1986

1986

For some reason, I don't have pictures of Oregon this year--other than this one of Dad resting on the couch.  55 years old and going strong!

 our family in 1986

a rare photo of just Ken and me.  These were probably taken by our good friends and neighbors---Bud and Grace Laswell.  They were like the kids grandparents.  We spent many weekend nights at their house playing cards.  They use to even babysit---something Ken's mom only did once or twice and my folks lived 2,000 miles away.

Easter

 There was a nationwide "Hands across America" event one day.  So we went to the end of our street and joined hands with a bunch of other people up there for the same thing.  Guess things will never change!  We're still fighting prejudice and equality.

 a mother's day present from angie.  I think she made it in cubscouts---back before girls were allowed to be in cubscouts, but would be there with their cubscout leaders.

The Mother's day basket Tim made me in cubscouts.  

Angie trying her luck at sewing---this may have been the last time she ever sewed!

 some event at Martyrs.

Angie was quite the fearless one.  Didn't even object to holding a big snake.

 Still smiling all the time.  Grandpa Gagznos nic-named her Smiley.

A rare photo of the kids together.

 This one was taken on a cub scout train trip to Springfield, Missouri. 

tim's baseball team

The kids found a turtle by Cold Water Creek.  Tried to keep it, but it wouldn't eat, so they let it go.

 Tim's first day of 2nd grade.    He went to kindergarten at Graham school which closed after he got out of kindergarten.  It later became a medical building.  If they hadn't closed Graham school, he probably would have continued there.  But since it closed, the kids went to North American Martyrs Catholic School for 6 years.

 Tim's 2nd grade class

Tim as an alter boy.

 The kids fishing

 Another UE Watermellon festival.  Another great time!

 At the Children's museum.  The kids got to dress up in Indian costumes. 

 a local pop up carnival

 a picnic at Sunfish pond in Spanish Lake

 a poor scanned photo of Tim at the St. Ferdinand Park play ground.

 another poor scan from the park

 Halloween with a Barbie and a Frankenstein

 This was also the year the kids both started taking piano lessons (Tim in 2nd grade, Angie in kindergarten)  It was a struggle to keep him going.  Managed to keep him going for 5 years.  He really got quite good!  I always wondered if it was worth the fight to get him to keep playing.  Then one day when he was in high school he said he wished I hadn't let him quit.  Now---at the age of 40---he has a fancy keyboard and guitars and has played in several little bands for fun.

 Angie stuck it out even longer and was also very good.  But I think starting so young kept her from advancing as quickly.  But she ended up switching to the flute (my old flute) in 2nd grade and then took up the saxaphone in 8th grade.  She was quite good at them and even played in the advanced jaz band.  One of those members ended up going professional---it was a really good band!  She played up until her senior year, when scheduling problems with classes caused her to drop out.   I never could understand how you could require a kid to take PE if they were playing varsity sports and it would conflict with something like marching band!  But I think she was ready to quit by then.  She hasn't played instruments as an adult, but she and her hubby are really into playing music---and have baby Layla hooked on music already!

 Some of Tim's loot from the school carnival.  This may have been when I was running the school carnival fund raiser.  Somehow I got talked into doing that for 5 years.  --- along with running the lunch room for 3 or 4 years; running PE at NAM for a year; being a Cubscout and Girl scout leader; doing a popcord fundraiser at NAM on Fridays; and coaching volleyball.  Those sure were busy years!