• Jenny, Janel and Jill VanderZanden (Charlene and Herb); 

• Breeann, Aimee, Cayla and Darcie Van Dyke (Kevin and Donna);

• Laura and Katelyn Schalk (Bev and Dave); and 

• Krista and Megan Foltz (Jan and Steve). 

October '90: At Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Front: Aimee, Breeann holding Darcie, Grandma with Cayla and Katie, Grandpa, Laura.
Back: Janel, Krista, Jill holding Megan, Jenny.

Grandpa Ervin taught them some of 
life's most important lessons, such as "Bumblebee bumblebee, ZIP" and where your "beekabock" is. (Both have to do with your belly!) They, in turn, taught him fun things about being a kid. 
He thought they were all pretty 
"REE-markable." Whenever anyone would leave, whatever the season, he'd say, "See you next Spring!"

Oh-oh sure, produce! Overalls full of fresh corn!

By now Papa had mellowed some with age. He always had produce from the garden to send home with us and sticks for us to pick up after pruning the trees. He still enjoyed hunting, fishing, crabbing and digging clams. When hunting, he'd sit on a stand and let the youngsters chase the elk to him. "Blackie" also enjoyed playing cards with his duck-hunting buddies. 

As long as we were all good kids, he put up with quite a bit of nonsense from us in his later years. We painted his toenails, pulled him around by his overall straps and combed his hair pretty. He was the proud chauffeur for the "Kissin Kuzzins" prize-winning float in the Gay 90's parade in Forest Grove in 1990. We decorated his pickup and the participants with pink and red contact paper "kisses" and piled the grandkids in the back.

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