Tuesday, July 28, 2009


Santa Fe, Tea and Birthday Party


The Jenny, Tom and family arrived Mon. July 20th. We had such a fun time I forgot to take pictures of all the things we did. Tom had to fly home and work the next day, but the rest of his family seemed to have fun relaxing and doing the usual Helm HQ things.

We spent a day checking out some of the sights of Santa Fe. The kids hadn't been there in a long time. I forgot my camera so phone pictures have to do. We checked out the Basilica



Dad and Jacob liked looking at the ceiling. We Checked out the local cowboys.

Then ate at Tomasitas.











We had the usual fire and wiener roast with s'mores and that was fun.

The other thing I have pictures of is the tea party which is an important part of visiting Grandma. There were costumes appropriate titled names and lots of good food.
Most important of all we celebrated Jacob's birthday with cupcakes he had creatively decorated with sprinkles!

Saturday, July 18, 2009










I'm going to try a post with pictures. I did love the reunion and wanted to be sure there was a picture of each family.































Here is Sarah practicing photogenisity---- Like that word.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I have decided to try out blogging for myself. I'm not sure I can keep it up regularly. We don't do many interesting things, and I really doubt I can get Dad interested in helping out. Mostly I have wanted a way to share some of the things that make us happy. Maybe some other emotional conditions will be included but I prefer to stick with the happy stuff. Since this is Helm HQ it would be nice if it was written as we, but for now it will probably be written as "I" and sometimes as we with the understanding that I have to take responsibility for the content. I guess I could change the name to something to do with being Grandma to the worlds best and brightest or some such thing.

The Helm Family Reunion was a complete success on our book. We just wish we could have spent more time with each of you. We so appreciate all that Jared and Amy did to make it so fun, and for all of you for your participation and company! The food was too good--unfortunately there was more of us to came home. Emily, thanks for the shirts, I have worn mine and will continue. I have plenty of stuff to match.

I picked my first ripe tomato last night. I'm waiting for Dad and Grandma before I slice it. It's really hard to wait and to share, but I'm being noble! My vines are huge, and not loaded, but there are quite a few tomatoes in ripening stages, even if Dad can't see them. The plants are loaded with blossoms right now and if everything keeps going as it should we will have all we can eat and then some.

Next, we have had some really hot weather, for us---I know Melanie, it never gets really hot here, but it is hotter than we like and sometimes smoky with a fire in the Bandelier back country they expect to burn for most of the summer. Makes it hard to cool off. So, Dad called and we had a Mr. Smith come over and give us an estimate on cooling. (He did Fay's house and Freestones.) Because we didn't have a real preference on refrigerated air or swamp cooler he gave us a number of options and priced them all out. Now we have to decide. There really isn't that much difference, just a few pluses and minuses to each. However, when next you visit, it may be easier to cool off!

My eight Primary cherubs have been invited to our house for a wiener roast and S'mores on Friday, so if you are in the area join us. It should be fun, but with my group a bit wild. We'd love to have you all here to a family wiener roast. Couldn't you all just drop in?

We got the trailer uncovered and Dad hitched it up to his "Big Truck". We needed to turn it around and get it cleaned and ready. Of course we had to take it around the block to see how it pulled and Dad was suitably impressed. Backing it back in was a problem. The truck handles it alright, in fact as good or better than the van, but the possibility of one of the tree branches scratching the still perfect paint was enough to make Dad want to cut them all down! Fortunately no damage occurred. Now if we can just get to use it

Monday, July 6, 2009

Showing Mom how to do a blog


Here is Emily looking cute.


Here is Emily and Melanie and Aaron in the back of the car as we traveled.