"Crop Club"

The last Monday night of the month a group of ladies gather at Maryland Hgts to "crop"! I started our "crop club" several years ago as a way to gather with friends and work on our scrapbooks. It is a dedicated time that I know I can plan on in my calendar to work on a scrapbook project. Now I must say that I resisted the scrapbooking scene and said, I am never going to do that I couldn't keep up! Well, guess what I can't keep up but I do love scrapbooking. Since I was a kid I have loved to take pictures and I have several scrapbooks (like you used to buy at Woolworth's) that I have faithfully glued pictures and all kinds of mementos in. I have big ones from my days at Harding Academy. I have vacation scrapbooks from when we were kids and went on our fantastic family camping vacations - all over the US! Now my technique has improved, my tools are much more sophisticated, there are all kinds of sources for scrapbooking stuff but the bottom line is still the same "creating memories that last a lifetime". The "boys" when they are at our house love to look at the scrapbooks we have created - they are not so good about getting their picture made but they do give in! Here are a few of the ladies that share our Crop Club on Mondays - some from church and lots of friends from the community. You can see we each bring a lot of "tools" with us. The Marsha rule is "You can have a snack when you finish a page"! Our group changes from month to month but we usually have at least a dozen. Ladies - I love getting together with you each month! (Alissa - you missed our photo session!)

The Mighty Mississippi

Marlin, Carolyn and Nancy made a trip to Camp Ne-O-Tez late afternoon to deliver canteen candy, etc. We ate dinner at camp and then headed home. Looking for variation in the route often traveled we took new Hwy 21 to Old Hwy 21 to Hwy A to Hwy 55 and then decided to come on around through the city to Hwy 70! Well . . when we got near downtown we decided to make a quick stop at the Arch grounds to see the flooded Mississippi. The first exit was for the riverfront and we ran into the flood walls up . .I had never seen them up - it was a quick detour. We then got back up on the main road (after a scary little detour by some abandoned warehouses) and pulled in the parking lot of the Old Cathedral. The Arch is majestic. We were talking about how on Sunday afternoons in 1965 Dad used to drive us down to see the progress on the Arch. He would show the movie "The Monument to the Dream" in his drafting classes. We watched it at home. We all know, because of Dad, that the Arch is a 630Ft Cantenary Curve!

The river was up but not as high as 1993. We stood at the top of the Arch steps and took a few pics. There were a lot of folks down checking the riverfront out.

Illini Basketball Camp

Eric and Matt attended the University of Illinois Basketball Camp this past week. They had a wondeful time. They played LOTS of basketball. A highlight was playing on the court in Assembly Hall where the Illini play basketball.

Eric and Grandpa after they got Eric checked into camp and in the dorm .Grandpa and Coach Weber. Eric and Coach Weber's picture was taken professionally and we have to wait to get that photo!

Matt got there later (he was playing in a tourney) and Lori snapped a pic of Matt and Coach Weber. Eric, Matt, Luke and Austin - they shared a room in the dorm. Matt, Luke and Austin play together for Monticello.

Another "Royal" Outing

Colton's Hat and the hat of the fan in front of us!

Colton and I went to the Cardinals vs Royals game on Tuesday night and the outcome was not good if you were a Cardinals Fan - in fact the whole series was not good - the Royals swept the Cards. It was a beautiful night and Colton and I had a great time so that is really what mattered!

Happy Birthday Carolyn Sue!

Happy Birthday Mom, Grandma, Carolyn Sue. Carolyn was born June 19th, 19xx . She grew up in Christopher, IL. Her parents were Paul and Helen Overturf. She grew up in Christopher and graduated from SIU Carbondale. Carolyn taught 30 years at Rose Acres Elementary (1st grade teacher). She has been retired for 11 years and loves it. She is busy with her family, church, Camp Ne-O-Tez, her "diva" friends and volunteers at Community Helping Ministries. Mom -we love and appreciate you - Happy Birthday!

A Princess in the Making!

