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

Olivia and Rose visit Kentucky

Hello family of ours! We are writing to let you know that Olivia and Rose came down to visit and we are having a wonderful time. We have done so much we are worn right out! They arrived on Thursday night the 18th. We just chilled that evening and then on Friday we went to the Lost Cave. Olivia panned for gold and found some wonderful stones. Then she and Rose took the boat tour into the cave. It was exciting. After that we hit the candy store to see what kind of haul Livvie could make. It was fun. She also got to ride the carousel. Saturday Ed, Rose Olivia and I went to Park City and hit the jackpot! All the rides and stuff were $2.00!!! So lets see, she rode the bumper boats with Uncle Ed and loved it. Then her and I rode the sky lift up where the Alpine slide starts but decided we wouldnt go down the slide, just ride the lift back. It was really high. Then she jumped in the harnessed trampoline, rode the bumper cars against Uncle Ed again and to top off the rides, her and Ed did the go-carts. She drove her own and ended up with the fastest one and flew around that track. It was quite exciting. Rose treated us to a wonderful lunch and we came home with plans to veg a bit, but ended up in a big water fight and got drenched. It was great. That night we watched a good movie called Alvin and the Chipmunks. Was funny. Today which is Sunday we went to the Flea Market to see what goodies we could find. Olivia has decided to collect fans so she started her collection. We walked and walked all over and now are home and waiting to eat a wonderful dinner of roast beef that Rose is making. Yum....... While we are writing this Olivia is outside with the metal detector seeing if she can find some treasures. So its been a fun and exciting visit and Olivia has been just wonderful. She hit is off big with my dogs and they just love her. She has thrown the ball and loved them up good. Tomorrow they go back to the airport and we will be doing lunch at the Aquarium restaurant before we leave. Whew.......Im worn out but loving every minute of it. Now Ed and I will prepare for our next big visit at Christmas. Love to everyone, Cindy ps....i have posted a couple of pictures.

Lake Charlevoix camping!

Hello my sisters!
This summer is going fast! Here we are at Augusts end almost and still trying to cram in as much as we can before the snow flies. Just got back from an overnight in Mt. Pleasant at the casino...yes...you heard right! Larry's sister and brother-in-law (they are avid gamblers) racked up points and treated us to a reserved room, bought dinner and all we had to do was spend a little gambling money. We lost but Sue won over a grand. It was great fun!
Two days before that we were up in Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix camping with the kids for 5 days. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!! We swam every day, water was warm, clean, clear. It would be a great place for a reunion if everyone would enjoy camping. Kids rode bikes all day, they had a park on campgrounds, we went exploring in town, climbed Avalanch Hill (an old ski hill) which gave a spectacular view of the lake. We had great fun, kids were great and was a nice 5 days. We are lucky to have such beautiful places in Michigan.
Next month Kathy and Jeff come to visit, a week later Miss Olivia and I fly to Ky. to visit Aunt Cindy, in Oct Larry and I fly to Calif. for harvest (I hope) and maybe we can get in one more campout before it gets too cold. Then this winter we will work on our bathroom. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I am soooo sorry about Lucy, Es, my heart aches for you. I really liked the little bugger too! We will miss her.
Well, I need to go now. Am going to help Vera can tomatoes. I love you all and will leave you with another lovely thought.....I enjoy this one because I believe it is so true.

"As we grow older and realize more clearly the limitations of human happiness, we come to see that the only real and abiding pleasure in life is to give pleasure to other people."...... P.G.Woodhouse, Something New

A view of summer!

Hello my sisters!
It is a beautiful day! We have been very fortunate to have had such nice weather this summer! Enough rain to make the gardners/farmers happy but not enough to keep everything soaked too long. The temps are warm and cool breezes keep us from complaining. This season suggests a good harvest for fall. All is well here with us. Have a BBQ planned for friends, camping trips, air trips in Sept. and Oct. will finish off the good weather season for us northerners. Looking forward to some fun days before we pull out our fall coats again. Hope everyone is doing okay. I am including a thought for you all...one that I think is beautiful and true. Till later.....

"In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things and happy in small ways." ...Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance

I am personally working on that one! I love you all,
Rose

Family Reunion

Well since no one else is going to write about our week's vacation, I certainly will. What a great week we shared with all of the kids, which of course includes the husbands. The weather was great, the water was cold and a good time was had by all. Thank you Linda and Peter for allowing us to share this time with everyone, it truly is worth waiting for every two years. The house was wonderful, big, roomy and with spaces to get away if you so desired. Even the two dogs enjoyed it, though Lucy is a little chewed up...........................just kidding Lin. Thank goodness we took the boat with us, the kids got to go tubing and were able to watch The Blue Angels fly right over their heads from the boat. (Course they came home alittle crisp from the sun, but loved it). Its always so great to catch up on everyone's busy lives. Ing it was wonderful having you there the whole week and Finny was loving it. Thank you for taking all the kids to the movies, what a treat for them. It was restful, though chaotic as usual, but thats what it is all about. Cindy, we missed you terribly and would have loved to have Maya in the mix, she would have loved it. Hopefully in 2010 you will be there as well. All we needed to complete the picture was Kathy and Erik and Reese and Kelly. Maybe next time everyone can come and it will be the best yet. It is so hard to come home after having such a great time, but alas, all good things must come to an end. I loved every minute of the time we spent together and am already looking forward to the next one. Thanks again for a wonderful time. Es

Just An Update

Well I have returned from Kentucky and had a wonderful trip. Thanks again Ed and Cindy, you are such great hosts, it was fun and lucrative.........(wink!). By the way, we got our grass Cindy and I am planting today, so will keep you posted, how did your flower boxes turn out? Have you made a decision on whether you can make it to Traverse City? I am keeping my fingers crossed. Stan and I went up to Northport yesterday to check out the marina. Didnt want to take the boat up if there wasnt alot of room, but as it turns out, its perfect. No one was staying at the house either, wondered if we couldnt get in early if no one has it this next week............what do you think Linda? The boys left for Calif. Thursday night, had a three hour delay and made it out after 10 p.m., which made a late night for Theresa and I. Called at three a.m. to let us know they arrived and havent heard much since then, must be having a great time. I am looking so forward to our vacation week, it will be so wonderful to see whoever makes it. For those that cant we will be thinking of you and missing you. Well that about sums it up, see everyone soon. Rose and I will be getting together to discuss the food and menu's today and then Tate and I go to Splash Village in Frankenmuth to spend the night and play in the water. Love you all, Es