Detroit Science Center

Today we took Mom and Dad to the Detroit Science Center to see the film Grand Canyon Adventure - A River at Risk and the Da Vinci exhibit. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the movie. If you get a chance check out your local IMAX and see it. Mom said if she had seen this prior to her raft trips she never would have gone. Dad was a good sport and posed for a picture in the frame outside the DaVinci exhibit. We were all glad to see how busy the museum was and had fun watching the kids explore all the exhibits. We are very lucky to have a facility like this so close.

Christmas Day

Here is Caitlin and Herb's Christmas tree all decked out. The had fun going out to Don's and cutting it down. The cat liked climbing it hence the slight lean.

There were 9 of us total celebrating at Caitlin's this year. Mckenna took a nap before they even had a chance to open their stockings so we all got in on that action too.

No doubt about it Mckenna knew just what to do with a toothbrush. She actually seemed to like the handle end better - no pesky bristles to contend with.

Caitlin and Herb cooked a 20 pound turkey - their first. It was delicious and the rest of us brought the salads, veggies, and stuffing. Everyone left the table fully satisfied - especially Caitlin who was able to sit and enjoy the entire meal while Mckenna dozed in her crib. She made short work of some banana when she got up but was not a fan of mashed potatoes!

Hope your day was as enjoyable as ours! Below is a picture of the cozy socks Ashleigh knit for Caitlin. They fit great and took about 2 seconds to find their way onto her feet.

Candy Making

Okay, so this has nothing to do with candy making but Gus wanted you to see his favorite toy.

Grandma and Mckenna had a good talk with Santa but then someone had to taste the jolly old elf and he got a little soggy. Today Mckenna was telling Ayla how candy making is no fun cause you don't even get to eat any of it.

Oh ya, we did actually make some candy. Here is Jim checking out the status of the current brew. The new candy thermometer with BIG numbers helped everyone and resulted in some of the best peanut brittle we have made in years. (we would be translated as Jim, Dad, and Caitlin - mom and I just played with the baby). Ayla and Herb went to watch the Wolverines play basketball at the Palace.

Today Jim and I are busy wrapping presents and trying to convince the dog to go outside by himself - the wind chill is -9 and falling and it is only noon. All our hard work shoveling and plowing is filling in with drifts so it will have to be done again before I head to work in the morning but Jim is off until January 5th so he should be able to get it done. I have a crockpot full of soup on the counter which will taste great if the smell is any indication. Had to use up a bunch of veggies before they were beyond eating and soup is my favorite way to do that.

This is in the front hall at Mom and Dad's - very festive don't you agree.

Merry Christmas

I wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas before I go off the grid (probably won't have internet or cellphone access) for my Christmas. For those who don't know, I will be spending my first Christmas without my family. I will be on a cruise in the Caribbean with my girlfriend (Dana Vollmer, a senior on the Cal Berkeley swim team) and her family, leaving from their home state of Texas, from Sunday to Saturday. This will also be my first cruise, since I missed out on the Alaskan cruise most everyone else was a part of. It seems with or without swimming, I still find ways to have my time with my family limited.

Hope everyone enjoys the holidays!

Love, Andy

Never to much snow

Well my cute indoor/outdoor kitty says never to much snow for her, yet then again maybe there is to much snow. 

After that brave venture outside she has been cuddled up sleeping

Cookie making day

Our cookie making day was postponed until today because yesterday Caitlin got stuck in her driveway! It took a pull from a truck to get her out after Herb got home. So today was the day and Mckenna was happy and seemed to enjoy all the pretty colors of sugar. Next year she'll be a helper! Here we are:

Bike Tours

Hi everyone! I thought you might be interested in seeing the video that Slav had made about the bike tours this summer. Check it out on YouTube.
I'm not in it, it's true, but you can get a bit fuller idea about what I've been up to.

The mighty hunter strikes again

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. When I got to the house on Sunday dad is standing there with blood dripping off his fingers. I thought he had cut himself but oh no. He was pretty happy he got a deer since it was the last day of rifle season. He was also pretty smug about the whole thing later in the afternoon when he was sitting in the lazyboy watching the snow come down and he was not headed to the blind.

Notice the nice symetrical rack. The deer is now decorating the interior of the freezer. Lots of yummy meals await....

Thanksgiving

The master carver at work.

Where is the table? What is everyone looking at? Is it gone already?

