Sister Trip

While Erik's wedding was our main focus, when it was over the rest of our trip became a sister trip. The four of us went to Reno, where we stayed at Harrah's casino and had a blast. Though there wasnt much to do besides gamble, we got to spend time together, take a river walk and get tipsy playing video poker at the bar. It is always so good to get together with the four of us, we have such a great time. I love all of you and cannot wait till we can get together again. Linda, take good care of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine Glasses", hopefully we will be using them again soon!

Eriks Wedding

Well the wedding of the year is over and what a beautiful wedding it was. Erik looked his usual handsome self and his bride is a doll. She and her family were very welcoming to the Barrett side and we felt right at home. The setting was to die for, a beautiful day with the mountains surrounding the ceremony complete with snow on the peaks. Though the service was short, it was very sweet and I want to congratulate the happy couple once again. With the exception of the cake, it suffered from its transport, everything went well and the reception was great. Thank you again Peter and Linda for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful weekend, we love you both.

New Orleans

Well I finally figured out how to get back to the blog since I got my new laptop! What a great time I had at Mardi Gras. Esther, our room location was so perfect. You walk out our hotel and there stood Harrahs Casino! We were a couple of blocks from the riverfront, and about 4 blocks from the French Quarter. It was just prime location. what an experience. Lots of different people all getting along. Perfect 5 star service from our hotel and the places we ate at. It was just really fun. Would be a great place for a sister trip some time. Have to do it during the celebration though to get the true effect. Just a thought. Looking so forward to Tahoe. It will be great. Love you all, Cindy

Christmas in Dixie!

Hello my sisters!
We got home late Sat. nite from our 10 hr. drive from Kentucky! Christmas in Dixie was wonderful and we thank you , Cindy and Ed, from the bottom of our hearts for the great time had by all. Most of us arrived the day before Christmas eve... Christy and Sean had to work an additional day and arrived Christmas Eve afternoon. We visited and caught up with eachothers lives before dinner and gift opening. The children sang Christmas songs for us first and then we did our rounds ooohing and ahhhing over our gifts. Christmas Day was quiet with ball games and boggle and food and laughing. Noone wanted to go anywhere so we did not move from our places for four days! Then the Holmes family went home, next day Kathy and Jeff flew back to Ca. and we rested for the next two days. Larry and Ed got to golf while the weather was in the 40-50s so they were happy campers! Then on New Years Day Es and Stan drove in for a nice New Year celebration. We played cards and then the girls watched two movies. We had good food and lots of laughs. We all headed for home on Sat. It was a great time and we thank you, Cin and Ed, for being such good hosts and hostess. You made us feel right at home. I missed the rest of the gang who could not be with us....seemed strange to be without them. Next year we will be back in Mi. for Christmas. I hope the New Year prooves to be a healthy and happy one for all of us and if God wills it that we may all be together next year. I love you all, Rose
ps. I just wanted to share this little goody...you may already know it but I think its worth repeating: Yesterday is history, Tomorrow a mystery, today is a gift...thats why it's called the present!

Hello Dear Family

Well 2008 is history and it was a good year. Starting 2009 with Cindy, Ed, Rose and Larry was great, we had a wonderful time. Christmas was subdued this year with everyone in Kentucky, but spending it with my grandkids was all that mattered, though we missed everyone. It has been a great year for the boys, all three doing well in school and growing so fast. Reese has found his sport and is an awesome soccer player, so much so that his coach thinks he needs to play up two years. He is still on a travel team and they have games every saturday till spring . Devin's new team won their division and now we are waiting for playoffs. He will be trying out for Selects in March, which is a tryout for Team Michigan. If they make the cut they go to a week long camp in the Soo and if they make that cut they go to New York. Mostly AAA kids make it so he has a good chance because he continues to practise with the AAA team down south. Tate is getting very tall and loves his music. He got an electric guitar for Christmas and plays so much he is going through alot of strings. He is going to play soccer in the spring, he seems to like it, but wants to try his hand at basketball also. He will be tall so that might be his sport. Last but not least my Sophie is almost six months old and cute as a button. We took her to Kentucky and she did real well, getting along with Cindys dogs no problem. I hope everyone has a great 2009 and hopefully we will see each other alot this year. Love Es

A hello to you all!

