Carson's tractor

At church Carson came up to tell us that he has a tractor and it goes really fast. I thought he was talking about one of those remote little cars. But after dinner he said, "Do you want to come out and see my tractor?" "It's outside?", we asked. "Yes, come!"

My goodness, he had a green John Deere tractor like his Dad's. And it did go fast! He took off across the lawn, rounded the corner and we didn't see him again until he came zooming up from the other side.

It's one of those battery powered riding vehicles. He got it at a garage sale where he used his little savings to buy it.

Here's Lily catching a ride. All three sisters were outside cheering him on and saying, "Don't drive it at us!" Mother Amanda took all of these photos with our camera.

Macy Jane

Lily Mae

and Emma Catherine

We had fun in the front yard

Battle of the Birds

Last evening (7/19) we went to a baseball game featuring the Idaho Falls Chukars, the Single A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals versus the Missoula Ospreys, the Single A affiliate of the Arizona Dbacks at the Melaleuca Field

As you may know "chukars" and "osprey" are birds. Here is Becca with Charlie the Chukar, who she called "The Chicken," as did most of the kids in attendance. Who has heard of chukars? I hadn't until Eric told me about this team.

The Auswanderers enjoy baseball games, Becca included. She got up in the morning and put on her "baseball shirt" in preparation to go and waited patiently until it was time.

Here is a covey of Chukars. We drubbed the Ospreys on a perfect late afternoon for a baseball game. It was in the 70ies with little wind. Our seats were in the shade. One of the highlights for me was to listen to Gramma sing along with the opening national anthem. She's still got vocal game.

Here is my totally authentic Chukars hat.

The Reynolds family came with us. It was Kraft Cheese Tuesday and with several wrappers we all got in way cheap. (Of course we now have a year's supply of sliced cheese.) This was the kids' very first pro baseball game and in their own way, each had a good time. Of course, snack was very important to all of them. I sat next to Emma for a while and we discussed batting averages which were flashed on the scoreboard as each batter came up. She asked what those numbers meant. She is bright and has always been thoughtful. She nodded as I explained and made me feel as if she were really interested.

Among other things Carson loved the stomping that the crowd did after a Chukars' score. Wow, an event with organized stomping!

Macy was wonderful. She sat on Gramma's lap, convenient to my water bottle, popcorn and chocolate drops of which she partook all evening. In later innings she ate the ice cubes out of her Mom's cup.

We made it all the way through the 8th inning, which was much longer than Amanda figured. Final story--as we were leaving our seats, Emma asked if we were going down the stairs. Gramma said that we would use the elevator. Emma exclaimed, "There's an elevator here?!" We all rode down in the elevator together smiling and laughing, glad that we went out to the ballgame.

Joy, Part 2

Here is another look at the 23 beautiful grandchildren. They are all wearing a special reunion shirt designed by Jon. Amanda took the design to a local company and had then run off.

Pensive Kaitlyn ready to go to church on Sunday

Rebecca and Sarah with TJ in the bg

Jon and Cathy's beautiful daughters Jennifer and Kimberly

Bethany never seemed happier than when she was holding her traveling companion

James showing off his great smile

Michael, The Humble

Smore smiles on David, Kaitlyn and Lily with Gramma

Cheerful Jennifer and Kevin, The Happy

Kaitlyn pulling Macy in the Red Neck Wagon

Carson with his sweet smile

Joy in our Posterity

At our recent reunion all of the children, most of their spouses and all 23 grandchildren of John and Marilyn Connelly gathered in Idaho. Here is one of the several group shots, taken in the garden of BYUI.

Megan took many of these photographs. Below is the Jon and Cathy's family.

