JAKE'S HOME AT U OF K

Jake is a freshman at the University of Kentucky and seems to be doing very well. It's a pretty campus, even on a rainy day.

This is the dormitory area.

The football stadium is nearby, although they're known for their basketball team.

So, where do the years go? It seems like yesterday that Jake was a cute little blond haired boy who argued with me from the moment he could talk. (He still does!) Now he's making mature decisions and starting his life. Russ and Carrie did a good job preparing him for his future. They're soon to have five teenagers this year-five reasons to be proud! (If any of you remember having teenagers, I'm sure a few prayers would be appreciated.) So far, they've made friends with great kids, done well in sports and have gotten great grades. It will be fun to see what the future holds for them.

HOME, CONT.

They have a nice living room.

And kitchen.

And dining room.

The kids are able to walk to the high school, Joe is bussed to the middle school and it's in a very nice neighborhood. They've all made friends already, like school and work, and seem to be doing very well.

RUSS AND CARRIE'S HOUSE

Since the kids moved to Kentucky and started work immediately, they still have some boxes to unpack, but have settled in quite well. Their house has 5 bedrooms, 31/2 bathrooms, and many other rooms. It also has a tricky driveway-it reminds me a little of Weenie's old one.

This is one direction looking from the patio at the back yard.

It has a large foyer and a loft/computer room at the top of the stairway.

KENTUCKY TRIP

Russ and family moved from Omaha right before school started, to Lexington, Kentucky. They invited us for Thanksgiving, so we flew there for ten days, and did some sightseeing while we were there. We visited the Mary Todd Lincoln house in downtown Lexington.

Mrs. Lincoln lived a very interesting life. She was raised in a prominent family and married Abe, who had no money. Even though she became a First Lady, she had a lot of tragedy in her life. She not only saw her husband shot and killed, but she lost several children also. Her son had her committed to a mental hospital in later years, but she was able to get out and live abroad. A very interesting lady!

It was a lovely house inside, although pictures weren't allowed-the gardens in the backyard were also pretty.

BLOSSOM AND BOB

Years ago when we lived in Grinnell, we had two stuffed pets named Milicent and Minerva. Russ' best friends, Chris and Kyle, had a lot of fun with them. I'd come home from work and find them in all sorts of interesting positions in all different places in the house. Once in awhile they'd hide so they could hear me scream when I found them. It's happening again! Our family pet bulldog, Blossom, sits by the front steps and guards our home.
Without knowing of our history, our neighbor Bob, has been having fun with Blossom, and us. When we came home the other night, Blossom was sitting in the golf cart!

A couple nights later, she was waiting in the dark to get in the back door. Guess who struck again! Note to Bob-I usually get even-some way, some time when you least expect it! In the meantime, it's been fun!

THE APPLE DUMPLING CAFE

The other day we found a new place to eat in Gilbert, called the Apple Dumpling Cafe.

It's a small, known for it's burgers-so we had the one with apple slices, bacon, cheese and some kind of raspberry sauce. They were delicious.

FALL IN AZ

It's fall in AZ and they're picking cotton in our neighborhood.
Quite a healthy crop. Notice the bales in the background.



We were decorated inside for fall and Halloween, and had a little bit outside.