Mother's Day & Birthdays & Graduations

We O'Donnells are usually on the move but I think we

outdid ourselves over Mother's Day weekend. Friday

kids & grandkids assembled at the Shatto Dairy outside of

St. Joseph to see the cows & their calves and sample

some wonderful milk combinations. My favorite is

rootbeer milk which tastes like a float - there is also Dreamsicle

with orange etc. etc. A picnic lunch gave the little ones

a chance to stretch their legs. Natalie took full advantge!

Tyler took Alex for an 'Uncle's Carnival Ride'

A partial line-up by the Shatto truck

Friday evening we ate outside in lovely weather . . . .

and altho we love Caleb it was thought a single table

would be best for all concerned!

After dinner Jackson spent some quality time

with Smokey

then we celebrated the spring birthdays

Shane, Lindsey, Jerilyn and Joy

Christy made a beautiful pair of earrings for

Jerilyn's 30th birthday but Joy thought they would

work for her!!

The evening was a bit chilly but it was nice

being outside (as long as you ignored the campfire

with wet wood killing the mosquitoes and the eyes)

Caleb thought he would do a bit of weeding when

things got slow

Shane was thrilled to find out the very, very short

rake did expand!

Joy is an outside girl so she was very

happy with her table umbrella

Little boys and cupcakes just go together!

You would have thought one of us would have

taken Sam for Joy - such a thoughtful bunch!

Yeah - we did have enough hot air!!

Stair jumping helped work off the calories

Gotta love that Caleb face!

Love this shot of Madison and Natalie

Audrey & Alex catching up

Saturday Morning - More Family!!!

Everyone gets to meet Samuel Patrick starting with

Great-Grandma Julie

and Aunt Dana along with all the others

The weather was our friend and we

had a wonderful lunch on the patio

can't beat good food, good friends and good conversation

Well enough quiet time for us - time to start the engines.

Tiffany and Eli came up too so he was in time

for a 'Joy Ride'.

and talk about them

Shane got his camera out for some family

photos starting with Mom and her great-grandchildren

plus Jerilyn

Madison taking a break

I love that Brooke smile!

Kent & Shane go waaaaay back to Mizzou -

Mel & Burt were here too so lots of long time friends

Cheeks & pigtails

Getting ready for the family picture -

shame you can't tell this is Tyler's daughter

Looks like a fashion shoot doesn't it?

The REAL family picture is at the top of the blog

but this is my favorite! Natalie has just managed to

escape (lower left) and we are evenly divided between knowing

what happened, wondering what happened and not a

clue that anything happened!

Patrick Shane & Samuel Patrick

Noah up a tree

Grandkids just hanging around!

I don't think the neighbors were too inconvenienced

by our frivolities - in fact they rather enjoyed it.

Farewell from our little spot in the country

Come again! (I borrowed this barn from a neighbor)