Below is Ganon and Heidi's family

The following, in no particular order, is a few of the photos of our posterity taken during our visit. Here is Emma

Melissa holds TJ

Macy works on a marshmellow during our campfire

Thoughtful TJ below

Rebecca coming through the rocks

Kaitlyn amid the flowers

Great shot of both Gramma and Lily

The Pteryguim Excision

Becca was scheduled for eye surgery Wed (7/6). You may have noticed a growth on her left eye. Our eye doctors have been following it for the past two years. It is called a "pteryguim". It is not dangerous unless it grows across the pupil, where it could cause sight problems, even blindness. The opinions of two doctors concur. It is a slow growth but it is moving toward the pupil. This would be a good time for the "excision". We understand that the procedure is fairly easy, usually performed under local anesthesia, but the recovery can be painful. Here is Becca suited up for the surgery. She asked me to take a picture of this " 'diculous" outfit

Below here she is after the 20 minute procedure. The surgery went well. I ended up going into the surgery to hold her hand. They didn't put Becca out. Under local anesthesia Becca felt no pain under the knife and she could speak slowly. What did she say? "I'm starving!" We were the first surgery and arrived at 7:30 AM fasting -- no food nor water. By the time they had her prepped it was 9:30. Her comment made the doctor and nurses all laugh. One of them asked what she wanted to eat. Becca slowly said, "Rice and chicken, curly fries and a large drink" She was quoting her Jack-in-the-Box order. Even sedated she knew what she wanted to eat. Afterward they taped that eye shut and taped a plastic protective shell over that. It was very uncomfortable. Calling her a pirate didn't cheer her up. "I'm not a pirate! I'm Peter Pan". The shell was to stay on until the doctor's followup exam today. So we spent a pretty miserable afternoon and night. The eye itched and hurt. But thanks to family prayers, the rx meds and our medical advisor, my niece Cindy, we got through the night. We are back from the followup exam. The shell is off and the doc is very pleased with her eye. Becca is feeling much better. We appear to have avoided the extreme pain that was predicted. Now we begin a (seemingly endless) schedule of drops and ointment. Keep a good thought for Becca

P.S. After we finished the post op business, we went to Jack-in-the-Box and got her order

Rexburg Rodeo 7/4/11

We done did go to a gen-u-ine ro-de-o! Our 4th was jammed packed. In the morning we went to the Rexburg parade. This was our fourth time and it ranks right up there for us with the Kailua parade. Next was an ono lunch bar-b-cue at Amanda's and Eric's. Then for the first time, we headed over to the fair grounds for the evening festivities. Below is part of the patriotic horse and flag group who treated the enthusiastic crowd with a rousing tribute to our country.

This girl in the pink shirt below is important. She's the reigning (reining) queen. But first a little back story. Becca was excited to go to see horses but she has never been to a rodeo. When we arrived in the parking lot, she pulled out of her bag her bike helmet. She thought we were going to ride horses and she remembers they always want her to wear a helmet when she rides. She was OK when I explained that we were only going to watch the horses. She said, "Well maybe we can get an autograph" I'm not making that up. When did she learn "autograph"? Any way, we were early (Amanda will understand), and there were plenty of horses and riders riding in the arena to warm up and Becca saw this gal with her sash and asked if we might get her autograph. At the time we didn't know that she was the top queen among two dozen mounted Oueens, Jr Queens and Princesses we'd see later. Short story - Becca's sister Megan stood along the fence and flagged her down. She was sweet to take time to autograph Becca's program, while trying to make her spirited horse, named "Boot Scootin' Boogie", stand still. She wrote, "Happy Fourth of July Becca! Shauny, 2010-11 Queen" Becca has put that signed program with her special things. Thanks Meg.

And thank for all of these photos, including some great action sports shots. These three shots below are from the event simply called "Bareback"

Meg has talent, and good gear. The photo below looks like to me a professional shot in a western magazine.

There were many events. We sat in the stands with a huge crowd of local folk, who are ranchers and farmers, or who know ranchers and farmers, and appreciate the livestock and the those who demonstrate their skills riding and roping. The program pace was very leisurely, narrated by an unseen announcer, who among other things prompted the crowd, "Now folks, let's give Jim Bob a gret-big Rexburg, Idaho round of applause for his nice try". Meg, and three of her girls, Becca and I had a grand time.