Adding to the Family

We have been talking about potentially making our family bigger.  We would both like to, but it is all about getting the timing right.  I have some good news, last Friday it became official, our family is expanding.  I called Lance on Friday on my way home from work and told him the exact same thing and he was very excited.  When the girls came home, I sat down with them and told them that our family was growing and they were going to have to be good girls and help mommy take care of the expanding family. 

 They were such good helpers, they even helped me unload the car and carry a heavy box of goodies.  Introducing the newest members of the Hofmann Family of Cats....

 Jenna was a good lil mommy and showed the kitties where to eat.  Spot (in the lower right corner of this picture) was not sure what to think of the 4 new kittens he has to share his food bowl with.  He never hissed or growled, but he didn't want much to do with them either. 

This lil guy is my favorite, he is just a grey and white fur ball and is very mischevious!

P.S. from our 8 kittens last spring, only one survived around our house until this summer, Spot.  However, we had 3 or 4 until they all left and went Tom-Cattin' around in the early spring.  Also, we like to have the cats around because they keep the mouse and snake population under control.

Daylillies

My daylillies are blooming.  It is absolutely beautiful  this year.  I only have one plant and it is loaded with blooms.

U - pick Strawberries

Last year, Lance purchased 12 strawberry plants for me.  We planted them and 10 of them survived over winter.  This year we have had some strawberries, but not more than 25 tiny berries in any one picking.  In my opinion, not enough to enjoy.  Tucker's have a strawberry patch right here in town.  On 5/25/12 we went over there and U-picked our own berries, enough to actually enjoy.  I made a deal with the girls that we would pick until they got tired, stopped helping, or our flat was full.

  

 

We picked about a half of a flat.  Which turned out to be PLENTY since they were extremely tart.  Regardless, the girls had a lot of fun.  The only thing I would have done differently is I would not have had Shelby in a white shirt.  However, it was a spur of the moment decision on the way home from picking up the backhoe to fix our septic line in the back yard. 

Shelby's 2

Shelby turned 2 on 6/1/12.  She had a well-child appointment today. 

Shelby's Stats.....
Height:  36 inches (94th percentile)
Weight: 27 pounds fully clothed with shoes (54th percentile)

She is gowing and developing right on schedule.  They were very pleased with her vocabulary and motor skills.  They didn't tell me anything I didn't already know-we have a happy, heathly little girl.

Nestle Push Pops

We missed celebrating Shelby's Birthday on her Birthday because of Grandma Rentchler's burial.  Monday night I was on my way home from work and I stopped at the store for a gallon of milk.  We also picked up some Nestle Push Pops.  They were pretty good.  The girls really enjoyed them and had them a little bit of everywhere. 

 Needless to say, they were a hit!

Grandma Rentchler

Grandma's Obituary as it read in the Evansville Courier and Press....
Betty Louise (Mason) Rentchler, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2012, after a long illness, surrounded by family and friends.

She was born August 14, 1936, to Thomas T. and Ruby Mason. She attended school at Millersburg and on October 2, 1952, married Edward Rentchler. They spent the rest of their lives at Elberfeld, Ind. Betty was a full time wife and mother. She also helped on the farm. She spent a lot of time doing volunteer work for the Warrick County

Farm Bureau and Zion United Church of Christ, where she was a member. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 351 Elberfeld, Ind., where she held many offices. She was also a member of the All Seasons Camping Club and her Neighborhood Ladies Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas T. Mason and Ruby (Sizemore) Mason; brother, Sidney; sisters, Reva May, Beth Ann Lamar and Geneva (Jenny) Holder; and ten half brothers and sisters.

Betty is survived by her husband of 59 years, Edward Rentchler; daughter, Linda (Rentchler) McMichael (Eric), of Boonville; two sons, Bob Rentchler (Joann), of Tennyson, and Ray Rentchler (Pam), of Elberfeld; grandson, Clint Menke (Tonya), of Newburgh; granddaughters, Carla (Rentchler) Schenk (Matt), of Wadesville, Christa (Rentchler) Hofmann (Lance), of Clay City, Ind., Sallie Rentchler (Zack), of Marengo, Ind., Julie Rentchler, of Grantsburg, Ind., Erica McMichael, Sherri (McMichael) Fairchild, of Evansville, Ind., Mandy Kirsch (Danny), of Elberfeld, Ind., and Tara Greenlee (Brandon), of Boonville, Ind.; great-grandchildren, Kiersten and Kindel Menke, Ciara and Mattison Schenk, Jenna and Shelby Hofmann, Valerie and Kyler Fairchild, Heath McMichael, Levi and Cole Kirsch and Emma Greenlee; brothers, Thomas Mason, of Elberfeld, Ind., Cleatus Mason (Sylvia), of Chandler, Ind., Gary Mason, of Elberfeld, Ind.; sister, Rhetta Moore (Victor), of Perry, Ga.; and many nieces, nephews and lots of friends.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2012, at Zion United Church of Christ in Elberfeld, officiated by Rev. Rick Bender and Rev. Steve Oeth, with burial at Zion Cemetery. Friends may visit Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Alexander North Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion UCC, Women's Guild. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.

Published in Courier Press on May 30, 2012 .
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There was a very nice poem in Grandma's flier that Rev. Rick read at gravesite.

When I am gone, just release me,
let me go-so I can move into my afterglow.
You mustn't tie me down with your tears;
let's be happy that we had so many years.
I have you my love, you can only guess
how much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have
shown, but now it's time I traveled on alone.
So grieve for me awhile, if grieve you must,
then let your grief be comforted with trust.
It's only for a while that we must part,
so bless the memories within your heart.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and a
"Welcome Home."

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This is the last family picture I have of the Rentchler's.  It is from Christmas 2010, as Lance and I did not celebrate Christmas 2011 with the Rentchlers. 

We didn't take any pictures of the Grandkids or Great-Grandkids at the funeral, but this one is mostly accurate.  All the kids, grandkids, and great grand kids were at the funeral home.

Grandma Rentchler, you will be missed.