piggies!

 Lucas helped Papa Steve unload piggies a few weeks ago. 

 There must have been a skirmish in a pen...

...followed by a very concerned look.

 Lucas told me it was...

 very...

loud!

from the greatest generation

Lamoin "Stub" Lehmeier

Birth date: August 15, 1924
Death date: April 26, 2011

Lamoin Fred Lehmeier,  was born on August 15, 1924 on a farm southwest of Hubbard to August and Edyth (Vieman) Lehmeier.  He graduated from New Providence High School at the age of 16.

At age 19, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in Korea during World War II. Upon returning home to the farm, he met his wife, Lorraine, and they were married August 21, 1948.  Lorraine Marie Uschkrat was born on August 21, 1929, in Butterfield, Minnesota, to William and Helen (Syndegard) Uschkrat. She graduated from Ireton High School and attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She met Lamoin while teaching at Union. They resided on the Lehmeier family farm near New Providence until they moved to Hubbard in 1977.  Lorraine died on Saturday, November 12, 2005, at age 76 .

All because two people fell in love - Gramps and Gram (2004).

The next farming generation - Lucas and Great Pa - December 24, 2011 (eleven days old)

86th Birthday - Great Pa, Lucas, Gramma Connie

Meeting Hannah Marie - January 23, 2011 (17 days old). 

He thought she was pretty special and even sang her the song his mother used to sing to him as a child.

Four generations - on the family farm, in the house Gramp's grew up in.

To Lamoin, love of his family, farm, church, community and country were very important. He passed away at age 86 on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 under the care of the Hubbard Care Center and Iowa Hospice. He is survived by his three daughters and sons in law, Janie and Dick, Linda and Mike, Connie and Steve; grandchildren - Tricia (Matt), Aaron (Lindsey), Matt (Heather), Kelly (Travis), Brent (Teresa), Brad (Michelle) and Brian; eight great-grandchildren - Caleb, Caden, Gannon, Ella, Chase, Jet, Lucas and Hannah.

Hopefully Lucas will remember visiting Great Pa at the care center.  Pa kept a 1/16 scale Case IH tractor on his shelf.  That was the first thing Lucas wanted to see when he got there.  The second thing was his mug full of peanut M&M's on Pa's night stand.  Lucas also really liked the water cooler in the hall near Pa's room.  The residents at the care center all loved seeing Lucas and Hannah when we visited; such a joy to see young children - full of life. 

A hardworking farm boy and veteran from the greatest generation... he made choices and set examples that impacted my husband and helped determine our way of life and that of our children.  We cherish great memories and he will always be loved. 

Happy Mother's Day!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * * * * * * * *

What an amazing blessing I was bestowed to be your mommy!

Easter

Happy Easter 2011!

 The Easter Bunny found the kids!

I love Hannah watching Lucas in this photo. 

 Happy Hannah with her 1st Easter basket.

Lucas and his basket. 

We headed to church... 

... then came home to have an Easter egg hunt ...

... and lots of playing...

... and fixing, of course! 

hunting and dyeing

The annual Rotary Easter Egg Hunt was fun for Lucas. 

You'll notice the winter coat...that's because it was so cold!  It didn't matter to any of the kids, just the parents. 

Complete excitement!  A tootsie roll! 

If you go to a high school baseball game this summer there are sure to be tootsie rolls still on the field.  

Ava and Lucas.  

An annual photo of these two. 

The cold didn't bother Hannah. 

It wasn't just tootsie rolls... Lucas got some grass, too.  :)   

 Gramma Connie helped Lucas dye Easter eggs.

This year, there are two

Easter baskets at our house.
Last year at Easter we had no idea we would be so blessed.