Memorial Day 2024: Sarah's Tornado Begins It

It started with the tornado sirens blowing.

Twice.

I had just sat down to write yesterday's second post of the day when I received that video from Hawkeye Sarah and a one word text.

"Welp."

Welp, indeed. She and her family were preparing to drive from their home in Iowa City to ours and a line of tornadic storms had just reached them. Thus began a flurry of texts between us.

The tornado passed their home by less than a half mile but they were safe, thank goodness. Iowa City suffered some damage, but compared to other recent tornados in Iowa this spring, the city was fortunate.

Needless to say, I never finished that second post of the day - I had some errands to run and some cleaning to finish before they arrived. (They ran into more heavy storms on the way, including one as they pulled into town.)

The hay in the neighborhood hay field was baled and ready to be taken to the barn.

I don't know if it was picked up before the storm system blew through here; I hope so.

We laid in a supply of necessary snacks - always a priority because we will be playing games late into the night all weekend.

Sarah and her family met Tammo for the first time. They'd brought Blue and Rhett with them, and we were a little surprised that Blue accepted Tammo immediately. (Then again, look at that face. Of course she did; wouldn't you?)

We'd ordered pizza for dinner. Lukie helped carry the boxes in. (With some help from Cousin Trinity.)

The pizza pick-up crew. Trinity, Todd, Ian, and Lukie.

The games began right after dinner. The adults were still sitting around the dinner tables and chatting when Lukie piped up, "Aren't we going to play cards or a game or something??" (Craig, Todd, Vanessa, Curt, and Lisa.)

Curt, Lisa, Sarah, and Trinity.

Of course, we played Bank, a game that can have lots of people (regardless of age) playing all at the same time.

We had some very high rolling games!

Okay, I am hearing noises from the guest rooms and Blue, Rhett, and Tammo have all popped in to say hello. (Pepper got up with me and is by my feet as I type.)

Posting may be sporadic this weekend, but I'll do my best.

Stay 'tooned!

 

Memorial Day - Honoring Our Family

Yesterday was Memorial Day, and Craig, Lisa, and I made the rounds of the family gravesites in the Lafayette area. Our first stop was Rest Haven Memorial Park on Sagamore Parkway (52) in Lafayette.

 Craig's Fairchild grandparents, Charles and Blanche, are buried here.

 As is their daughter (and Phyllis' sister) and her husband, Marybelle and Bob Pechin.

We tried to find a cousin's grave, Susan (Sheryl?) Cleaver, and asked the cemetery manager for help. He was more than happy to show us where she was buried.

Only she was not on his list of graves. Her daughter was, and we found the spot where she had been buried, but there was no grave marker that we could find.

Then it was off to Colfax to visit the graves of Craig's parents, other grandparents, and great-grandparents.

 Cormilles and Mary Isenbarger's graves.

 Lisa puts flowers on Pooma and Boompa's headstones.

 The cemetery in Colfax is quiet and peaceful.

 I love the setting but it is so far from Lafayette that we don't get to visit the graves very often.

 The headstone of Craig's great grandparents, Isaac and Emma Isenbarger.

Last it was back into West Lafayette to Grand View Cemetery at the top of Salisbury hill and overlooking Happy Hollow Park.

 Here we put flowers on my mother's parents' headstone, Earl and Georgia Honeywell...

... and that of my parents, Jack and Fern Martin.

I'm glad we live close enough to visit and honor the graves of so many family members. I plan to go to Terre Haute in a week or so and visit the graves of my other grandparents, Robert and Wilma Martin.

A Reminder of Cambria

A fat yellow dandelion was growing in one of my flowerpots on the patio Tuesday morning. Cambria picked it and was having fun smelling it as she waited for her parents to finish packing their car for the trip home.

She left it on the recliner when it was time to go.

A last reminder that our home had been filled with laughter, activity, and love for the past four days.

It is far too quiet now.

Memorial Day Cookout

Curt and Vanessa hosted a family picnic for both sides of their family Memorial Day.

 Not only was there a sprinkler for the kids to play in (as Ian demonstrates)...

 ... but a fun baby pool, too!

 A shower from the sprinkler!

 And the, we heard a call... a siren call to young and old alike.

 An ice cream truck was making the rounds of the neighborhood!

 Aunt Lisa treated Cambria and Ian to red, white, and blue popsicles.

Thanks, Aunt Lisa!!

Memorial Day - Visiting Pooma

Monday morning we dropped by Pooma's for a visit.

 Pooms was her usual sassy self and in good spirits.

 Naturally, Julie brought along the Wiggles guitar.

 Cambria enjoyed dancing to its tunes.

 Titan, Jessica, Andrew, Cole, Julie, and Cambria.

 Pooma, Craig, and Lisa.

 Titan pulled a cushion on top of himself.

 Emily and I took a selfie - she became very ill with the flu after this, poor gal!

 Boompa took Julie and Cambria on a ride in the elevator.

 Pushing the buttons. (Er, the elevator's, not Boompa's!!)

Such a sweet boy!

Memorial Day - Random Pictures

These are just some random photos from Memorial Day weekend.

Jess and Cole's families talk on the phone with Granny Slash.

Standing at her window ensures that she can see us while we do not expose her to any germs we might have. (Turns out we were packing a nasty flu virus, so it's a good thing we did not go in to see her!)

I didn't get to say much, mostly doing babysitting duties so my kids could talk to their grandmother.

Kyle played with Ian and the garage.

Cambria loves Jessie, the doll in Toy Story. I happen to have a Bullseye horse, also from the movie. Cambria gave Jessie a ride on the living room table.

Ian cuddles up to his daddy on the couch.

My three boys, together again!

Cambria and Julie look at something on Uncle Kyle's phone.

Sharing a laugh together.

And then a goodbye hug.

Before leaving town, Kyle spoke to Granny Slash outside her bedroom window.

Emily took this beautiful picture of Julie and Cambria holding hands and running in the park across the street from our home.

The Wiggles guitar was a FAVORITE of all the kiddos - even Titan played it!