New Year's Eve

The evening started a couple of weeks ago when Mitch decided he could do a rib dinner for the RV Park. He figured out how to "say it in French" and ended up with nearly everyone (and all their friends) signing up for dinner. So shopping we went, and Norton (our neighbor and sous chef) got here just in time to help cook those ribs. The dinner turned out great and the after dinner party was a lot of fun. Even Brayden was entertained!

Brayden story: I was ready to cut the cake and he said, "No Gramma, we have to sing Happy New Year's first!"

Looking back on 2009 we have to thank God for His many blessings. We are so blessed for this country we live in--the opportunities to be retired and live where ever we want seeing the beauty that every state has to offer and spending time with wonderful people from all over the USA. Most of all we are thankful for our family, the healthy first year of little Macy's life, for the wonder of Brayden and Addy who never cease to amaze us, and for our children and their spouses whom we love and are proud of. It is impossible to count our blessings!

A Trip to the Keys

Deb, Mitch's sister, and husband Mike, spend Christmas on the Keys and we decided to visit them instead of waiting for them to come to us. We had a fun afternoon chatting at their campsite in Long Key State Park and then visiting the Marathon beach and marina and eventually ending up with a nice dinner on the dock. Check out that sunset.

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. May the birth of our Savior remind us of the best gift of all, the forgiveness of our sins and everlasting life with God.

We are in southern Florida and the 82 degree sunny weather was just fine by us. We spent the day with Caryn, Jason, and Brayden, along with Jason's brother, Morgan, his girlfriend, Margie, and her twin sister, Janine. Mitch made a great rosemary encrusted rack of lamb with a peppercorn merlot sauce. Yummy! We also had mashed parsnips, grilled asparagus, artichokes with a black olive aeoli, spinach and strawberry salad, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Yes, we were full!

Santa was good to Brayden. He played all day with his new train track with Thomas the Train and his aiplane complete with passengers and airport.

Back in snowy Minnesota, Shayne said Addy loved her new live kitty--that's what she wanted. This kitty doesn't eat real food, but purrs and moves, and even licks its paws. I wonder how Kitty Precious feels about this new addition. Addy also loved her new Brett Favre jersey. What a girl!!

Our Christmas presents will hopefully give us some good workout time. We are enjoying our new Electra Townie bikes. They are a little different from regular bikes. The pedals are forward so you sit with your feet flat on the ground and when you ride you are in an almost upright position--much more comfortable than what we had before. Of course a 10 mile ride down here is as flat as a pancake so we're saving the gears for Minnesota!

Notice there is NO SNOW is our front yard!!!

Christmas Eve--Happy 29th Birthday, Bryan

It doesn't seem possible that our youngest son is 29 years old today. He was a beautiful blue eyed bundle delivered in a Christmas stocking! Truly a Christmas present that we didn't need to enchange and are still enjoying every day! We love you, Bryan!

However, we partied with the Quebeqois this Christmas Eve. After church, we joined our friends at the community room decorated with a real Christmas tree and full of chatter and laughter. Besides sitting on Santa's lap to open our present, we enjoyed a variety of tasty foods for a late night supper.

The Shuffleboard Tournament

When we have nothing else to do, it seems there is always some tournament to attend. Today it was shuffleboard with tournament brackets and all. We stopped play about 11:45 to grill hot dogs for lunch for about 40 people. We found out many Quebequois enjoy mayonnaise on their hot dogs!

The tournament continued after lunch and Mitch and his partner came in second place. Oh, the temperature outside was about 85 degrees and the sun was shining very brightly!

Goings on in Southern Florida

The weeks are filled with things to do. (It takes to long to upload pictures, so there are only highlights!)

We don't only play. One day we washed the coach. But then we hired our neighbor to wax. She looks pretty clean and shiny!







Mitch plays a lot of Petanque. We had a tournament and Mitch's team won!


We spent a Saturday at Caryn's doing the Christmas baking--sugar cookies that were a lot of fun to decorate, kringla which Brayden is showing off in the picture (he liked to look through the holes of the figure eight), and even made a couple of kinds of party mix.

