Home Again

Mana, Ellie, Violet

Toenail painting time

Savannah and Ellie in dance costumes

Papa and Madelyn are best friends

Mana and Papa with 4 girls

We made it home from our trip to Wisconsin at about 1 A.M. this morning. We loved visiting with our northern families. I'm posting a few pictures of our trip. Mandy had picked up Laddie and Moses the cat, and they were at home waiting for us. Laddie looks and seems to feel better than he has in a long time. I'm glad our dog is still with us.

I'm still trying to figure out how to move pictures around and put them where I want them. Any ideas?

Piano Concert-Part One

Mike and Nicole's kids all take piano lessons from a former Russian concert pianist, and are very good. They are practicing for a recital later this spring. Moroni is teaching his girls piano, and they are just beginners. We had a concert this afternoon. Here are three of them. Rachel

Andrew

Ellie

Violet's Blessing

Violet Elaine

Mills/Hoffer family

Sleepyheads

Violet was blessed at church today. Moroni gave her a wonderful blessing. There were lots of Mills and Hoffer relatives here to celebrate. Violet and Moroni were very tired after it was all over.

Wisconsin At Last

Grandkids at Quaker Steak and Lube

Benjamin's Big Burger

Mike at Quaker Steak and Lube

Ah, Wisconsin. The snow flurries started almost as soon as we crossed the border. It was so good to see Moroni and Mike and their families. The kids are all so cute, of course. We started out with a fun meal at a place called Quaker Steak and Lube. The atmosphere there is spectacular, with cars and motorcycles hanging from the ceiling and walls. Very cool. Then everyone came to the motel to swim. Good Times!

On Our Way

SPRING BREAK!!! After way too much drama with a poor sick Laddie dog, we finally left on our trip to Wisconsin. I know most people go to the beach for spring break, but we have a beautiful new granddaughter whom we haven't met yet, so that's where we are headed. We stopped for the night at a Ramada Inn in Sellersburg, Indiana. The accomodations are really nice. It's also right next door to a Cracker Barrel restaurant and a Dairy Queen. Here we are after dinner, sitting by the fireplace. I really like the picture of dad alone. Everyone has been so friendly that I'm tempted to stop by again on the way home. By the way, Laddie is at the vet's again with vomiting and bloody urine. He hasn't eaten since Tuesday. He finally started drinking yesterday, so that's good. The vet says they will keep him over the weekend and hopefully Laddie will start eating again. More to come on our trip up north...

Big Band Dance

Dad and his red trumpet at the big band dance. Sorry the picture is fuzzy.

Melanie's Birthday!

Today is Melanie's birthday. We've been blessed to have this wonderful daughter in our lives for 40 fantastic years. Where has the time gone? Where is the little girl I carried? Where is the little child at play? I don't remember growing older, when did they? (Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof) Happy Birthday, Melanie! Love you bunches.

Nobody Knows the Trouble Mark's Seen

Monday, February 28th. It was a dark and stormy day in Knoxville, Tennessee. The rains fell and the winds blew. Mark drove his car to work, parked it in the lot, and took the company vehicle to deliver patients to their appointments. He came back to find his car under water, and no way to get to his office. A flash flood had covered the area with 5 feet of water. Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.