Max's first swim!

Max visited us this weekend (with his parents) and it was a beautiful Saturday. The pool was heated to a comfortable 88 degrees and he got in for his first swim. He loved it!  Do you see my new basketball hoop for the pool?  It is awesome. 

The best thing about living on the west side of Kalamazoo?

It has to be D'Nicio's Parlor.  This ice cream parlor is only 3 miles from our home.  Since Keith and I are  both on diets, we decided to share the $6.99 banana split!  It was a good choice.  D'Nicios is like Mulder heaven!

It is a hard way to learn a lesson!

Charlie is slowly learning to go backwards down the stairs and not just step off the top step. Most of the time he forgets as evidenced by his accident at Matilda's preschool.  Poor Charlie - the school of hard knocks. 

The amazing Dr. Laurel Linda Mulder

She has done it!  Laurel has fulfilled her life long dream of becoming a doctor.  Last Saturday we celebrated her graduation from Michigan State's College of Human Medicine with her MD. Laurel has worked so hard to achieve this accomplishment.  It took a lot of brains and hours and hours of sacrifice. I will never forget how she studied 14 hours a day for two months to take her Board One exam.  And the numerous early shifts at the hospital - often arriving at 5:30 am.  Becoming a doctor is such a marathon and Laurel, as we all know, can finish a marathon!

MSU did a wonderful job with the graduation ceremony. It was at the Breslin Center and Keith was on stage as Laurel's "guest hooder". What a proud moment for Brenda and I to see our two doctors up on stage together. 

Here are a few photos from the day!

Asparagus is Back

We have spent nearly every day in May picking asparagus on our property.  As most of my readers know, it grows wild and is spread out in about twenty locations over five acres.  We pick enough for us to eat every night and we had plenty for Mother's Day dinner as well.  It is such a fun spring activity and we get all of our visitors involved too!

The winter of 2015 was not as severe as the previous winter and every thing seems to be budding well - lots of apple blossoms, raspberry buds and grape buds. Maybe we will have a bumper crop of fruit again?

Our Three Grandchildren (and their amazing parents)

Brenda and I have three beautiful and healthy grandchildren whom are being raised by some wonderful parents.  Bryan and Jessie and Keith and Lisa are such calm and nurturing parents.  They amaze us and we feel very fortunate knowing that Matilda, Charlie and Max are being brought up in such a nurturing environment. It makes of job of grandparenting easy and fun!

I love that smile!

Matilda has a very engaging personality. She is so much fun to be around and has a high level of imagitive play for a 3 1/2 year old.  I especially love to see Matilda laugh and smile. Here are some great photos of her from the last few months!

It's Back!

After a nearly three month hiatus,  Cliff Notes is officially back.  The three month gap in posts was not planned but after five years of steady blog posts, I think I just needed a break.  You will see a number of catch up posts as I get the ball rolling again.  I hope you enjoy.

Mom's 80th Birthday

As part of Mulder Winter Weekend, Craig, Kathi, Kevin, Bea, Brenda and I gathered up at Clark Home to play games with Mom and have a dinner in their private dining room.  Afterwards we all returned to our home in Kalamazoo to spend the weekend.  We had lots of laughs with Mom and Dad and it was a great way to celebrate her special 80th birthday.  When Ken and Emily come this summer, we are going to do a joint 80th celebration with both Mom and Dad (Dad turns 80 on October 29th).  Here are some photos of what you missed.

Max is growing!

Brenda and I have made frequent trips to Ann Arbor the last month to visit Max.  Every time we visit he looks so much older and more alert.  Lucky Brenda has spent most of the last two weeks with Max.  Here are some photos so you can keep up with his growth.

Introducing Maxwell Peter Mulder

Well the baby is finally here!  Maxwell Peter Mulder was born on January 19th at 10:41 pm in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Lisa went full term and had a 21 hour labor!  Sara, Lisa's twin sister, and Keith were by her side.

Maxwell, or Max as we all call him, is healthy and beautiful.  Here are some great photos of the little guy!!

Cliff's Stand Up Work Desk

For the past seven months, I have been living with a pinched nerve in my neck that has caused pain in my left arm.  During treatment with a physical therapist, he asked about my work area and suggested I consider a stand up computer desk.  I made the switch five weeks ago and I love it!  I have even tossed my chair.  I use much better posture and burn off between 100-200 more calories a day by standing.  My legs actually get a little tired by the end of the day.  I stand for about 5-6 hours because part of the work day is sitting at my conference table with clients.  Several of my co-workers are considering making the switch.