Thanksgiving

Ok, so I'll finish catch-up with
our Thanksgiving. While we weren't
able to be with all of the family, you know
how it is when your scattered all over, we
did get to have a number of us together.
We missed having Kristy, Braeden, Travis,
Tara, James,Bethannie, James, MacKenzie,
John William, who went to Ga., Chrissy, Jacob,
and John III with us.
We were able to go toHocking Hills in Ohio
and rented a couple of cabins and had
about 24 of the rest of the family together.
We did try to get everyone together,
but some had other plans or had to work
the day before or after. Donna was able to come
and Jennifer and the kids were able to make it.
We are so Thankful for our family and the time
that we do get to spend together.
There were hikes taken, long talks
together catching up, games, and old
movies from when some were young.
We also celebrated John's parents, Mary and
John's, 60th anniversary. And of course
who could forget the card games. We
had enough food for an army. I think
we took as much home as what we came
with, it seemed to multiply.
It was a great time and a very nice
setting. We went out for Thanksgiving
to Hocking Hills Culinary School, they served
Thanksgiving Dinner, it was a good meal
especially since we didn't have to cook it
or clean up afterwards, although it is always
nice to have the leftovers.I am so thankful for our good health and for the
Love that we have for each other. Heavenly Father
has blessed us with so much and we are so
grateful for all he has given us.

Destin, Fl.

After a week in Chicago we left to go to Destin.
I have never seen this size of Jellyfish there,
the ones we usually see are the clear ones and
are not nearly as big. There were lots of them
all over.

We got to enjoy a few beautiful sunsets.

The water was blue/green as usual and clear.

While we were there Tropical Storm Ida came
to pay us a visit. It wasn't to bad, the water
didn't come up even to the roads, though it did get
cool and windy.

Some more beautiful sunsets.

A bird that was out on the beach, that let us get
up pretty close to it, I don't know exactly what
type of bird that it is, anyone want to guess.

I think this is a sea cucumber, we found this
after the storm.

Sand Dollar that John found out in the water
after the storm.Some nice ladies stop and took a picture of us.
We don't get many together since someone has
to take the pictures.

Back Home Again!!

So I have a little catching up to do, since I have been
gone for over a month. First stop was leaving here
and going to Tenn. to drop off a rocker and a ladder,
for later use. I had just missed Kristy, Travis and
Braeden, they were still in town but had already
gone when I had gotten to the cabin. After dropping
off the things at the cabin I was on my way to Ky.
I got to spend the day with my mom, then the
next morning it was back on the road to Ohio.
We had cabinets made for the cabin in Wooster,
Ohio and I went up to pick them up. It was a
terrible drive starting at 6 am, with rain the
whole way, 5 1/2 hours one way. I went back
to Mom's after picking them up getting there
at around 8 pm. I did get to spend Sat. with Mom
which was nice. John met me down at the cabin
on Sunday and we started pulling out old cabinets.
We did pretty well, got all the old ones out and all
but the counter top back in on Sunday. All was done
by Noon on Monday. I think we did a pretty good job.
Looks alot better than the old cabinets that had
been there for 20 years. Then we left to come
back down to the house and drop off the van
so I could go back up to Chicago with John. We
went back to the cabin that night and got a few
hours of sleep before starting to Chicago.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAEDEN!!!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Braeden!!! It seems like only

yesterday that we were at the hospital waiting

for you to come into our family, and now look at

you, almost ready to start school. We hope you have

a great Day, wish we could be there with you. Have

fun at your party. We love you very much. Stay as

sweet and helpful to your Mom and Travis as you

are now.

Happy Birthday Travis!!!!!

OK, so I'm a little early by about a half hour, but I wanted to get this
on before I go to bed. Hope you have a great birthday. Sorry I had to
steal a picture off Kristy's blog, but I don't have any of you. Not many
to choose from either. Enjoy your day!!!

Hey Kids Remember Pirateland!!!!

Anyone remember this place? Sorry the picture is
a little out of focus, but we were in the van when
the picture was taken. It has been a little while
since we have been to Pirateland so we decided
to go again for probably our last outing in the
camper this year.