Homestead, Fl

It's amazing how fast the time goes when you think you have nothing to do!!

We spend time going into Hollywood to visit Caryn, Jason, and Brayden when we have a chance. It was great fun to help Brayden decorate the Christmas tree at his house.








Sometimes we stay home and enjoy entertaining friends from the RV Park. Friday night Francine and Gilles came over for Indonesian Steak Kabobs. We enjoyed a little wine, a good meal, "Fast Track" (the game) with some Amarula, a tasty after dinner drink Francine and Gilles brought from Quebec, and fun conversation!!








Brayden gets to stay overnight at Grampa's house every now and then. He is a fun little guy to have around.

Today's funny story: Mitch is cleaning the bird doo off his bike and Brayden says, " Maybe the birds needs some Pull-ups!"

Happy First Birthday, Macy!!!!

This is our darling miracle baby, born two months early just a year ago. She's still a little peanut, but has the bubbliest personality and is so much fun. She has two teeth and is crawling all over the place. She loves to feed herself, and is a little smarty. She'll "dance" if you tell her to, can wrinkle up her little button nose and snort with the best, and can make the sound of quacking when she sees a duck. Many more Happy Birthdays, Macy!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! We spent the day at Caryn and Jason's. It was great to have Jason with us for the day--he is usually at work!

Jason was chief chef and Mitch was turkey chef, Caryn was line cook and general helper, I did dishes!!










Margie and Morgan (Jason's brother) were able to come over after Margie got off work.









We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a twist. Mitch's turkey had lemon slices and herbs stuffed under the skin and was basted with brandy. The cranberries were cooked with apples, cloves, and star anise. The sweet potatoes were baked and mashed with something wonderful (but I don't know what it was--I just enjoyed eating it). Although Jason added sauted bacon and garlic, there's only so much you can do to canned French cut green beans (Mitch's favorite vegetable). And the dressing, mashed potatoes, and gravy were great. Mitch made the crust and I baked a pumpkin and a pecan pie. YUMMY DINNER!!!

South Beach

The daytime temperature has been around 84 degrees so we decided a trip to the beach was in order. Off we go to South Beach, home of beautiful sand beaches, beautiful blue water, lapping white waves...









and people!

Miami Homestead Speedway

Sunday was bright and sunny and we had decided to take in the NASCAR Sprint 400. The race was to begin about 3:00 but we got there (all of five miles away) around 11 a.m. and took in the sights, sounds, events, etc. of 85,000 spectators (I guess they all didn't show up that early!)








It was amazing! 43 cars zipping around and around and around and soon all we could hear was the zooming sound of the engines as the entire track was in use. That means we could not hear the announcer, nor could we hear each other! Only after 83 laps was there a caution and we could finally hear again. It was an experience--I guess I don't understand why some people chase from one race to the next.

The end of the race--Jimmie Johnson gets a check for over $6,000,000 and it takes us one hour 45 minutes to drive the five miles home!!!

Back in South Florida

This guy is a dead give-away that we are back in Homestead. Caryn and Brayden came out to visit on Saturday and after lunch and a nap at "Grampa's House" we took a trip to the Everglades. Mitch was excited--he got to buy his "Golden Age Pass", the National Park's pass for 62 year olders for $10 and doesn't expire until they do!







Brayden loved running on the boardwalk and looking at all the birds and the alligators. He looks likes he enjoys listening to Grampa's stories too!

The lady in the gift shop was very impressed when he chose an alligator book over a toy alligator.

Week 2 in Minnesota

The guys managed to get three deer on Monday morning so we needed to go back up north to frosty mornings and beautiful days. Mitch and Jim skinned and butchered, then cooked a wonderful rum marinated venison chops dinner (remember last weekend they read the venison cookbook).







We always enjoy the hospitality of Carol and Jim (Sarah's parents). Thanks for sharing your house, kitchen, and family!!











Saturday was a special day, Grandma Aggie (Jim's mom) celebrated her 92nd birthday. Sarah and brother Tony showed off a little bit for the kids.


The venison is in the freezer waiting for next summer, then Carol and Jim and Mitch and I grind up the venison and make summer sausage, breakfast sausage, and pizza sausage.










