OCTOBERFEST 2009

Everyone should have a weekend like the one that we just had. We picked up Trent and Becky at the airport on Friday. Michael and Teresa drove up from Bloomington, Indiana and Lori and her gang came out from town and we had our annual Ocotberfest. Saturday morning we had a family portrait done and then we headed to Porter's Orchard. We all took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where each of us got a pumpkin to take home. Then we had delicious warm donuts with apple cider and a couple had carmel apples. Then we all loaded up in the Michivan and headed to Perry to our most favorite corn maze. Every year they have a new design and we all enjoy the trip and trying to find our way through. Last year Michael and Teresa were the first ones through but this year Trent beat them. Then we headed home and did our yearly craft that Becky always puts together for us. This year we all made ghosts with some type of plaster paris. After dinner everyone (but me) headed out to the dark to play kick the can and sardines. Pull up the pictures on the left and you can see the fun we all had.

Fun adventures

Greg and I headed out Friday morning to Mackinaw City. Greg wanted to see the Icebreaker, Mackinaw. So we spent a few hours on board and Greg says it reminded him a lot of the time he worked on a ship on the war. Then we had fish and chips at a local stand and headed to Mill Creek State Park. There are a few nice trails that we wanted to hike on and Greg has been waiting to try the zip line and go over the bridge. I gave it my best shot of getting pictures but it was not easy once he started down. I posted the pictures to the right so take a minute and view. On Saturday we headed to Petoskey to try there bike trails along Lake Michigan. All I can say is totally awesome. We had a great time and then took a very winding road to Cross Village which is the end of the road on that side of Lake Michigan. Sunday we headed back home since I had been fighting a nasty cold all weekend. Next weekend we head to Kris's house to see her granddaughter, Grace, and Rick and Celeste.

Labor Day Weekend checking out our crops

Tennis Time

Well today Greg and I started our new adventure. Michael is teaching us how to play tennis and as you know Ms. Breaunna had to be a part of the show. I knew it would be a work out but I thought it would be something we could take with us on our travels in the RV.

My Girls

With Becky here from D.C. and Lori able to take a few days off from work we headed north. I have very nice memories of my Mother with my sisters and I want to be able to give the same to my girls. We spent one day at Petoskey and one day at Mackinaw City. When you view the pictures to the left you will see that Lori and Becky decided to be a little more adventurist than Breaunna and myself. Breaunna has a lot of her Grandma in her when it comes to the fear of height. Each night we came back to the 5th wheel and told Greg all about our fun. I hope we can always find time for each other as adult women and our little Breaunna.

36th Anniversary

Well who would of thought it. Boy what a roller coaster ride we have had. I was nineteen and head over heels in love with Greg who was twenty-five. We started out renting on Murphy Lake until the house burnt. Then we bought a house in Unionville where we lived and had our first two children, Greggie and Lori. We moved to Vassar where we had our last two children, Michael and Becky. We stayed in Vassar until 1991 when we headed to Davison, where we still live. Hopefully in the next year we will make our final move to Beverton and build a home on Tobacco River. As I said 36 years ago I still say today. I love you Greg and pray we have many more years together.

Becky brings summer fun to the family

The one nice thing when school is let out is that we know Becky is on her way. Becky came home on Father's Day to spend two weeks with us here in Michigan. It is hard when two of your three children live in different states so it is special when one of them can make it home. I have posted pictures from a day at Blue Bell Beach in Flint and then a day at Lake Huron in Caseville. We had a wonderful time and the only thing that would of completed the day was our missing three (Michael, Teresa, and Trent). I am hoping some time this year we can get a family picture with all of us in it. Enjoy the pictures.

Mother's Day

Thank you....I love being a Mother and I always have. I became a Mother when I was 20 years old and had my last child when I was a month from being 30. My oldest daughter Lori's family gave me an IPOD with music already loaded that I can wear when I walk, bike ride, or even mow the lawn. Michael and Teresa designed a family book of memories and Becky and Trent gave me four quilt squares (one of each of the family) to create a wall hanging. Greg bought me a bike rack for my car so we travel further and find more adventures.

