Ben graduates from SLU

Ben graduated from the Psychology program at SLU today.  

We had a bit of a patio party for him after graduation.  We never make a big show of things, we have a very small circle of friends.

Just the usual suspects!!!

Ben is going to Wash U in the Fall to do a Masters in Social Work, he is very excited about this as Wash U is his "dream school"!!!  We have had to go and walk around the campus quite a few times already!!

I found this really cool balloon for him and hung it on his door while he was gone.

Ben and Bobby

Ben, Trinity and Louis after graduation, with the Billiken in the background

Family photo

Christmas Trip to Garden Glow 2022

  Here are a few of our yearly trip to the MBG Garden Glow with Arline

Christmas Day 2022

Lots of presents to choose from!!

Maggie looking happy-actually it's amazing she's up early enough to open presents with us

What on earth is in this monster???!!!!

Sam

Maggie voted today!!

 Ben was determined to take Maggie to vote today!!!  I think he probably wanted company more than anything, but "yay for Maggie"!!!!  She is officially an adult......

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary to us (2 years later)

Sam and I went to Michigan for our 25th wedding anniversary.  Yes, it was 2 years late and no, it wasn't Barbados, but we finally got away somewhere after COVID.  It was a nice quiet few days away together.  Ben stayed at our house to keep an eye on Maggie and they did perfectly well without us.  We stayed in 2 separate B&B places, both very nice.  Sam took his bike and went riding a couple of times.  I went running and got absolutely soaked-I have never been that wet in my life!!!!!

On our anniversary, we found a great little place to eat.  The silverware was wrapped in these spider napkins, so of course we had to send a picture back to Ben (our resident arachnophobe)

The restaurant was famous for martinis-mine was chocolate of course!!!!!

It was a tapas bar, and we got some of the best beef tenderloin we have ever had

We stayed outside of South Haven for the first 3 days, in a place with a small vineyard.  It was very nice and peaceful and we almost had the place to ourselves most of the time

We stayed in South Haven for the next 3 days, our room looked out over the harbour

We did a lot of beach wandering, sunset watching and general lounging around!!!!

August visit to MBG

We haven't seen the fountain running in a while

The water lilies were lovely 

Beds were looking very lush this year

The sign says the flowers smell like maple syrup-yes, they do!!!!

Flowering baskets in the Kemper center are always looking great

Patio living

Our porch plants have done well this summer.  This geranium has been great, the color is so intense

I bought this Tibouchina earlier this summer and liked it so much, I bought another one when they went on sale!!!!!  I'm hoping I can nurse them through the winter

We finally bought some new patio furniture!!!  If only it was cool enough to sit outside.....

This sunflower was a volunteer.  Either the birds or squirrels must have redistributed it from the bird feeder!!!!

I have had this crown of thorns for quite a few years, but this is the first time I have put it outside and the first time it has flowered