Back to the cities to spend a couple more days before we fly back to Florida.

This is Kitty Precious, Addy's special stuffed kitty cat from last year's hospital days when Addy went to the hospital for 55 days to visit Mommy while she was waiting for Macy to be born. Addy always makes sure Kitty Precious is taken care of but usually is firmly attached to the inside of Addy's elbow. Kitty Precious recently underwent a complete makeover.



We girls are singing songs and running circles around the house. It's fun and games !!!












Addy and Macy, we love you so much and will miss you until we see you in May.

Time with the kids

It's been a busy week playing, playing, playing. Addy and Macy have a busy schedule and we have had a lot of fun.

Addy was looking out the window and said, "There's the garbage truck. It must be Tuesday!"

At two and a half she amazes me with the things she knows.





Macy and Addy in their matching PJs--cuter than a bug's ear!!












Mitch and I cooked up some pot stickers, egg rolls, and Hot and Sour Soup because the kids say there isn't a restaurant that makes them as good as we do. We had a great evening--Sarah and Shayne and Bryan and Stacy.









Addy cooked up some of her famous pancakes for breakfast.

1st Deerhunting weekend in Minnesota

First things first--we are back in Minnesota and get to see the girls. Look at these dollies! Little Macy is almost one and the sweetest little cutie there is.













Addy is going to teach Brayden how to eat raspberries. A raspberry on each finger and then you yell Ta-Da!! Then you eat them.













This is Max, Tony and Beth's three year old.





















And this is Weston, Max's little brother who just turned one.



















The weather was just great for us (not so much for hunters who would rather it be cold and snowy). Macy just loved playing in the leaves.

















Addy got to go for a walk in the woods earlier, but today she thought playing in the house was lots of fun too.











Saturday evening was the birthday celebration. Mitch, Carol (Shayne's mother-in-law), and Mark (Beth's dad) all have November 6th birthdays!!
Happy Birthday, everyone!!











Sunday night and there were no deer. The closest thing to venison was the cookbook with all the great venison recipes that would be good to eat.

Sunday evening

Jason and Caryn in the evening light at this fun little Greek restaurant in Hollywood. They have just found out that it will be a little boy they will be having in March.











Brayden and Grampa walking down the sidewalk. Brayden does like his Grampa!! I'm thinking Brayden is saying "Why", his favorite new word!

Halloween 2009

We made sugar cookies and Brayden enjoyed eating the sprinkles and tasting the frosting. We eventually got the cookies decorated.















Here’s Spiderman aka Brayden
















Halloween took us to the YMCA for a haunting evening. What a great event! First the weather was about 80 degrees, the moon was almost full, and Brayden went from tent to tent playing games and collecting candy. We ended the evening walking Hollywood Beach Boardwalk to get ice cream cones at Margie’s place.

Orlando, Florida

Yes, we are still alive and on the road, I just haven't taken any pictures for the blog. We've been in Orlando Thousand Trails for over a week and we have thoroughly enjoyed the high 80s degree weather. We've played pickleball just about every day and even twice many days. Then it's off to the pool in the afternoon or after evening pickleball. Of course, there are always a few errands to run.

Thanks to Marie for the pictures. We look like we are still enjoying this lifestyle and we aren't too stressed.

The coach is still is good condition and continues to be Home Sweet Home.

It's a good life!!!

Orlando TT revisited

We really did enjoy playing pickleball and had quite a group playing. Here’s Bob and Vicki, Buddy, Karen and Harry, and Dick is picking up balls somewhere out there.










It was great fun to see Karen and Harry again. We enjoyed the pool after a warm evening of pickleball playing.

Pickleball

The sun is finally shining again and that means we may get out to play pickleball again.












Even I can play this crazy game.









This is the "Getting Pickled Ceremony" established by Faye. She has a little ceremony and gives each of us a little pickle pin we are all anxious to display showing we are avid pickleball players.

Chesapeake TT was a great place to play. We always had about 15 players. The rest of the group had already been pickled and watched the ceremony from the sidelines. Thanks, Faye!!