I’ve just barely managed to shush the weeds. For now.
As I was resizing all the pictures for this post, I was hoping to get the first two days worth of activities on here. However, I sort of went crazy with the camera. Just sort of.
So I will only be posting the first evening – Saturday evening when we arrived in Indiana.
The Surprise
Not all of Lowell’s siblings arrival was a surprise, only about 3 of the children who live farther away or were not already planning vacations were the ones who got to ride in the limousine. The rest were already there at Dad’s when we arrived.
As we all piled into the limousine (did I mention it was camouflage?) the excitement was high! However, the air conditioner was not running at all and we soon began to feel the effects of the heat. We sat in the limousine waiting for Dad and Mom to come out of the house and see the limo that had pulled up in their yard.
Around this point, we must have been making off-hand remarks about “dying in this heat”. (We sat there around 15 minutes) Wyatt, the sober one on the left, asked with a slightly-scared expression on his face: “Are we going to die in here?” We quickly assured him we would not.
Besides, that sure would have put a damper on the surprise.
*Some of Lowell’s siblings are missionaries overseas and so for security reasons, I will not mention their names on here.*
Our little family hopped out of the limo yelling “Happy Birthday!!!!!” Mom’s jaw dropped, Dad began exclaiming, and when Lowell went to hug his mother, she was pretty limp in his arms.
But then Lowell’s brother’s family hopped out and that was the final blow! Mom had to gracefully seat herself on the grass as grandkids came running up.
I do believe they were genuinely surprised and told us later that it’s a good thing we didn’t wait until they were 70 or they might have had a heart attack!
When I grow up, I want to be able to fall as gracefully as Mom did.
Usually I am fainting when I am falling and it is with a very ungraceful whomp!
Dad still trying to absorb the fact that all eight of his children were home. At once.
However, those eight had multiplied greatly as you can see from all the little munchkins around!
The whole crew of Grabers!
And now you must meet Lizard.
By the way, I did not come up with that name. Jeanie, Lowell’s sister, is the one who named him that! I heartily seconded the motion.
Like Mom said, “All class left this limo when it went from white to camo.” I agree.
However, I suppose lizards aren’t supposed to be classy anyway.
The entire gang went out for pizza. In Lizard of course. Pretty sure we completely overwhelmed the waitresses.
Grandma’s hammock seat was the best seat in the house. Or rather, out of the house.
All the babies loved to be rocked in it. Not to mention us parents . . .
I do believe we gave Dad and Mom Graber the surprise of their life!
Our kids are not used to fireflies and had so much fun trying to catch them!
Grandma was wonderful and allowed them to get a jar for their prize bugs!
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Joe Gish says
who’s limo? where is it? and is it for sale?!
Living In The Shoe says
Now I could see you driving it! 🙂 It’s from my sis-in-law’s brother in Ohio and I don’t believe it’s for sale.
Sandra Miller says
Kendra, I enjoyed looking at these pictures. While doing so my curiosity knew no bounds: who is Lowell’s dad?? The pic of the dad and the mother sparked another question – I think I recognize them! Are they Raymond and Laura Graber from Kokomo? If so, Raymond is my first cousins’s son…
Living in the Shoe says
Yes, that’s them!!!
Berneice Hostetler says
Loved it! That Graber gang has sure grown a LOT! But then I guess the Otto gang has too. So much fun when the whole family can get together.
Sandra Miller says
I looked at thee pictures closely and I am wondering if I know Lowell’s family. Are they Raymond and Laura Graber from Kokomo? or thereabouts? If so, Lowell hangs from my family tree! lol
Rene Celeste says
Aww…I miss everyone! I think about you guys frequently! Yes Sandra they are Raymond and Laura Graber. Love you guys!! Happy belated birthday!
Sandra Miller says
Amazing! Here I was following your blog and come to find out your husband is my grandchildren’s third cousin! Sounds like a distant relative until you remember I knew my grandmother and Lowell’s g-g-grandmother. Sounds like old history! Thanks for playing the Mennonite game with me! lol
Sandra Miller says
Opps! Replied to the wrong comment..Oh, well…
Living in the Shoe says
No problem!
Living in the Shoe says
I grew up Dunkard so I’m having to learn how to play the Mennonite game! 😉
Sandra Miller says
Dunkard? You from the Kokomo area? Did you go to the church at Plevna?
Living in the Shoe says
Yes, I did for several years! We moved from CA when I was 18 and I was a member at Plevna until I got engaged to Lowell.
Sandra Miller says
Interesting…did you know Levi Miller – now deceased – their deacon ? He is my uncle; Wilma is my first cousin. Well….Here is another piece of trivia that may bore you…I always found it interesting where my ancestors came from. I am the 6th generation from the immigrant -Frederich Helmuth, b. 1794 – that came over from Switzerland or Germany. I could also count six generations from g-grandparents so it does not seem so long ago. Anyhow, Frederich’s parents or mother was an ungodly woman who embraced the morals common to the world today. I find the fact that Frederick choosing differently – when he joined the Amish is not known – had such a wide ranging impact on generations to come.
Living in the Shoe says
I know Wilma! But I don’t remember Levi. Your story reminds me of how important our decisions today will affect our children years from now.
Sandra Miller says
Yes, that is the point I was trying to make. Family history has a lot to teach us if we but listen.
BTW, I do enjoy your blog. 🙂