THANKS!

Thanks to everyone who attended Scott and Carol's party last night. We had a good turnout and I hope you all had lots of fun!

I will share all the photos with you as soon as I return to Tyler and Downing this afternoon and get my camera.

How could I forget my camera?

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! It's like I'm missing a limb.

No blondie jokes, please.

:-(

(Update: I drove to Anamosa to retreive my camera. T & D was closed. The sign says they're open from 3 - 7 on Sundays. Since they are not open on Mondays either, it appears we'll have to wait until Tuesday for photos. Me without my camera. I feel lost.)

(An update on the update: Dirk Downing called. He found my camera. My missing limb has been reattached. I am returning to Anamosa first thing in the morning to get it. Photos to follow by noon! Whew..... that was worse than being told the world stopped making beer. OK, well, almost.)

HELLO FROM LISA HARMS

Hi Carron,

I've been great, busy working. You know how that goes. Congratulations on your engagement to Tony, you guys make a great couple. When is the date?

Both my kids go back to school this week. Ashley is starting her first year of college. She received a full ride scholarship for softball (which helps a lot.) TJ is starting his fourth year. I can't believe they are both in college. Time goes fast.

I hope everyone has fun tonight. I will be thinking of you guys. Tell everyone Hi for me. I have been meaning to call you, too. Hope to talk to you soon. I hope I can make it back to Iowa soon.

Love,
Lisa

UPDATE FROM ERIC

Hey!

I'm still here. I just have not been online in ages. When school is in session it tends to keep me busier than I like to be. Over the summer, I spent time with the boys playing games and all. I have not taken a grad school class since summer '06 and that's usually about the only reason I get online. So, what am I doning online now? - I'm taking another class so have to be online for that. I do like reading about everyone, just don't have much time to do it (school is back in session - just finished our first week).

I'm only teaching one class this year, but am editing and piloting a new text book being published by A Beka Book, our publishing company - the largest publisher of Christian school text books in the world - check them out online. For the piloting process I have to also write all tests and quizzes as well as the curriculum day-by-day guide - so, it will be another busy year besides all of my other usual school activities.

I'm sorry I have never gotten a picture to you of our latest arrival (Keith - born last December.) He too has added to our business here around home. I don't have a scanner or a digital camera, but - I think I may be able to scan some pictures up at the University C-lab since I am back to taking classes - I'll check it out up there next time I'm up there.

Oh, the yearbook was dedicated to me at school last spring - that was a nice surprise.

Well, the boys are in grade 3, 1, K5 and Keith is 8 mo. old.

Mommy is doing well and me - wow, I'm almost 45 years old - hard to believe.

Not a lot else to tell, I will not be quite so scarce at lest for the next 3 months since I'm taking a class and will be online frequently with that (I just hope I have time to sleep - the dumb class doesn't even start until 8/30 and I already had to read one book and have 4 chapters due in another.

Gotta go, see ya,

Eric (Collins)

CAPTION THIS...

"THAT DIDN'T TAKE ALL THAT LONG"

Bahahahaha!!

Carron,


Sorry for the late reply. We got two of our kids off to college last week. It was pretty emotional. Our oldest is a Junior at ISU and our middle child is a freshman at UNI. Our youngest started back to school today.


Carol started work at a new job the Monday after I got back, so here I sit at home. I have many things left on my list, but have run out of motivation. That didn't take all that long. All the small things are done, but I have blamed the heat for the reason for not doing the major projects.


We plan on being at dinner Saturday night. We'll get there around 5 or so. We were going to come Friday night but Carol has to work Friday and we just couldn't make it happen. We have to swing by Cedar Falls and drop off a printer for my son next Saturday morning. Busy, busy.


No special requests. We are just looking forward to seeing everyone. See you then!


Scott

BRENDA IS A PICTURE-TAKING FOOL!!

Hi!

I entered the Cedar Rapids Gazette photo contest. Winners are chosen by the number of votes a photo gets. I submitted 3 photos (bachelor button, rose, resurrection lily). Beginning Saturday, August 25, you can view the photos of the week and vote for the one (s) you like!

Go to: http://www.gazetteonline.com/

BRENDA SENT PHOTOS TO SHARE

Click on the link below to view pictures of Michelle and Lary's wedding. There are pictures of Barb in there. I don't think I have seen her since graduation day! She looks great.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=r4dq2db.6akasmh3&Uy=57mke7&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

Click on this link to view beautiful pictures of Brenda's flowers in her garden.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=r4dq2db.1rwihoqv&Uy=q5y3js&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Brenda Hanken just shared the good news with me that Michelle Eden and Lary Winders FINALLY got married last Saturday night!!!