Today "Aunt Nancy" and Gracie Earnhart went to Club Libby Lu and Build a Bear. This was an outing for Gracie's 3rd birthday (back in March) that we finally were able to accomplish. She spent the night with me all by herself last night and then our grand adventure. Gracie's favorite part was the pink nails that they sprinkled glittery fairy dust on while they were wet! She couldn't quit examining them! We fnished off the afternoon by going back to Ne-O-Tez. Gracie is there with her family for Sr-Hi week. Gracie was the perfect princess . . the highlight was after we were all finished and walking back through the Galleria Gracie was giving everyone a royal wave . . folks were waving back and heaping praise on her and she graciously was telling them thank-you. What a princess!

Gracie decided to make a princess puppy at Build-A-Bear that she named "Harvey" !
A good princess doesn't forget her "subjects" so we had made goodie buckets for the other little ones at camp . . it helped ease a princess back into the swing of things!

Catching Up . . .

This has been a busy week for the Henley clan . .


Marlin and Carolyn are at Lori's house. Dad did a wedding for his second cousin on Saturday. Eric and Matthew started Illini basketball camp today. Grandpa thought it was grand to be there and meet Bruce !


Happy Father's Day to Dad, Rod and JD - three very special fathers!


BIG NEWS - Kyle got his driver's license on Friday - way to go Ky-Man!


I went down to camp this afternoon and how cool to see Johnna Burnett Gentry and her children Alexis and Sophia . .

Pre-Camp 2008

We had a wonderful time at Pre-Camp! It was a great experience and being able to share with 17 of our family was incredible. We started Sunday with worship at camp and the campers began to arrive by 2:00 pm. Sunday evening we had dinner and then Bible classes and made autograph bags (the kids used them to collect prizes at the carnival)! Campfire that night had a special guest, Steve Awtrey. He led the kids in some songs - Alfalfa Hay being one. Steve had the devo - kiddos headed to their cabins and they were pretty wound up but did go to sleep :) Monday brought camp cinnamon toast for breakfast and then a full day of activities. Messy Mondy Mania with Melinda is a huge hit! She had water balloon and egg toss, water relays and then a shaving cream fight. The kids love it! We finished off the night with skits and a Bible Scavenger Hunt (kids got Bible questions and they had to figure out the answer and then find the items). Tuesday was another busy day with Bible, crafts and swimming and then the afternoon of relays and the "carnival". Marlin had made different carnival games and we set up in the steel building. The campers rotated through the stations and had a blast. We finished the night with a parent dinner and program.

Click on the Ne-O-Tez blog for some more pics.

Heading to Camp Ne-O-Tez!

Yesterday Colton, Kyle and Eric helped me take a load of "stuff" down to Ne-O-Tez. We primarily had items for the canteen and store that is open on Sunday. They were great as they loaded up at Sam's and then unloaded it all at camp. Things are coming together for the summer at Ne-O-Tez. Dad is directing Pre-Camp which starts this Sunday - 62 campers (Kdg-2nd grade) so we will be busy. What a blessing that there will be 17 of us from our immediate and extended family there. 5 of them are campers and the rest are staff members. Ne-O-Tez is a family tradition for the Henley's. Dad, thanks for the time you invested in camp in the early years and for passing that legacy to your children (all 3 of us will be there this session). Mom, thanks for supporting camp for so many years and encouraging all of us to participate. Pray for a great session for Pre-Camp and for the 7 sessions that follow. We are excited! (We just figured out that the first time I went as a camper was 39 summers ago - I must have been a baby)

Colton's Graduation - St. Charles West High School

Today Colton Dean graduated from St. Charles West High School. It was a wonderful graduation. Fitting for Colton, who loved SCW basketball, Coach Terry Hollander - basketball coach and his American History teacher, was their commencement speaker. When Coach Hollander got up to speak he said he felt familar in a packed SCW gym but he needed one thing and the band began to play "Eye of the Tiger" which the basketball team would come out to! (Kyle was playing in the graduation band). We visited with Colton for a bit after graduation , took some pics and he was off with some buddies. Tonight he has "traditions" which is an all night grad party at the Rec-Plex. Congratulations Colton - we are proud of you!