Cabela's.....

Grandpa & Grandma took 5 of the grand kids on a day trip to Cabela's. Here they are, all loaded up! Trent & Troy made the biggest purchases...not shocking!!A picture in front of the fighting bearsTroy & Madison heading into the store

Troy purchased a jack-knife and Trent got a fake gun and 'Cabela's' jacks...he wanted something with the Cabela's name on it. "watch out..there's a bear behind you!!!"

The kids all had a great time. Thank you G&G for taking them on this mini trip. They will surely never forget these adventures!

Father's Day 2010....

Here's the Dad's Here's the cook Here's the family... Here's the waiter... Here's the pourer Here's the gifts

We celebrated Fathers Day at our house after church. We enjoyed Steaks, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Fruit Salad, Watermelon and Apple Crisp for dessert. It was all yummo!

TISSUE ALERT...

We don't celebrate our dad's enough. I've been blessed with a great dad. He was a hard worker that always went the extra mile to provide for us.

We enjoyed lavish vacations in Florida and out West...TWICE. We had a vacation home in Croton MI...right-on-the-water!!! He kept us all driving a car..some of us tried pretty hard to destroy ours! One year we had 5 claims on our Auto Insurance....two were in our own driveway!

We always had a bike...or two. We always had an ample supply of clothes. We participated in the local fair. We always went to summer camp. We took piano lessons. We went to every basketball and football game. We picked berries together. He taught us all how to drive. He never abused any of us. He allowed, against his better judgement, us to keep stay dogs.

Most importantly he taught us about Jesus....the Jesus he already knew! He shared his faith with us. He took us to church every week, even when we were at our 'vacation home'. It was important that it was a Bible believing church...not just any church would do. He lived out his faith. He wanted us to be sure of OUR salvation. My dad was not a perfect dad but he did a great job of raising me.

Last week, a friend of mine and I were talking about parenting and she said "We just try to do better than our parents did."...I got to thinking.... Do I do better than my parents? Do I do worse? Did my parents do a good job?

If I could do anything...I just hope I could do equally as good as my parents did! Love You DAD!

Sunset Stroll 2010...

Saturday Night we gathered for the third annual "Sunset Stroll"

We ate at the church and then board the motor coach and head over to Lake Michigan. This year we went to Muskegon. This is our first year attending. We were able to bring Tyler & Alisha with us this year...Dad & Linda came and Alisha's parent's Paul & Candise also came.Here we are on the motor coach....Some of the board walk...yes, those people came with us visiting on the beach.... Steve and Joanne..... Paul & Candise.... Keith & Nancy..... Daren & Kelly.....
Ralph & Shelly..... Tyler & Alisha.....(and g-pa in the background)

Tyler & Alisha again.....

And of course a few sunset pictures. It was a beautiful night. Temperature was great and as you can see, a magnificent sunset!

Then, it was the 'Tyler & Alisha' photo shoot

Okay, so I couldn't get all the pictures down here where I wanted them. So, just look at the pictures above and imagine them down here under this heading ...lol!

oh grrrrr...just delated another picture on accident....grrrrrr!

Birthdays

June is Birthday Month around the Buckner's Home!!!

First there is Troy on the 9th. He turned 15...whoa...is that right? Lets see, he was born in 1995...yes, I do believe that is right! The first item out of the bag...gum..yes, gum..he is related to Hannah! That would be there compulsive personalities!
Next, was an "New Egg" box...for those of you that don't know what New Egg is...it is a computer component catalog.online store. I think Troy is there most frequent peruser...he seems to have everything memorized. We ordered him a DVD burner for his computer...I guess??The Birthday Girls! We went out to eat at the Rio Grand on the 10th for Grandma & my birthday. Steve posing with the 'birthday girls' The whole group....The 'Birthday Girls' again....Grandma was celebrating her 85th birthday

Troy and Trent Trent

Tyler and Alisha

We then went out to Dad & Linda for dessert.

Here is the Birthday Trio before we blew out the candles on our chocolate cake. The Trio again..I think???? (Tyler was in charge of taking pictures and he felt the need to take them from a aerial view!??)Grandma and her Lemon Meringue Pie. Linda always makes her a special pie for her birthday. She is so sweet!
Grandma and Alisha

Taking a Pontoon boat ride. Dad as Captain. We also played a game of Prediction. Good Times!

Andrew's Graduation...

On Saturday, we headed for the border...the Indiana Border that is!

Andrew was graduating from Waldron High School, 10th in his class..and we didn't want to miss it! We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the heated gym..the very heated gym!!

Here is the happy graduate...oops! the diploma is upside down..... He has it right now..... Graduating Janice, Andrew & John.... Grandma Linda, Andrew & Grandpa Bill Grandma Mary, Andrew & Great Grandma ElsieThe PARTY....

The 'Guys' looking over the neighbors cars

Trent was amused with the can crusher. He crushed all the pop cans from the party and Janice even brought him out a bag from the house!The graduate opening his gifts. Grandma Mary made the quilt that Grandma Elsie is holding. She uses all the kids old t-shirts to make them a quilt. It has some from Walt Disney World, sports teams and the like. It's a very special gift and keep sake! Lest we forget 'the girls' picture! Steve and TrentOn Sunday, we attended their church and then had brunch at Cracker Barrel. Here is the 'Adult' Table. Notice who is NOT there! John opening his Dinner....Chicken, Potatoes & CarrotsJohn and his mom Mary....isn't this a nice picture of them? Mary lives in Colorado now. She raised her 4 kids in the Kalamazoo Area all by herself. Her husband, John's dad, passed away from a boating accident on Lake Michigan when John was only in Junior High.

She is a beautiful women inside and out. She had just got back from a mission trip in Afghanistan only 3 days before she flew out to attend the graduation party! Trent ordered a Root Beer and they brought him a frosty mug and the bottle, he was soo impressed! "WOW..is that mine?!"...he said

We had a fun time together. Times are far and few when we can all get together. The kids are all growing-up and we all live a distance apart! Thank You Janice for all your hard work putting that week-end together!