patio cleanup

side view before cleaning up.

side view after cleaning up.

front view before cleanup. I usually don't see this part of the patio. In fact, it's really used for a storage area. We sit either in the swing in the yard, or on the deck above this part of the patio. So this part is "out of sight, out of mind." But it is visible when you enter the backyard, and from the rest of the back yard. I stored the caps in the basement on a shelf, threw away broken pots, pulled ivy from the bricks, swept away dirt and leaves accumulated in corners and crevices, emptied the pots and cleaned them a little, trimed the ivy off the bricks, just a little clean up. I think I improved it a little. Like I said, it's storage, but visible.

Front view after cleanup

Latest Sleepover

Here's Erin sometime during our sleepover, concentrating on playing Tetris. She's all comfortable in the recliner.

When we were ready for bed, Erin and Jill had flashlights in bed playing with them. I was sleeping in a make-shift bed at the foot of their bed. I told Bobby that Jill lost her flashlight somewhere in the covers twice..that two times I heard..."Mimi, I can't find my flashlight." (Please don't mistake this for a complaint. Believe me, it's not.) When I was telling him this, Erin quickly corrected with, "No, Mimi, you just had to help her twice. She lost it four times." And Jill squirms in her sleep like nothing I've ever seen. Once I saw her with her feet on her pillow, which left Erin's feet practically in Jill's face. AND...once, now this is the truth, she squirmed and squirmed and wiggled and wiggled and ended up with both feet on the floor, standing, leaning over with her head on the bed, still sound asleep. I seriously considered getting the camera, but kept thinking of that flash in her eyes and couldn't bring myself to take the chance. I went on back to sleep so I'm not sure how long she stayed that way.

This is Erin all comfy with her Daddy after the sleepover was about over. Mark and Kim had just arrived to pick them up. I probably shouldn't have used this picture of Mark because he's sleep deprived from having coughed through the nights lately - sorry, Mark. I hope you feel better soon. But I liked how Erin climbed onto his lap when he got here. We had such a good time with these precious girls.

Some More Old Family Photos

1. The two pitching horseshoes is Julie (then Wagner) and Dorothy, Joe Tabler's ex. The back of the picture says Dorothy won 21-20 and it took them 1 hr 24 min. to play the game.
2. This little baby is Big Bad Bob when he was two months old. Once a charmer, always a charmer.
3. That's me holding a darling little girl. Yep, that's Karen Krider, and I'm sorry to say there's no date on the back of the picture.
4. At the ball game is Brian Tabler with his then closest friend Eli Martin, who was "always" with us, either at our house or accompanying us wherever we went. He was like a fourth son. We were crazy about him. I believe he lives in California now. Photo in 1984.
5. The little boy in overalls is pretty recognizable, I think. It still looks like Allan Tabler. This was taken in 1980. What a cutie.
6. And who is the mystery photo in the wig and big glasses? Yep, Brian. Taken in 1984. I don't know who he was supposed to be. Charming....

Easter Fun

Before the Easter Egg hunt, we had a late lunch. I'll bet Kevin had gone back for seconds already, do you think? He'll try to tell you this wasn't the case, but don't believe him.

Each adult only had to find four eggs, and Kim finally had to enlist the help of Erin and Jill. Let me tell you, Kim seems like she's all sugar and spice, I know. But when she couldn't find her eggs, we saw another side of her. She was actually making faces at us, getting a little snippy with others who had already found the alloted amount of eggs. So if we ever see this "unpleasant" side of Erin and Jill, we'll know where it comes from, won't we. Certainly not from their daddy. (love you, Kim.)

We also had an easter egg hunt for the grown ups. Mark, Brian and Julie seeing what fabulous finds were in their eggs.

Erin and Jill with their baskets full of eggs. Fifty eggs were hidden in the yard, and it didn't take long for them to find each and every one.

Easter Plant

This is a lovely plant that Judy gave us for Easter - Grape Hyacinths. Now, I have thumbs as green as dirt, and I'm pretty sure that Judy knows this, but hopefully the hyacinths will thrive. I think they're beautiful.

Do You Recognize These People

If you recognize all these people, then you've been a Wagner/Tabler for a long, long time.

Some are grown up now. Of course, Daddy and Bobby's dad are deceased. And a few blew the coop. (or were pushed out of the coop) I'll post some more old photos within the next few days. Do you know them all? I'm going to describe them now, so don't read any further if you want to figure out who they are.

1. Walking in the grass is Allison, (Ben's daughter) Mark Tabler, and Linda, who is Ben's first wife.

2. Baby in blue is Beth Garvey, with Bobby's Dad. Taken in 1982.

3. Eating at table is Jimmy Garvey, Julie's ex. Daddy is next to him, and Julie on other side. photo taken in 1982.

4. Five people in photo, Mark, Kevin, Brian, Mary Lynn, And Wanda, who is Ben's second wife. Taken in Florida in 1985.

5. Brent Wagner opening gift, and Terri Wagner, Mark's ex, and Daddy. taken in 1985.

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