Keeping busy in Homestead

We've learned a new game. The Quebecois have taught us Petanque (Patonk), a team game played kind of like Bocche Ball, with each person having two tennis sized metal balls that you throw in the sand trying to get closest to a little red ball (piggy) that the first person throws out to get the game started. We even play it under the lights!





Faye and Marie, I'm thinking about you as we do our water aerobics Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The interesting twist is that out of the ten gals that come only two or three speak limited English so we do a lot of "show and tell"!







Guess who showed up in our neck of the woods? Or at least close enough for us to get together for dinner and a game of Catch Phrase--which had us laughing so hard. Pat and John are good friends we met last winter in Orlando, and have run into them numerous times on our travels ever since. Pat gave me one of her terrariums after I commented that she and John were lucky because real plants are great air filters and are healthy for you and I didn't have any anymore. Now I have a daily reminder of Pat and John.

Brayden is Here

Before you get to the Everglades there is a cool fruit stand (Robert is Here)--lots of fruit, a petting zoo, live music, and the best shakes around. Mitch had a pineapple coconut, Caryn had a cherry key lime, I had banana passion fruit, and Brayden had all three!













Then we went to the Everglades to check out the alligators. There were a lot and Brayden enjoyed the "dinosaurs--really huge".













He posed for a little rest--a great way to see his meeting with the pavement (and the pavement won!).









He was impressed with the fourteen alligators we saw in one spot. He gets quite excited and everybody around us got quite a kick out of the animation and chatter.

Minnesota in January

We were excited to get to Minnesota, but the weather was really cold. Up early to get the day started, I was impressed with the beautiful sunrise.















Addy is up early, but she wants to play with Grampa.












Macy just took in the sights.



















When it's too cold to play outside, you just bring the snow indoors. Addy offers Brayden some of the "white stuff".










One night Shayne and Sarah did some tapas. Bryan and Stacy came over and we enjoyed the appetizers before we went out for dinner.





Bryan and Stacy with the dog cookies. At first glance, Stacy thought she had some quick snacks!









Finally the weather warned up--23 degrees! The kids (and the dog) headed outside to play. We stayed inside and "babysat".












What fun to play and hold little Macy. She is a beautiful little charmer. At last weighing she was 6 pounds 11 ounces--a healthy growing little girl. God does indeed hear our prayers. Thanks to all who included Macy and family in your prayers. She is a miracle baby!

A trip to Minnesota

Forget all that stuff about cold weather--a new baby warms the heart! We took a quick trip to Minnesota to visit the kids, but especially to check out that new baby! She is the most precious little one! She is now over six pounds and seemed to grow before our eyes. Grampa and Gramma enjoyed her immensely.
















Our two little girls. Addy loves her little sister and is a helpful big sister. She kisses Baby Macy and loves to hold her.

Christmas Revisited

This is the video of Brayden decorating cookies. I love the end!


Here is the video of Brayden opening his helicopter. The true joy of Christmas comes from the birth of Jesus, but the real excitement of the "best present" ever is hard to beat. Make sure you have sound.

Busy, busy, busy

How time does fly: Let's see--Deb and Mike and Christian were camping in the Keys over Christmas and New Years and before Deb flew back to brrrr-cold Minnesota we spent an evening with them.






Then we kept Brayden for a couple of nights and took him to the Everglades to see "gators". He was impressed with the airplanes he saw on the way! He did enjoy the board walk and the birds and the alligator that really is in this picture!
Caryn worked her buns off while we had Brayden and when we arrived Sunday morning the reconstruction was even painted! Yea! We did spend the afternoon washing out cupboards and drawers, but the opening is a great benefit for their house!






Every year I've blogged I've had some theme (but you didn't know that!). The first year it was Front Yards and Back Yards, last year it was On the Road Again. This year I'm thinking I'll go with Full Moons (of the nature kind).

Hello Little Macy

Look who's here--our miracle baby Mackenzie Grace. She's about five weeks old and weighs about five pounds. Things are going well--Macy stills stays bundled up until she is about seven pounds and can maintain her own body temperature. However, everybody in Minnesota stays bundled up these days!