(The dogs enjoyed Skyping too!)
(The dogs enjoyed Skyping too!)
Aunt Sarah and Aunt Rachel with their two-week old niece Clara.
They had the privilege of a road trip to Atlanta with Big Bro/Uncle Bubby and Aunt Angela for an awesome siblings weekend.
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Best $5 I have spent in a long time!!! (Not sure Shadow agrees.)
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Chicago, 1934 ...a couple of High School kids stepped into the photo booth
and captured this enduring and endearing image.
The last tent came down and the fair closed yesterday. But not before putting indelible smiles on thousands of faces. For more than 70 years my parents were known, as Pastor Hawkins pointed out, by a single name, PaulandMary. They're united once again, this time for eternity, in an even fairer place!
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Thanks to Tracy and Nate, we are elated to announce that we became grandparents on February 6th!!!!
It's still hard to believe, but even though we have only seen Clara in pictures, we are in total AWE. Truly, love at first sight. We can't wait to see her in person............and I can't wait to get my own photos so I don't have to pirate them and give you "day-old bread."
Check out proud and protective Uncle Bubby's wonderful chronicle of Clara's grand entrance in The Jungbauer Family Journal.
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I know I am dating myself (which is easier and easier to do these days) but do you remember Hawaii Five-O? Can you hear the theme music? Can you feel your heart beat and the surf break? I still can - but Hawaii Two-O is even better.
Well, even if you missed the epic TV series Hawaii Five-O, here is a glimpse of our epic: Hawaii Two-O.
2010 is an epic year for us. We will celebrate our twentieth year of marriage. Sarah will graduate from high school. Rachel will start high school in the fall. Tracy and Nate will bless us with our first grandchild any day.
2009 was kind of rough: Sarah rolled her Jeep, Tracy had gallbladder surgery, Eric was laid off, my nurse of 17 years retired, Sarah injured her knee and spent most of her summer recovering from surgery and in a full-length knee brace, Steve tore his Achilles, Steve spent 5 days in the hospital with pneumonia, Grampa David was in the hospital, Gramma Jane was in the hospital, Gramma Bev was in and out and in and out of the hospital, Shadow (our dog) was in the hospital, Gramma Mary died, Rachel entered the public school system, Steve turned 50, Steve tore his Achillles again, Steve had his Achilles tendon repaired........
Nonetheless, we also had some very positive things happen: Sarah and I went to Guatemala on a mission trip with Hands of Hope, Eric and Angela were married, Sarah was honored with the Hearts of Gold award and my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Although I am a firm believer that "the glass is always half full," I will admit that I was not disappointed to see 2009 come to an end --- and did not set any high expectations for 2010.
Ergo Hawaii Two-O was an especially nice surprise Christmas present from Steve. (After all :o) I think he deserved to take me some place really nice.) This was not even touted as an anniversary trip, but that's OK. I won't even pout if he forgets Valentine's Day this year . . . . I'm just happy to be with my hubby. (Being in Paradise is just a perk --- as is having friends invite us to join them in Kawai!)
Now that you have made it through my long-winded preface, I hope you enjoy the rest of our journey . . . . we did.
Hawaii Two-O began with a few days alone on Maui.
The lava fields..........We saw an octopus while we were snorkeling!
The road to Hana (Nothing much there, but the road around the island is spectacular --- and an adventure!)
Then we headed to Kauai to spend a week with some very gracious friends (and mentors).
This was our home for the week on Poipu Beach.
. . . and my favorite surf shop.
Of course, I didn't spend a lot of time just sitting on the beach.........
One of many awesome running trails.
Our hosts, Brent and Karen, on our hike along the Napali Coast. (We left Steve on the beach down below.)
Spectacular even though it was hazy. (Gotta go back!)
Java stop :o)
Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea
and frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Hananlei . . .
I didn't see Puff, but I would go back in a flash to continue my childhood quest --- that I didn't know was real until now.
Thanks for Hawaii Two-O, Love
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Angela's Christmas present from Eric.........
(Duke isn't sure he likes sharing his toys........but he loves teasing his new playmate!)
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Obvioulsy, Steve isn't the only goofy one!!!
(For those of you that don't know, Eric is now the proud father of a Georgia Bulldog Lawn Gnome!!!)
We're all characters!!!
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When the girls found out we were taking them to Disney, the first thing Sarah said was "I can't wait to ride the Tea Cups and go to the Tower of Terror!"
Our last trip to Disney was in 2003, so Rachel wasn't tall enough (and neither girl was brave enough) to do a lot of the rides. Well, Rachel let her down this year and didn't let anything (except the Tea Cups) slow her down!
This trip was all about riding roller coasters and "adventure rides."
The Tower of Terror is still one of the most exhillarating experiences at Disney (see hair-raising photo above) but Expedition Everest, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (G-force acceleration and upside-down hair-pin turns), Soarin' and good ole Space Mountain are all worth doing over and over again --- unlike It's A Small World which the girls wouldn't even consider!
The only thing as exhillarating as the rides was American Idol. This was also the only attraction that we were glad to be in a wheel chair for because it put us front row and center for the finale!
It was rather obvious when he made direct eye contact with Sarah --- the camera-man saw it too and quickly zoomed in on Sarah!
