The sand crabs were on the run last night, as I was coming back from taking the photo's of the sunset I noticed the busy activity on the beach. They are very hard to see due to their white color, but they sure do run fast which you catch from the corner of your eye. Most of them were very small I did see this one which was the biggest of the many that were coming onto the beach.It is hard to pick out the best of the best sun sets. I know that I will be eliminating some of them as time goes by, but they sure are pretty and change very fast.

Day two (2010 vacation)

Sun is setting and the waves are rolling in, but it was a great day. Clear sky an warm with a continuous breeze which made it feel cooler than it was 80 deg.We made a morning walk to the pier which is about 1/2 mile down the beach.

Vacation

We arrived in Panama City Beach about 4:30 PM with the temp about 75 deg. the sky was a beautiful blue, no clouds. Watching the sun set is a neat sight, once the sun starts setting you have to be ready because it goes fast.The vacation didn't start off without any issues as seen below, we were about 30 minutes from Jamie's on 231 south of Bowling Green Ky. when a deer appeared in the middle of the road, I tried to move to the right avoiding it but that didn't happen. This could have been real bad for us as the deer could have gone up over the hood an on to the windshield causing us some harm. The vehicle is drivable it just took time for the police to get there for a report. He did let me continue to Jamie's. Friday AM after looking at the damage I decided to leave the car at Jamie's an travel with him to Panama City, Patricia was flying with her daughter an son-in-law so there was room in the van. We will drive the car home next week end so that we can get it repaired in Michigan. It may take us a little longer do to the damage, but then it might surprise me an we can move along with the traffic.

Fall Colors @ Torch Lake

Marilyn & I spent a couple of days at Doug's digs at Torch Lake. Arrived late Thursday afternoon the weather was overcast with light rain early evening.

The changing of the trees were noticed but without the sun brightly shining on them it was hard to determine how pretty they were. It was noticed that some of the trees were already bare.

Thursday AM was just what the doctor ordered with the sun shinning brightly with a blue sky an very few clouds anywhere. We got a late start but needed something to eat an was wondering if it was to late for breakfast. We headed north to Charlevoix, walked down main street and stopped at a bakery but I wanted something more than what they had to offer. Marilyn purchased a couple of items at the jam store an wondered into a couple stores an off we drove for Petoskey to find breakfast. We did find a spot enjoyed ommettes and then headed off to Harbor Springs.

With the sun shinning brightly it was a neat an pretty drive, once in Harbor Springs we drove along the bay going into the town an then we went north of town on some of the streets along the lake to view the big houses and woods that these people live in. WHOA what a sight.

On the way back to the house we stopped at the orchard for cider an donuts.

Went to dinner in Charlevoix at Kelsey's on Lake Charlevoix. Nice place to chow down, it was Friday night an they have fish (all U can eat) so both Marilyn an I chowed down, however I was the only one to reorder (big mistake) I did eat the second batch.

Destination for today for Ella & Ben was Seymour Lake Park. They seemed to have the same affect as Abby did last week (ready to leave after about 15 minutes). Maybe with Ella, Abby & Ben they will enjoy it, but for now I guess they will have to wait until next year.

We went to the play ground to have lunch an then play. Ella didn't have regular shoes so she had problems doing all the things that she wanted. Ben was all over the structures, I went with him as he went up the ramp and then all the way to the top. He was thinking about going down the green spiral slide but with his tennis shoes on he was having trouble with them stopping him so we decided not to let him go down it.

He did climb up this small slide and did slide down, he does have a little problem of getting hold of the edge to pull himself up. As normal neither one wanted to leave.

Abby had fun while with us for this past couple days, she played games on my computer, went to the Seymour Lake Park facility to play at the play ground and then went next to the water park.She didn't do alot while at the water park an I think that if she had someone to play with she may have been more active. I did get her to try to run around the different items so it wasn't a complete loss. Hopefully the next time she is here Ella & Ben will also be here an the three of them could have a wet time at the park.

Day with Abby

Abby came to stay with us for a day or so, we picked her up in Grand Rapids. When we got home grandma had to show her the costumes that she has for the girls to play with. She tried on two of them.

This is a lady bug

I'm not sure what they call this one, all I know is that it is green.

It was raining & very humid when we arrived home so we had to stay inside. The sun popped out after supper and Abby wanted to go out an make some bubbles. While outside she played in the sand box but the sun was hot and she wanted me to move the sand box in the shade. I told her that it was tooooo heavy so with that she had enough an back inside we went.

She found a cat toy, she an Pooka played for a short time, Pooka won't play very long but they had a good time.

Ella & Ben

Ella & Ben came for their normal Monday visit however this was not the normal because Jen came @ 10 AM instead of the 11:30 time frame so the kids played for a while prior to lunch.

