Three Kids in the Tub

For the past week, David and Susan have been off on a cruise in the Carribean. They had long planned this outing and it is well-deserved, given all the time they've had apart.

One obvious implication of this involved us (primarily Gretchen) taking care of young Drew, Nathan and Berneice for the week. While tiring, we had a good time. The kids are fun and are so verbal and interesting and interested.

Of course, we had to bathe them and their pattern still is for everyone in the tub at once. It works for now and makes for quite an event at the end of the day. So, I had to capture the moment here...if I remember, this photo may well come out in the future!

Moving Day - Part 2

The moving van made it to Ohio and the movers are unloading as I write. It is a bit rainy this morning, so hopefully this won't complicate things. I spoke to dad last night he said that while driving off of Wedgewood Drive and out of town was emotional, all said, they did not have any complications with the final closing paperwork or inspections. I am sure it will take a few weeks for them to really unpack and settle in, especially with mom driving back and forth to OU until the school year ends.

The Chem Dept at OU held a retirement reception for Mom on May 16th. Many of her past and current peers and mentors over the last 20+ yrs celebrated with her and it sounded like a wonderful evening. Since OU is on quarters, I believe that the school year ends around June 13th, so this will be another big milestone for mom! Love - Amy

Moving Day!

After 31 years in Parkersburg, today is moving day for Mom and Dad. The movers are loading the van right now and should pull out around 3pm this afternoon. The last few months have certainly been an emotional journey for Mom and Dad. They held an open house last Saturday to celebrate friendships and had a wonderful time. It was a great way for them to say goodbye to many friends from the neighborhood, work, and church. Andrew and I also each made a final trip "home" in the last month. And yes, my Strawberry Shortcake doll collection is now safely stored in my own basement along with other assorted childhood treasures! Well, say a prayer for Mom and Dad today!! Love, Amy

Goodbye Carol!

I am a little behind on some of my errands, but today I finally made it to the post office to send Carol on her way out to Karla. We've enjoyed having Carol visit for the year and she was prominently displayed on our mantle during March Madness. Abbey was quite fond of the photo too and several times she pointed to it and said "Nana." Apparently Abbey thought that Carol resembled Nana Waun.

Photos of Extended Ely Family

Mary Alice's funeral on April 28 provided a rare opportunity for our extended family to be together. Marge and I enjoyed our time in a venue and situation quite different from ordinary life.

We also took a lot of photos...so here they are, with captions of who is who.

Joe, Bob, Dick, Jim, Mike and John Ely, with Marge in front.

Brian, Marge and Joe (in front of a blooming tree, which is not in the family)

All the assembled Ely cousins.

Joe, Jim, Bob, John, Bill, Mike, Ed, again with Marge in front.

Single sylable names rule.

Dick Ely, seated, the last of the living children of Laura and Edward Ely.

With his three sons, Jim, John and Bob.

All the assembled family.

Brian Dean, Linda, Joe, Jim, Bob, Marge Dean, Dick, Barb, Bill, Mike, John, Carol and Ed.

Hope this is fun to see.

David Ely home for good

Today is a big day for our part of the family. David was honorably discharged from the US Army after 5+ years of service and got home around 4:30am this morning.

His trip was all set up until a big band of thunderstorms decided to stall out just over O’Hare Airport in Chicago, where he was flying from Colorado Springs, his home base with the 2nd Infantry. So, he waited and waited in the Springs and it got later and later. Finally, they found a window and took off, landing in Chicago around 1am CDT. Susan drove up to get him, anxious to see her hubby as you can imagine. With all the delays, though, she didn’t leave here until11:30pm !!! They met up and it was quite a sight for David, as he described it. Back in the car for a drive through Chicago at the only time of day there isn’t traffic.

This morning, David got up and fixed the kids their favorite “Daddy Breakfast” of waffles. This was a real treat. Drew and Nathan were just beside themselves with excitement and Berneice quickly got into it.

Susan, meanwhile, had three classes to teach at Ivy Tech, so she got herself out the door and made that commitment, while David enjoyed just being with the little ones. D&S went out to dinner tonight to start to get some conversation in…they were loving being together without having to think about the next departure date.

Here’s David this noon with Nathan and Drew…what fun to be together. David looks a little tired but the boys are fired up!!!

Rejoice with us.

A Fun Indy Meet-up

On Saturday, March 30, Gretchen and I were in Indy and got to see Brian, Susan, TJ and John. The ostensible reason for the trip was a half-marathon I ran which began and ended about four blocks from the Dean’s home. So, Gretchen and I drove down early; Gretchen dropped me off at the race and watched the pack of us head out on the run. (Romantic note: She was standing about 100 yards up from the start line…as I ran past, I zipped over and gave her a big kiss. Other guys behind me asked her if THEY could have a kiss too…sorry, dudes…).

She then headed over to the Deans and had a nice couple of hours with all of them. Susan had to go to a Bridal Shower but the rest of the folks came up to see the end of my race. Unlike a baseball game, a road race has a much more predictable end time. They got to the finish line a few minutes before I got there…how fun it was for me to come around the corner to the finish line and see the four of them standing there cheering! (if your life is horribly boring, you can read my detailed race report here )

We all went back to the Deans, and Brian snapped this photo of John, TJ and me in their front yard. I took a shower and enjoyed more time with all of them. G and I then met some old friends for lunch, did some shopping in Indy, drove home and watched hoops, wondering how firmly cemented Carol will soon be in Marge’s hands.

I must publically apologize to John. The race course wound around the subdivision just next to theirs, with lots of turns. The race organizers recuited members of the local High School Cross Country team to help direct the tired, dazed runners the right way. Well, John went out on his bike, saw a bunch of folks running in the same direction with paper numbers pinned to their shirts and realized this was the course. He stopped his bike near one small group of the helpful direction-givers and waited for me. And waited. And waited. John got there when the leaders came through and it took a Very Long Time for me to get there. And, alas, when he did, he said "Hi Joe!" I was startled, not even thinking about John at the moment (hey, it was mile 10 at that point). I didn't recognize him and gave him a very odd reaction. Only after the race did I realize the doofus move I made there. I'm sorry John!!!!! My bad!!!!!

A great day, even if I did space on young John…enjoy the photo of these growing boys!!

Joe