By the way nice butts.

New Camara

So I got this new camara and I just thought I would share some pictures that I have taken with it. They sure turned out great! 

Mckenna and Her Sister Ayla

Mckenna is getting so big. She is sure one lucky girl she has a sister who couldn't love her any more. Here are some pics of them. One pic is of Mckenna experiencing snow flakes for the 1st time they kept getting her in the eye so she just shut them it was easier that way!

Lake Del Valle

California weather has been perfect for enjoying our lives. Today Sharon and I rode my favorite ride out and around the local lake, Del Valle.

Non-Stop Cutie

Mckenna ad Mommy went to vote today we had to stand in line for and hour and 15 min yet she didn't mind at all here is a pic of her when we got back home 

Pea Pod

This is one cute pea!

New Pics on My Site!

My blog

Happy Halloween from Irvine, CA

I haven't been up to much in the past few weeks, just really school. My roommates and I are being "Aces" for Halloween. We are each an ace of one suit. Jennifer is the Ace of Spades, Rachelle is the Ace of Diamonds, Kirsten is the Ace of Hearts, and I am the Ace of Clubs. Our main Halloween event was this past Friday. It was our CHP Halloween Dance. Since it was for the honors program we knew just about everyone there, which was really nice.
-- Love, Liane (by way of Sharon and Brian)

Playtime to Nap time

Here are some pics of Mckenna discovering her new toy then we had story time which she loves. Excuse the bed head on my part it was in the morning. 

MY HAT

This hat Aunt Ashleigh made to help keep Mckenna's head warm and she loves this hat. 

Nice Fall Weekend

This weekend was so nice out it really showed of Michigan in it's fall glory. Herb had a bacholer party saturday night and mckenna was not in the best mood that day so we went to bed early. Sunday we were all home and it was so nice we all went for a walk here are some pics that Herb took of Mckenna and I.

West Coast Update

Lots to update since it's been a while for me.

I went to Greece with my family which was a lot of fun. I started work (computer security consultant in San Francisco) and just finished up my first client on Friday. When I'm not on a client I do research. Also I went to Mexico with my company for an employee appreciation trip.


Greece was GORGEOUS! The views were just amazing and I had a lot of fun. It was also nice to just have that much time with my family again. We went to Athens, Naxos, Paros, and Santarini (3 days each). My dad has put up some of the pictures here.


In Mexico I played a lot of pool volleyball with my coworkers (even had my CEO spike the ball in my face, and then I did it right back). I also went sailing with my boss and out to a salsa club one night (which was a ton of fun). It was just a really good way to get comfortable with my coworkers and superiors.

Glad to hear everyone is doing well. Best of luck at the pedro party, I'm bummed I can't make it.

Andy

Peanut the Elephant

This is the first toy that Mckenna has picked out to play with herself, and her are some pics of her loving on it. Her Grandpa Jim gave it to her!

Friendship

I really enjoy the blogs, written and photographic. Thanks for participating!

Lately I've been thinking often about friendships. Everyone needs a few good friends. Maintaining friendships is work and takes frequent attention by e-mail, phone, cards,visits, surprises. Some friends are in our life briefly, while we need them during a difficult time in their life or ours. Other friends are childhood friends, high school friends, college friends etc. and some of them are long time friends through the ups and downs of life. Friends are different than family but both are needed.

I had lunch today with a group of friends I see once a month or less. One woman recently moved back to East Lansing after 30 years or so living in another state. Conversation flowed like we had seen each other yesterday. It was fun. When I see friends after many year's absence in no time at all I remember why I liked them and chose them for a friend in the first place.

I pray that each of you will be blessed with a few good friends along life's path.

Love and Hugs, Grandma/Mother

Playtime

Here is Mckenna just having a blast

Herb Update

So Herb has been working t his new job for about 3 months and loves it. He was working second shift which was an adjustment for all of us. But we ended up getting into a routine and one part of our routine was to go in and wake Daddy up at noon so he could get ready for work. Here is Mckenna trying her hardest to wake Daddy. Thankfully Herb just got put on 1st shift so Mckenna doesn't have to try to get him to get ready for the day !

Baby Einstein Is The BEST!

Here is Mckenna enjoying her 1 hr of tv time watching her educiational Baby Einstein DVD called Baby Monet. Everyday she is growing and learning how to do new things.