Hello my sisters!
It has been a month since someone posted last so I guess I will do it once again. Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we were each in our own places. Larry and I went to Christy and Sean's for dinner who had invited their neighbor over. Bill babysits the dogs for the Holmes when they go camping or out of town. He is single so loves the home cooked meals. We fixed the usual food...all good and we ate too much. Got the kids here now till tomorrow. Cindy and Ed had Reece and Maya to hug and kiss for over a week so they were happy. Es and Stan were just going to take this Thanksgiving to start Holiday decorating and laying low this year. It's nice to do that once in a while but would get lonely if done regularly.

Hello it's Nathan! I'm staying up at Nana's for Thanksgiving and I just wanted to say hi. HI!!

It is cold out and we have had our share of snow already. Looking forward to going to Ky. for Christmas where there is no snow!! I think Larry and I will stay till after New Years with Cindy and Ed. It should be fun. I hope everyone got their fill of hugs and kisses with their grandchildren...I know I did. My three are doing well in school...all A's and Olivia is in the district finals for hoop shots. She was the best in her school and now moves on to district competition, then regional. If she make sit that far. Teachers thought she played on a basketball team cause she was so good. Well she plays with her brothers at home and has a lot of help. She is a little artist and is as tall as her brothers. Nathan is doing so well in Math that his teacher is recommending he skip fifth grade math and move on to sixth grade level. Next year he would be doing seventh grade level. His report cards are wonderful. Logan starts basketball next week and he too is doing very well in school. They love their teachers and teachers love them. Nathan is a natural group leader and loves being head of the class. Logan is a wonderful team player but also guides well. Olivia is still happy to work with her friends but getting better at speaking in front of her classmates. She performed in a play last week. She tends to be shy. She will get over it.
Larry and I are fine. We finally got Larry's brother moved into his new apt., bought a few pieces of furniture to fill it and he is getting used to it now. It is still in the same town and nothing is new eccept the apt. It is a few blocks away from the old one. We can relax a bit now that he is resituated. We are feeling fine and staying busy. I am looking forward to some studio time now with the cold weather here. Got some new ideas for paintings.
Well, I think I have taken up enough space here so will close now. I hope everyone is fine and happy. I love you all with all my heart and remember that we are always together in our hearts.
Your loving sister,
Rose

California dreamin'....

Hello my sisters,
Well, I think it's time I wrote a few lines on the blog regarding Larry and my Calif. trip...seems the blog has been a bit dry lately. Not many posts...whats up with that?? Our trip was wonderful, absolutely wonderful! We spent the night in Detroit the night before because our flight was so early and it took the stress off the long flight. We got free parking tickets from Christy's boss so that helped save a little money. Our flight was good, on time, and we spent the first day vegging. Next day Kathy and Jeff came to Napa, stayed three days, we went thru a part of harvest, learned a lot about wine preps, placed a giant rhino sculpture in Linda and Peters yard and on Sat. Kathy/Jeff flew home and we drove to Santa Barbara. Stayed on the boat three nights..was awesome. We left on weds., the guys took an extra car home to Napa and Lin and I took the coast route with the other car to try and find driftwood along the ocean. Well, we got as far as Big Sur along a cliff dropping down to the ocean when traffic stopped. We were halted because of a fire! We waited for more than an hour before they let us go and we finally made our way toward home. We never did find driftwood! Then the day before we left for home we flew in the little plane to Chico to see Eric! It was great to see him...he looks wonderful and seems to love the area he lives in. It looks as tho he has finally found his niche in life as a firefighter. Then the following day we flew back to Michigan arriving at 12 midnight...drove home and arrived here at 3 something Sunday morning. Wow, were we tired!!
But we hit the floor running and got right back into the groove of things. Wish I were back in Calif. right now especially with this cold weather we are having. Thank you, Linda and Peter for a wonderful 12 days! We miss you two.
We sisters, please do not forget that I love you all and wish everyone well. Keep letters posted on this blog.
Love, Rose