This could be the next American Idol. By winning that night, he earned a golden ticket to the front of the line at any American Idol audition.
Christmas lights on steroids!
The most beautiful princesses of all
Magical memories
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OUCH!!!!
Steve was a little stunned when he saw the incision for the first time.
He asked for a camouflage cast, but settled for his next favorite color: black.
(He has something much more festive planned for Christmas!)
Ate too much for Thanksgiving dinner or Hoosier Hysteria?
Neither.......Introducing "Stubs."
According to Tracy herself: "Aptly named because instead of tears of joy upon seeing my baby on screen, I shouted "Look at the stubs! Do you see the stubs Nate?" I'm sure the ultrasound technician has heard worse...right? (Lucky for me, Nate redeemed us both by pointing at the screen and asking, "Is that the baby's heart beating?" Nate wasn't interested in stubs, he was more awed by being able to see the heart--he's a good Daddy.)"
Well, as you can see "Stubs" is growing well (and becoming much cuter) and Mommy is glowing despite a few rough months in the beginning. We are confident that Stubs will be the most beautiful grandchild in the world. Afterall, look at Sarah and Rachel. They started out as "Emil Angus" and "Cheeseball" and I think they turned out just fine!
Obviously, Sarah and Rachel are ecstatic about becoming aunts in February. (We are excited too, but is anyone under the age of 60 ever feel old enough to be a grandparent?) Too bad Atlanta is so far away.
. . . and so we enjoyed our first Thanksgiving gathered around Tracy's dining room table with multiple branches of different families with common roots united. And yes, Steve travelled to Atlanta the day after his Achilles tendon surgery AMA!
Our midnight shopping tradition was cut a little short because our mother-to-be Tracy didn't have quite the stamina (or Red Bull) as in years past, but we managed to fill a few shopping bags, sleep for a few hours and then went back to Tracy's for a 2pm "breakfast" of Old-Fashioned Cream Pie! (Definitely one of the best parts of Thanksgiving in my mind!)
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Having grown up in Minnesota, Steve hunted. He hunted a lot. Hunting in Minnesota is an introverted equivalent to Indiana's Hoosier Hysteria over basketball.
Shortly after Steve moved to Indiana, he quit hunting............I like to think that it is because he found me............but twenty years later he headed back out into the woods. I have barely seen him since.
About 2 weeks ago, during bow season, he was face-to-face with big buck. As Steve tells the story, he could almost feel the buck breath on him, and stood drawn for over 10 minutes waiting for a clear shot. Painfully, Steve had to watch the buck walk away.
A few nights later, the buck reappeared. Steve patiently tracked him with his bow drawn, again waiting for the right shot and "whack!" A perfect shot ---- straight into a tree!!!
A few nights later..............one shot, one arrow, one dead buck, one clean kill. Only 6 points, but about 200 pounds! Can you feel the adrenaline?
Gun season opened last weekend. We brought Nate and Tracy up for the weekend but scheduled everything around the morning and evening hunt. Eric, his friend Nick and Nate all went hunting with Steve. (The ultimate guy bonding experience, I guess: go sit in the dark alone "together")
Anyway, they all had a great time, but no venison.
This week, Steve took vacation to go hunting. (When growing up in Minnesota, he routinely took a week off of school every season just to hunt.)
He was still hoping to find an even bigger buck that has been flirting wtih him when he arrives at the woods every morning, but couldn't resist a shot at a smaller buck that walked into his line of fire.
One shot and the deer fell instantly. His phone rang seconds later and he answered it thinking it was his hunting buddy calling to confirm the kill. Instead, it was the vet calling to update Steve on Shadow who was at the vet's with internal bleeding. Then, while talking to the vet, the deer got back up and stood there dazed. " Uh, I really have to call you back," and Steve quickly jumped out of his tree stand to get a better shot and "whack" again! This time it was his Achilles --- the same one he tore 6 months ago and the same one that has continued to bother him ever since.
He still managed to gut the deer, but by the time he got home he could barely get his boot off. (Rachel says he screamed like a girl when she helped him pull his boot off!)
Surgery is tomorrow. Thankfully, he is fixable and has met his deductible. (I even got him in for his colonoscopy earlier this week!)
So.......we have some high-priced venison in the freezer. I'm sure this has cost a lot more than the last time he tried to save us money by building a pier and then had to have surgery on his elbow.
Steve still says it was worth every richter of pain.
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Wasn't this just last year?
Nope.......1997........which was also probably the last time Steve and I went to a Halloween party!!!
Nowadays, we cater our schedule to our hallowed teens and their parties.
This year: Napoleon Dynamite (and his pet llama, Tina) with cohorts Deb and Kip.
Sandy and Danny from Grease
But the most "important" part of Halloween????
The Pumpkin Farm!!!
This Presidential parade of pumkinheads is amazingly close to real life!
(and they also kinda look like the presidents too)
The Wonderful World of Disney . . . and more beyond your wildest imagination!
Nothing quite measures up . . .
For years, Sarah and Rachel shared the pilgimage to the pumpkin farm with Gramma Jane and Grampa David . . . . . for memories beyond measure
