks: Germaine, Cathy, Cindy Mary Kay, Mary Lou, Liz, Betsy, Barb, Sue, Carol

Received a phone call from my brother in law, Tom, while at the play.  Surprised to find out my sister was in the hospital having an emergency appendectomy.  She’s pretty good at hiding symptoms!  Fortunately, the appendix did not rupture, and they were able to perform laparoscopic surgery, and her recovery has been pretty quick.

Tom and I visited Althea Saturday night and Sunday morning, then took some time Sunday afternoon to visit my cousin Kenny Tejchman and his family – wife Joan and son little Adam – north of Butler, PA.  Although I haven’t seen Kenny in something like 40 years, I was happy to find the same old Kenny that I just adored when I was a child.  He acts loud and gruff to hide the gentleness inside.  It  was good to meet Joan and Adam.  I liked Joan a lot, and think we could be friends if we lived a little closer.  Adam is taking after his dad – farming is in his blood.  I LOVED the farm – -  -and am really regretting I didn’t take pictures of the baby cows.  Two weeks old.  They try to suck your fingers.  Lots of cats, a turkey, chickens, guineas, dogs and cows – - – and crops to support the livestock.  I had a fantastic tour all around the farm, and got to see all of the vehicles and equipment (although I’m ashamed to admit I can’t really relate anything about it here.  My memory isn’t what it used to be.)  Take a look at the views from the porch.

My cousin Barb – Kenny’s older sister – joined us for the lovely dinner Joan prepared.  Chicken parmesan with salad and Italian bread, followed by home made carrot cake.  Oh, yum!  Kenny’s daughter, Amber, dropped by for a few moments too.  Amber is a lovely girl, studying to be a nurse.

Joan, Betsy, Kenny, Tom, and little Adam in front

Joan, Betsy, Kenny, Tom

Barb, Betsy, Ken

Me & my cuz

Friday we went to the Forest Learning Center.  It is a very cool place.  We hiked along a trail down to the bottom of a gully, and crossed railroad tracks to get an up close view of the fast moving Missouri River.

Kathleen and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center

Henry, Logan, Zach and Seth on the buffalo bench at the entrance to the Fontanelle forest.

Off we go, down the trail.

Zach is our scout.

Which way do we go?

Logan

Zach & Seth

The banks of the Missouri

More Missouri R.

Hiker Poover

Neemeister

Cousin buddies.

This time it is all women and kids.  Leah is on spring break, in her second semester of the Physician Assistant program at University of Nebraska Medical Center.  Julie and I decided to help her relax over her break. 

Thursday brought a fun trip to the Omaha Zoo.

Logan

Henry and Aunt Leah watching the tigers.

Zach's smile goes grown-up.

Zach, Logan and Seth in front, with Aunt Julie, Aunt Leah, and Henry in back.

Beautiful tiger

The peacock put on quite a show for us. Zach was captivated.

Watching the baby goats - Zach, Seth, Logan and Henry.

Flew to MSP from RDU absolutely painlessly.  Direct flight, arrived EARLY.  Met by my beautiful girl and her beautiful boys on a beautiful spring day.  Who could ask for more?  We spent some time playing hide n’ seek, riding bikes, and lots of outdoor fun.

It’s a race!!

On Wednesday, we made a big, long drive to Aunt Leah’s house.  The kind of drive that’s so long you get to watch DVDs in the back seat.

We saw windmills in Iowa.  LOTS of windmills in Iowa.  And not much else.