Boy did they both gobble down their lunch, you would think that they hadn't eaten in days. I think both had a bottomless pit today.

Marilyn took Ben for a nap, because Jen would be coming back about 2 PM she said that Ella wouldn't have to have a nap today. Ella was going thru the house looking for whatever and found the doll in the library room and wanted to play with it, which she did for a while. Then she decided to take the baby (doll) for a ride on "Shortie"

Ben didn't sleep but about 1 hr. He sure is interested in everything. He watches Ella an @ times will do the same thing. Ella got out a couple of the little chairs which she opened up and sat them on the floor which they both sat on. Ben had a little bit of trouble setting on the chair properly but finally made it. However at times he wanted the same chair. I guess that is only normal. He was standing next to the chair that I was sitting in so I captured this moment.

Last Thursday Andy called to let us know that a package would be coming, open it before Amy & Abby left to go to Jen's an home (it was something they had been working on). Well I said that I am not sure what time they would be leaving an they may be gone by the time the package arrived.

Well Friday AM I was mowing the lawn when a pickup truck arrived with the parcel post package. Amy & Abby had left by then. I didn't take it in the house until I finished mowing. I put the package on the table and ripped the package open looking for what was inside. There were papers on the table an this was on top of the papers, etc. As I opened the package I noticed a couple of books, they were sealed in a plastic wrap and the first one was "I Love You Grandma" at the same time I heard a voice say "Hi Grandma". So I figured it was a talking book. (Yes I did). I continued to take the books out of the wrap and the first thing was to open the grandma book to hear it say "Hi Grandma" again. Nothing happen. I quickly opened the other book "I Love You Grandpa" only to hear nothing.

I was confused at this point, so I started to look to see why the voice was coming toward me as I opened the package. Well as I picked up the box I heard the voice again & it sounded like Abby's, & it was.

It was coming from the little voice toy that you can talk into, then change the speed of the voice by rotating the button on the bottom for a real slow voice or real fast voice. At first I was very disappointed that I hadn't received a talking book like grandma had. Mystery solved.

Abby visited with us the last couple days, it is always a blessing to have any of the grandkids come an spend some time with us. It can be a couple of hours or a couple days, it doesn't matter they are always welcomed. Abby said that she had found a swing her size and started to swing on this tree limb.Today Jen, Ella & Ben came out to visit with us and Abby, I was watering the lawn and Ben was wanting to help, he loves to get involved no matter what it is.
Grandma had a sprinkler an wanted to use it but she wouldn't put her bathing suit on so the girls did and they enjoyed running thru the water. Ben isn't brave enough yet to join the girls, however he did wander by the sprinkler but when he felt some water he made tracks away from it.
Now we have a couple of beauty queens, leaving the pack all by them selves to lay in the shade. Just wait a couple years.
Today was a perfect day for the kids to play outside, in the sand box running around the yard an then thru the sprinkler and shade bathing.

A fun packed week end was had in Wheaton with it starting with Amy having laryngtist and put on the disabled list. Sleep & lots of rest was the prescription for her. That didn't go over very well, Amy wanted to be with the rest of the group and we wanted her there but when you are on the disabled list you must conform to the top level managements decision.

The Francis's & Alexander's stayed at the Morgan house which was vacant due to Diane & Ron being in Florida. Amy stayed at her condo so that she could get the extra rest. Saturday was the dance recital that Abby has been practicing for. Abby's dance group had a good performance, I think each wanted to shine in their own way. There were four different groups that performed during that time and they all did a good job.

Abby provided Ella with one of her dance dresses which Ella enjoyed wearing and getting dressed up with Abby.
We celebrated Abby's birthday over the week end even tho the real date isn't until June 2 nd. We were all there so it was the right thing to do, that way we wouldn't have to make a return trip in a couple weeks. She received many neat gifts and I am sure she will be enjoying them for some time.

Scott & Andy had discussed power washing Andy's deck while he was there, so while Jen & Ella visited a friend, & Amy rested I took Ben & Abby to the park. This park is about a mile away so off we went on a long walk. Abby would run ahead of Ben & myself and upon arrival at the park they both wanted to swing. Abby even wanted to push Ben, so I had to get her placed beside Ben so that she wouldn't get knocked down when the swing returned. Much improvement was made to this park last fall & into the spring, making it very nice. I think it is geared for the smaller tykes.
I missed the soap suds and the extra fun of the bubble bath. I guess Ben had a issue of going below the bubbles an he didn't care for that, I can't blame him. However they all got squeekie clean, something they all needed seeing how they were growing things under their chins as Jen said.
Somehow they all managed to have Tiger shirts, they were going to the aquarium in Chicago on Sunday AM, then the Francis's were headed home after a real enjoyable week end with the family. There were a few issues at times but that was due to the lack of rest.

