April...showers and more

 Jerry B. and Jerry F. decided to check out 

the Rio Grande Valley harvest and came

home with these treasures.

Jerry F. was trying to figure out how to get his beets

home, so Kathy and I provided a solution. I had the jars

and lids, Kathy had sugar and vinegar (and bought some 

cloves), and Jerry now has pickled beets to take home!

We flew back to Minneapolis on the 7th,
and Ana picked us up at the airport.

The weather was great the next day, so the kids
got out their "Spring" toys...Claire was really
good on the skateboard.

 So...Ana had to try it...not as successfully
as a ten-year-old!

 Grampa Bob fixed something on the tire swing,

 and gave the girls a super high push.

He spotted a fishing bobber in the trees,
so he "fished" it out, and we gave it
to Corey with his birthday card! 

Heading up I 29..water, water, everywhere...

These robins didn't know that there was snow in ND.

Trina, Caiden, Montse, Annika, and Ariana
stopped at the farm en route to Killdeer
for Grace's First Communion. 

 They checked out the school,

climbed the wall,

went around in circles,

goofed off, 

and made flat tires and crepes.

Montse flipped the crepes,

and these "rollers" wanted to sample the goods....

Heading west, they stopped at the 
Geographical Center monument

and got some German Potato Salad
to take to Killdeer.

 Andrew updated his National Parks quarters map.

Annika, Caiden, Montse, Matthew, and Luke
waiting to eat after church...

 Caiden, Andrew, Montse, Matthew
enjoyed the hot dogs, beans, and burgers...

 Grace's First Communion party hosted 
a lot of Tuhy and Fritel family members...

 Ari seemed to like entertaining Luke

Grace with Grampa Bob and Gramma Diane :-)

We got back to the farm just before the snowstorm.

April snow at home....
Anyone want to ride on the swing?

Slushing down the road to get to Rugby
for a Farmers' Union ladies' lunch
on Monday, April 29th.

Went out cross-country skiing on April 30th!

Bob went to Grand Forks, so I created a friend

to share the fun. :-)

March-ing

 Actually, Dennis, Bob, and Jerry rode into March

on South Padre Island Beach

I think the wind probably blew them in...

The waves were really "wave-ing" ...

bringing March in like a lion.

 A trip to the Padre Island Brewery, a few oysters,

some craft beer, and a visit with Mark (no cap), 

the owner, warmed the guys up

The food is always great, here, too.

On Sunday, the 3rd, we sent to see "Annie"

at the Harlingen Community Theater

 Aloe tour on March 12th

We softened our hands with fresh aloe.

 The farm also houses animals for a local lady.

 "Kid" climbing a tree

 Pony looked so sad :-(

Orange and Grapefruit groves 
on the property...we picked the 
sweetest, juiciest oranges I have ever tasted.
They actually had a golf course on the
muddy swamp area!

Tom, Trina, and kids arrived late on the 15th...
The kids all slept in the living room...on air mattresses,
recliners, the couch, and the floor.  Tom and Trina
retreated to the guest bedroom on the mattress
from the sofa bed!..they all survived the night
before heading to their rented condo on South Padre Island.

Mermaid Annika got a swim in our park pool....

 
While Trina and Montse (their exchange student from 
Paraguay) froze on the deck.

 They enjoyed meeting with the family:  L to R
Wendy & Jerry, Tom & Caiden, Jett, Bob, Trina,
Annika, Ariana, Montse, Jerry & Kathy.

We managed a drive to the north end of the island,
and discovered this crazy camper!

 The condo had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a 
large living area and kitchen...

plus a pool, hot tub, and great view of the beach
which disappeared under the high tides a couple
of days.  

 Temps were in the 60's, but that didn't deter this fish...

the beach swimmers...

or sand-castle builders.  Debris on the beach was
a result of high winds and high tides.

Bob and I stayed at The Pearl, but didn't get a 
chance to use the awesome pool.

 We explored a couple of museums at Port Isabel

and learned more area history...

 before lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.

We met the kids at the Port Isabel lighthouse,

so they could get a view of the Laguna Madre

 climb the mesquite tree

snap a shot of the pelicans,

and meet a pirate.

 Ari and Montse tried the oysters at the Brewery...

before we played mini-golf

and rode the go-carts.

The next day, Bob went for a bike ride, 

and I managed a walk through the Birding Center.

 
My first view from the tower was the waste
water treatment plant.

I decided to follow the walkway and discovered

 a lot of birds that I had never seen before.

So, I am numbering them...and you can email me 
to let me know what they are...#1

 #2

 #3

#4

 #5

 #6

The weather didn't improve, so the kids decided

to head out a couple days early.  It was a good move

because they had some fun adventures on the trip

back to Iowa.

"Horse race" at the end-of-the-year park picnic.
I made 50 cents! :-)