great speech

I love this speech given my admiral McRaven at the UT graduation this year. Great advice for everyone as we face the challenges of life!

http://www.utexas.edu/news/2014/05/16/admiral-mcraven-commencement-speech/

tressel

Tressel is doing ok. He is on a daily pain medicine (peroxicam) which helps him feel well enough to get around. Most days he feels up to a short walk, 15 minutes of an easy pace, and can get around the house just fine. But he doesn't get up on the furniture, sometimes doesn't scrounge for food and you can tell that he is not his usual self. I have been taking lots of pics of him lately. Clare keeps saying, "I know why you're taking lots of pictures, it's because Tressel is going to die."

Tressel loves to lay by us whatever we are doing. often he'll lay on top of our game. Today he layed next to us, which was nice.

 Tressel has been sleeping with Clare for 4 years. Lately he can't get up into her bed on the top trundle so she and lex will switch places so she can sleep wit him on the lower bed.

Right now Clare is sleeping on the floor in the hall so that she can be with him because for some reason he didn't stay in bed.

my walking buddy for almost 5 years

busy dave

Today is Tues and Dave has been super busy the past few days. He has not slept at home 3 of the last 5 nights and even those nights he did come home he was still up 1/2 the night answering pages and looking at images. He is unbelievably tired and worn out. I feel bad for him and worry about him falling asleep.

Last night Dave got to come home around 6:30 and was only here a few minutes before he got called about a level 1 case that had just come in. So he finished dinner (luckily had dinner on the table when he got home) and then had the first 5 minutes of FHE with us before heading out he door (never to return that night).  Lexey was sobbing when he left and was even crying this morning when she went to school and then complaining again after school about how much she misses daddy.  Of all the kids, she misses him the most.  She is such a daddy's girl.

She was playing dr. the other day when Dave got home so we took a quick picture of both of the dr.Gonda's. I look at this and think, it sort of feels like she could potentially be a "REAL DR." before dave will be!

remembering grandma clare

Another reason  it is nice to be in SD we get to go visit Grandma Clare's grave on her bday and death day.  Earlier in the month was May 5th, the day mom died so we had an FHE at the cemetery.    We enjoy talking about grandma clare and also visiting the few other dear friends we have at dearborn cemetery.

park day

One of our favorite sunday afternoon traditions is going to the playground to enjoy God's creations and get the wiggles out.  We love to meet Pete and Jessica if they are available.  A couple of weeks ago we brought the soccer ball and had a fun little family tournament. First girls vs. boys and then michigan vs. ohio state. Super fun. All the kids had a great time. (Jo was a little grumpy due to not eating after a week of mouth sores.)

We are going to miss living near family. It is such a priceless gift that we treasure.

Jo did finally find some oreos in dave's car and that cheered her up a bit.

Calvin had a good day and enjoyed playing with everyone. It was kind of a miracle. He usually wears out after about 30 minutes and needs to go home.

 Lex and Parker got mixed up on the sport and started wrestling!

tressel pics

I was thinking I'll have to put together a little book of tressel pics but here are some few favs over the last couple of years from about 11/11 - today. I'll need to go back and find the ones from earlier.

(obviously not tressel but funny of Calvin with Dave's mom cat)

lots of pics of tressel in bed with the girls...usually clare

tressel came to the snow with us. This is one of my favorite pics  of all time

looking for a place to make yellow snow

When he was cold he'd curl up and tuck his nose under his paw ....or go near one of the girls and cry so they'd cover him up.

 Tressel has always loved dog beach. His favorite place on earth

 He loves playing with dave.

He loves to hang out with the people in the family. He'll always look for someone sitting in one place and sit with them.

remember when he got bit at the beach?

Lance is a big time Tressel lover

Tressel would always look for a blanket to sit on when he'd find a comfortable spot on the floor.

Tressel was not really a fan of being used as a horse but Jo loved it!

Lexey's family pic this year.

We are at the on leash part of the beach here .. he really wants to run after the kids but I had to keep him on leash. Love how you can see all the kids and the dog in this picture.

These three are a little older but dave had set them aside, I think he stuck them in a presentation at work.

Also a couple of pics of me and mom I found while going through old pics. Had to include them on mother's day week and the week that she had died 15 years ago.