Ben turned 1 on Thursday an we had his party today. The weather was questionable all day with some rain, sun, over cast but we were able to be outside. His cousins were here to help celebrate the BIG day. Abby came from Wheaton, Ill and Brady from Warren. All the kids had fun playing in the yard. Ben did get in the activity by walking an pushing his Radio Flyer around.

After pizza an cupcakes it was time for Ben to open his gifts, Ben watched as Jen unwrapped then he did start ripping off the paper. There were a few items that caught his eye but most of them were just a gift, I am sure he will enjoy all of them soon.
I can't believe a kid that doesn't like cake or ice cream, Ben is one, however I think given time he will be digging in with both hands. Jen came with a cupcake with 1 candle on it as we sang happy birthday. He played with the frosting for a while and finally gave up by pushing in on the ground. As evidence you can see some frosting on his face. Jen did such a good job at making the cupcakes and fixing them up.
The girls had fun playing hide & seek for a long time then Amy, Andy & Scott got into the act. It was fun watching them hide behind the smallest trees. As the evening came so did the rain so we had to retreat into the house an it was time for Ben & Ella to go home for the night.

Out Side

Ella & Ben were here on Monday and they headed out side to play, where did they go first? to the sand box. They spent a lot of time there, it was a sunny day but a kool breeze was blowing.

Ben had a good time pushing his wagon around, he is just starting to walk, just short of his 1 st birthday. He was headed all over the yard an didn't seem to care where he ended up. It is fun watching the kids have fun, I can only wait for the weather to get warmer because they will have a good time in the yard an at the parks.

Ella & Ben

Well their back, with Ella being sick & in the hospital and a week for the whole family getting back to normal we had Ella & Ben today for the afternoon. We have seen them over this two week period but it is amazing how much they can change in such a short time. I think Ben has added about 10 pounds, he is heavy an solid.

He headed for the stairs an wanted to go up so he pulled the gate away from the railing and got himself inside the gate and then closed it behind him and was ready to head up stairs. When he has his mind set on doing something watch out because he is determined to finish what he has started.
After their nap & rest time we went out side to play, I think both of them were ready, however it was not as warm as it has been but with the coats on it they were OK. Ella wanted to take her coat off after running after the soccer ball because she said that she was hot but I told her that she should keep in on because she was just recovering from being sick and I didn't want her to return to that mode.
Ella even got Josh to come out an play soccer with her. We spent about 1 hour outside in the sun. As the weeks get warmer we will spend more time outside.

Road to Recovery

Don't take this the wrong way as you read the heading, this is an American Cancer Society Volunteer driver program. You assist by transportation help for people with cancer taking them to their appointments. My first trip was a man that had to go to the U of M for his treatment, the treatment was for approximately 20 minutes. The couple was very nice, an its a small world because their daughter lives about 1 mile from me. I look forward to future trips.

Ella Hospitalized

Ella had a sick stomach about a week ago and after two or three days of this an a couple doctor & EM visits Scott took her back to the hospital last Friday for another check up an they started IV's and she has been on them since.

She is improving however she still has an up set stomach so her stay in the hospital has continued. I was going to visit tonight but she was having problems of eating so I decided to by pass the visit. Hopefully this is the last night that she will have to stay in the hospital. The doctor did tell Jen & Scott that with the virus that she had/has it would take about a week before the upset stomach would heal.

Abby is spending a couple of days here so we have been busy working in the yard, an at the park.

We spent about 4 - 5 hours outside. Helping to rake the yard an water the new born grass were a couple areas that Abby assisted me during the day. Abby spent time playing in the sand box and just running a having a good time in the fresh air. None of these kept her busy for a long period, she was always on the go.

We spent about 2 hours at the park, she tries all the different climbing structures, if she feels that it is too difficult, then she will back off. I try to encourage her to try them and let her know that I am there to help if she needs assistance. Abby spent a lot of time swinging but we had to stop so that others could swing, there were a lot of kids there. It was such a beautiful day.

Ella's party

Ella had another 3 rd birthday party with Abby attending this one. She had a good time opening her presents.She is also a real ham. Ben liked some of her presents an Ella didn't think that he should have them to play with.

It is fun to watch the three of them play together, however Ben can't seem to get into the swing of things yet, but give him a year, then the girls will have something to be concerned about.

Hoodies

Ben is going every where so you have to keep an eye on him. He loves to bang on the piano, so he will play for a while then he will get under neath but he doesn't know that he can't stand up without banging his head, he does this with the dinning table also. I am sure he will understand soon that it hurts.

Grandma has been knitting hoodies for the kids, she completed Ben's first and then finished Ella's. So you can see her handy work.