I guess they took BZ's advice and didn't rush into anything!!!

Congratulations to the happy couple!!!

DON'T FORGET SCOTT'S WELCOME HOME PARTY!

Just a reminder about Scott Weber's Welcome Home Party to

be held on Saturday, August 25th.

The party will be held at Tyler and Downing Eatery in

downtown Anamosa with dinner beginning anytime after 5:00, if you want

to eat.

I have reserved the upstairs lounge for the evening. The lounge

is smoke-free, but there is a smoking room next door. Munchies

will be provided and there will be a cash bar for your beverage

consumption.

SHARON IS SO STRONG...

Hi, Carron,

We are all doing as well as can be expected. It was quite a shock when David was killed. Last weekend was very long, but it's getting better. We were all at Mom and Dad's today writing out thank you notes. It seems strange when we get together and someone is missing.

On a brighter note, yes, I am ready to hang and have a good time on the 25th. I still need to arrange for childcare, but I doubt that will be a problem.

I found out today my nephew, Doug's oldest son, is going to be deployed to Baghdad on Oct 24th, from Ft. Campbell, KY. Not what I wanted to hear, but not much anyone can do about it. He is stoked and ready to go, so I guess that is what is important...

Can't wait to see you and catch up on everything!!

Thank you for thinking of me.

Sharon

WEED WHIPPED...

Carron,

You can certainly write to me at this address. I have already weed whipped the yard, weeded the tomatoes, fixed the vacuum cleaner, added freon to the van, re-hung mybird feeders (the finches are back), replaced the U.S. flag on my flag pole out front, fixed the toilet seat, and a few other chores.

I am loving every minute of it. It is great to be back home. I have to unpack all my army stuff today. Not all of it has arrived yet. We were forced to leave a large amount of it in Wisconsin and it will arrive next week. It is amazing how much stuff you take with you.

My sleep pattern is a bit messed up yet, but I am getting better. The food is great and I am eating too much. I will get back to the diet thing in a few weeks. I never miss an opportunity to eat chocolate. Life is good!

Scott

HE MADE IT SAFELY... HE'S HOME

Carron,

I just got back today. We have been on our way home since the 24th. It is great to be home. I am very tired and will write more later. All is great.

Scott

SCOTT'S RETURN

Click on the link for an article about Scott's unit returning home today....

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/8829642.html

IT WON'T BE LONG NOW...

I just received an e-mail from Carol Weber. Scott is in Wisconsin now and will be home on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.!!!!!

Welcome home, buddy!

Can't wait to see you in a couple weeks.

MORE BAD NEWS

Sharon Covington's oldest brother, David, was killed in a car accident Thursday night.

His obituary is in the Quad City Times today. I believe it will also be in the CR Gazette and Anamosa paper later in the week.

Obviously, her entire family is in shock right now. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

(Thanks to Diane Norton for the info...)

THANK GOODNESS FOR

GOOD FRIENDS

Below is a picture of two of my bestest friends ever, Kristi and Dawn. To the left is my buddy, Stan!

Thank you all for being there when I needed you the most!

THE FAIR, CHICAGO, BEER TENT, ETC.

I trekked up to Monticello last night for a rip-snorting good time at the fair. The band, Chicago, performed and the median age at the concert was, oh, say, about 44?!?

Anywho, I ran into tons of people we know and snapped the following pics of some of them.

I also saw Mark Jones and Jim Ahrendsen and lots of people from the classes of 1980 and 1982. I heard rumors that Scott Ehlts and Kelly & Milt were there, but I never saw them. I had the camera all ready. Funny thing, tho....I heard lots of comments like, "Oh, jeezus, we're going to end up on the blog tomorrow, aren't we?"

Enjoy the photos and if y'all have any of your own from the fair, please send and share. We're talking about a county fair in Iowa, for God's sake. Y'all have to have some cow, pig, or goat pictures for me, don't ya!?!

TONY'S ARMPIT CANDY...

Quite appropriate, actually, since she is about the sweetest thing ever.

TONY, JEFF, AND

SOME GUY WE

DON'T KNOW...

but, he was very nice and mildly photogenic, no??