Well- thanks to our crew, made up of the kids and the kids-in-law, we had a big clearing out of our basement/garage recently. Twenty-five years and six kids- the accumulation of the years was reckoned with. The dumpster was filled, many loads of various and sundry items went to Goodwill, the local library got stacks of books, son-in-law Chad took two truckloads of metal stuff to the salvage place. Son and sons-in-law did the heavy lifting, daughters cleaned and cleaned and sorted. Grandma mainly babysat, and tried not to get all sentimental about things that I have hung on to thinking that "someday the kids will need this".

They don't and won't. It was 'thanks, but no thanks'. I am happy they they are all hard-working productive people who are figuring out how to fill up their houses with their own stuff.

Back in the old days, Tom had his office and I had my sewing room, and the kids had their play area in the basement. As the house has emptied out, Tom and I have moved upstairs, settling into former bedrooms, making two of them into our offices. 

Now we need the basement for grandchild overflow- a place to yell and run and play and eat. It is a more healthy place as well, after many battles with drenching rains and leaks- anything that got in contact with water has been removed. The basement is an echo-y wide-open place once again.  

We are thankful this was tackled. I am so impressed with our kids. They are amazing workers, and they had fun doing it. So rewarding after all those years of telling them to "CLEAN UP THE BASEMENT". This time it was their idea. We are blessed.

Verity was ready for some serious scrubbing.

The grandkids had their own agenda- have a good time with cousins!

The kids got so dirty after they decided to heap leaves on the trampoline- it was ground into their hair, their clothes, their skin. But it was BIG FUN!

Picnic time! Anytime you can have kids eat outside it is a win-win. (L-R: Moses, Emerald, Isaac, Calvin) They are enjoying the table Chad made last year.

The younger set enjoyed the Cheerios buffet table. (L-R: Silas, Edelweiss, Phoebe, Eli)

Two of our sons-in-law- Chad (Candace) and Kevin (Grace). Others were helping out, but not pictured. 

Phoebe can keep up with the big kids.

Emerald decided to improve her looks by decorating with a marker. We got it off before Mommy saw it.

We have family in town visiting. Some get up earlier than others. Moses. He and I had a nice ramble out in the yard this morning, checking out the plants and trees in bud and bloom. Peaches and pear blossoms are about to burst open. Forsythia is going to town already. We are foggy this morning. I told Moses that fog is a cloud lying on the ground. We talked about that for a bit. 

We saw some wonders that God has designed for our pleasure:

And our friend Velcro did some high-altitude grooming.

Moses produced this "Good Morning" artwork earlier today:

Good morning to you!!!  A chicken and a blue jay welcome you to the day.

A little later, a little lady awoke: Emerald

She loves to draw- and is very accomplished (says Grandma).

She had a little run-in with a KU landscaping stone last week, and took most of the hide off of the tip of her ring finger. Emerald got to be the first in the family to need an ER trip, and had seven stitches. Doctor says she should recover nicely. Good thing mommy is a nurse- she is an expert wound-dresser.