A Special Day for our Family

Breaunna and Lori
Greg and I with our grandchildren

Kevin, Lori, Cameron, Brandon, and Breaunna

Becky, Michael, Teresa with Breaunna
Breaunna handing out programs More pictures to the left...enjoy

Wadhams Trail and Trestle Bridge

When Greg and I was hiking on Friday we met a retired couple and they suggested us to check out this trestle bridge over by Port Huron.....so...........that is exactly what we did today. When I got home from Church, Greg had everything ready for our excursion. It was 55 degrees so we pulled out the jeans and sweaters and headed out for the day. We had a great walk even though it was probably no more than 5 miles total. Then we went over by St. Mary river and found our next hiking trip. It was to late in the day to try a trail we knew nothing about so we will try it out
in the weeks to come. More pictures to the left.
.

Rail to Trail and a little hiking at Murphy Lake

Greg and I had decided through the cold winter months that we were going to either hike or ride or bicycles each weekend. Yesterday we went to an old stumping ground that Greg hiked during his youth over by Murphy Lake. Today we did our first rail to trail trip for the year. The trail is about 9.5 miles and today it seemed longer because of these old winter legs. Then we had a sack lunch and took a hiking trip in the afternoon. One of our dreams has always been to hike and bicycle in all the States once we retire so we need to get healthy. Here are a few pictures of the day.

Happy Easter

Easter 2009 found us doing things a little differently. First, Becky spent the beginning of the week with us but went back to her home in DC to spend Easter with Trent. Michael and Teresa had school on Friday and then Monday so they were spending today with Teresa's family and will be here for Breaunna's first communion. Lori, Kevin and kids spend Palm Sunday with us and our annual Easter egg hunt that Becky was able to join us with so today they spent with the Smiths. SO, today we went and picked up Greg's parents and went out to dinner. Afterwards we placed flowers on my Ma and Dad's grave along with Greggie. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures of the week.

Spring is Here...maybe

Greg and I have been walking at the Malls on my days off (Friday thru Sundays) to get us ready for spring and summer. We would like to start hiking this year. Our first adventure together will be mushroom hunting. I understand that will be the end of April or first of May. Our plan is to go each week to a new spot to hike and Greg has a Michigan book that shows hiking trails in lower Michigan and maybe we will bring our bikes along. Today we planned on raking leaves but when snowflakes started falling we decided to walk the mall and read.

Michael's Birthday and Kiddie's Valentine

Greg and I headed to Bloomington, Indiana to spend the afternoon and evening with Michael and Teresa yesterday. We went on a tour of where Michael plans to live in August and then walked around campus with the two of them. Last night we ate at a pub, Irish Lion,to celebrate Michael's 28th birthday. Then they joined us at the motel and played a a couple new games that Michael got for his birthday.

On our way home today we stopped and dropped off Valentine goodies to our sweetheart grandkids.

Frankenmuth 2009

 

 

 

 

Twas the Season

It is very,very, quiet in our house today. I had taken off work from December 17 until the 29th so I could enjoy my children and grandchildren this season. Becky flew in on December 20th and stayed until the 29th. Michael arrived on the 22nd and Trent flew in on Christmas Eve. The Smith family were able to spend Christmas Day with us. Greg's Ma and Dad along with his brother Charles and sister, Becky also were able to join us on Christmas Day. Teresa arrived on the 27th which brought us all together on the 28th. Michael and Teresa stayed with us until Friday, January 2nd so as you can guess now that everyone has gone home, my home is quiet. I posted all the Christmas pictures so please take some time and enjoy them. Next Christmas Greg will be retired so he will be able to spend more time with all of us. I hope all of you had as wonderful time with your families that we did with ours. We have been truly blessed.