29 May 2017 – Last Monday In May

Fri: another Field-Day and another year over@the snow-cone stand. Appreciations to the Irmo Elementary School PTA, staff&administration and volunteers for organizing a fabulous last Fri in school for the kids. Am still know as Linn’s mom here, like during all her school days 🙂 and am privileged to be so.

Sophie with her teacher Liesl Price, James being a sport pulling hard and Coach Goodale doing a good job. No pix of John as I was busy when his class was out in the afternoon.

Pix from the creative works posted outside the classrooms.

Thank you for lunch provided by the PTA.

Sat: bright and early 2hrs drive with Jeff, #3, 4&5 and Cindy to Ashville for Memorial Day celebrations with Jeff’s aunt Kathleen (Cindy’s sis) & her family. Linn, #1&2 had their own programs and were not able to make the trip.

Appreciations to Rob&Leslie (Jeff’s cousins)  for their gracious hospitality in their beautiful home@The Ramble – Biltmore Forest, a gated community in South Asheville, sculpted into 1,000acres of woodlands and bordered by the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The kids enjoyed wading in the creek while I did a bit of both.  On the log L-R – John, Jack, Lincoln, Amelia, Graham, James&Sophie – the brave ones went barefoot 🙂 Graham and I are the wise-ones 🙂 🙂  (pix credit to Leslie). Tested the new amphibious shoes in the creek (Astral, bought@Trail Days) and they worked well both in water and on-land.

Well-maintained asphalt trails surrounded by lush greenery. With their plentiful dagger-sharp thorns, it’s not hard to understand how the Hawthorn Tree got its name. Crataegus (from the Greek kratos strength and akis sharp, referring to the thorns of some species) commonly called hawthorn.

Good company with plenty of indoor&outdoors activities – even for the grandmothers, there are new toys to be discovered…

giant Jenga – amazing how Graham&John balanced these blocks until Ashley toppled it 🙂 🙂 🙂

Soap-bubbles never fail to entertain until the whiff of the hamburgers&hot-dogs on the grill by chefs Rob&Pat took over. Kathleen’s baking is to die for!

Enjoy your time with families&friends remembering that Memorial Day is to commemorate and honour all who have died in military service for USA. Thank you Kathleen&family for yummy foods.

A great time was had by all young&old, big&small. Tkx to Rob for the ride around the neighbourhood in the back of his truck (pix credit to Kathleen) – been awhile since I did something like this! Was thrilled to see these cute fox-cubs playing on our way out of the Biltmore Forest.

Sun: nice quiet day while the family is at church, bdays&graduation parties.

Mon: The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war ― Douglas MacArthur

Mon: Memorial Day here in the US, thus a public holiday and boating time for The FaBulous5. Was out earlier tubing with #2 (+her friend), 3,4&5.

Remained on land with #3,4&5 as they wanted to swim and I learnt from #3 about a Dragonfly nymph’s skin he found. This boy sure knows his insects!!

L&J took the teenagers #1(+3friends) & pre-teens #2(+1friend) first tubing and then water-skiing. These parents deserve a medal for their patience 🙂 My hat off to them.

137 years later, Memorial Day remains one of America’s most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed – it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy – Doc Hastings