The campground has changed a little since our
last trips with the kids. They have a nice putt-putt
golf area.

A nice big Lazy River, even though the day we
went to it, it was overcast sky's, we managed
to get some sun, since I didn't think about putting
on sunscreen.

A nice big pool.

Hey Kristy, I found a place for your wedding!LOL

The weather turned out to be not to bad. We were
afraid that it might rain most of the time we were
there , but Friday and most of the day Sat. were
great. It did rain on Sat. evening.

We did get in some time on the beach walking and
just sitting enjoying ourselves and the sun.

We never get to spend enough time together. So this
was a great time enjoying each others company and
relaxing together.

Majestic Sun 0703B - Destin FL Vacation Condo

Majestic Sun 0703B - Destin FL Vacation Condo

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Some Time at the Cabin

After dropping off John William, we
headed up to the cabin in Tenn., we
needed to do a little work there. After
getting there we found out that it was
in need of a little more than we expected.
We knew we would need a new hot tub
cover, so off we went to purchase it. We
were also thinking about going to get a new
dining room table, so off to look at those
also. After getting back to the cabin
and the cleaners leaving we noticed
that the cabinets and counter top in the kitchen
were in worse shape than we had
hoped. So we decided to forgo the table,
and get the cabinets in sooner than
expected. So hopefully the cabinets will
be in by sometime in Nov. So I did alot of
cleaning and stayed till Thursday. John left
for Chicago on Tuesday morning.
I was able to get to the scrapbook store
on my way out, always spending to much
there. Kristy, Travis and Braeden are
going to be going down this month, hope you
have a great time. The colors should be beautiful
at that time. We may get to get there
one of these days to just relax and enjoy
all the beauty there, we do every once
in a while get to go out hiking and enjoying
ourselves.

John William came for my birthday!!

John William called a couple of weeks
ago and said he was coming here for
my birthday, and that was one of the
best birthday presents I could have
gotten. He was able to make it to
Spartenburg, but that's about as far
as we made it that night. They told
him just as he was pulling in that he
had to take a load the next morning
that delivered 2 hours away, it turned
out to be 3 hours. So we had dinner
together and sat and talked for a while,
then I started home to wait for him to
call me the next day. So I was able to
pick him up on Thursday, and he stayed
till Monday morning, when I dropped him
off at around 9:00 am. It was really good
to see him since it has been over a year and
a half since I've gotten to see him. He did
alot of resting, which was well deserved. We
did go out and hit the tennis ball around,
He, John and I, which was fun and gave him
some exercise. John William, I love you and
am so glad that you were able to come. Hopefully
it won't be as long next time. Be safe
out on the roads and always know that
you are in my thoughts. We love you!!

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Now that I have you bored out of your mind,
I'll share the last place that we stopped on our
trip out west. This, I think was Grandpa's
favorite. It was a beautiful place.

With the Canyon being carved through the hard
rock by the water running through it. It is said to
be the only canyon in North America to combine
the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling
depths.

This was a trip that we got to see a lot
of the beauty that our Heavenly Father
has given us. Each place being so different.

Molas Pass

The day after leaving the Pueblos dwellings we
went to Molas Pass. We decided to start our
trip home on the Million Dollar Hwy. Molas
Pass happened to be on our way to the
Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It is 10,899
feet in elevation in the San Juan Mtns.
It is known to have the cleanest air in the USA.

As you can see there is still a little snow in the
Mtns. A beautiful place.

Trip to the Pueblo's

This was one of my favorite places on our trip
out to Colorado.

The Ancestral Puebloans lived here for 750
years. Some are thought to have been built
in 1200's. I just find it so interesting how they
built their home in these cliffs. They were
excellent basket weavers.

John and I were able to take a tour down
to the cliff dwelling and see them up close.

Here is one of the Kiva's that we got to go down
into.

We had to climb out using rock steps
and also climbing up about 3/10 ft.
ladders.
Here is where we ended up coming out.
These are other cliff dwellings that we stopped
at. This picture was taken across the way.