Christmas at Don & Barbara's

 Just a very small section of Barbara's Dickens' Village.

 Laura and her new Kindle.

 Daisy, Karli and Stephen after Christmas dinner.

Tayler and Mike.  Mike is opening weight lifting equipment.  Don turned the sofa around to feature the Christmas tree for the day.  That worked very nicely.  A Merry Christmas was enjoyed by all.

A Pic Update

Sean has finished his cake and ice cream and is a happy boy

Happy 1st Birthday Sean

Mckenna, Sean, and I got to wake up and drink our coffee/milk (for kiddos) looking at this

Mckenna playing dress up at Karlie's bday party

Karlie's 5th bday party. They all made aprons and decorated there own mini cakes.

Two special weekends

Chad and Ryan playing fireman with a favorite of Ryan's birthday gifts.

Ryan really liked his fire engine birthday cake with a 3 candle.

 Sean on his first birthday.

 Caitlin and Sean.  His cake featured Toy Story characters.  Herb's birthday cake was delicious and of course Jim made homemade ice cream.

 Sean enjoyed his cake!

 Candy making with Grandpa, Laura and Kristian.

 Tayler, Mike and Laura keep an eye on things cooking on the stove.  Steve busy at counter behind.

Dipping Divinity.  Tayler, Mike, Karli, Laura, Kristian.  Steve just out of sight.

Total Lunar Eclipse

Out here on the West Coast we were treated to a total lunar eclipse. Here is a photo from my early morning hike.

(click here for more)

Update from Chicago

Hello All! Its been a while since I've posted, but I have been traveling home a lot over the past month so I had an opportunity to see most of you. That being said, I am glad to have a weekend to stay in Chicago and relax and catch up on grocery shopping and laundry. Yesterday was the 17th Floor Holiday Party. It was really well done. Lots of good food and a good chance to meet the people who work in other areas of the building. I was even lucky enough to win a gift card to a little restaurant in the Willis Tower. I haven't had a chance to check out some of the downtown decorations and lights, but it is on my to-do list. A few people have put up lights on the street I live on, but there aren't as many as i thought there would be. Karli is making me some Christmas cookies to send so I will be able to have a taste before I get home and they're all gone! Hopefully all is well with everyone!

7" Snow in Dimondale

 Looking out to the road.

 The creek.

Snow is truly beautiful when you are warm and safe.  The sun will melt it quickly.  Warm wishes to all!

Hunter success

Planning to skin his deer this afternoon.  This nice 4 point was one of two deer Dad/Grandpa shot.  The other he gave to Jim who planned to have it butchered for Caitlin and Herb.  From reports I heard a good time was had by all at the cabin.  Jim was the champion card player of the week.

Sean the tuckered out Pup

Trick or Treating 2011

Pedro Party part 3

Kelly Peacock Rose receives Booby trophy from Carol.

Pedro Party part 2

Sean wore out having so much fun!

Quinn, Katie Peacock Ripstra's daughter, played her own card game.  Mckenna in background.

Doris visits with Margaret and Dick.

Pedro Party 2011

37 attended today's party at Chris and Dick Peacock's home.  Young and old had a good time.  There was plenty of delicious food and friendly rivalry during the card games.  When the scores were added up Dave was the Champ (by 4 points over Jerry) and Kelly smilingly accepted the Booby trophy. 

I'll find the rest of the photos and try again.

Trunk or Treat Andrews Chevy Mason

News from Chicago

Tonight there was an after work event for the management staff at United. I went and was treated to an evening on the 99th floor of the Willis (Sears) Tower. It ended up being a very exciting evening. The view was amazing, meeting some more of my co-workers was good, and to top it all off, I got to personally meet the CEO Jeff Smisek. It was pretty cool to be able to meet the guy in charge of it all and almost surprising for him to ask me who I was and what I did at United.

I'm using my flight benefits for the first time this weekend. Nothing major, just traveling back to Lansing, but it is important to be in the running for the Pedro Championship. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone who will be there and some good homecooked family food!

Halloween 2011

Sean as Gus

Big Bad Gus oh wait is that Sean

Grandma and Repanzuel (Mckenna was very happy I don't know why she looks sad in this pic, Grandma might have a better one)

My beautiful Princess Repanzuel AKA Mckenna

Cookie decorating

Mckenna and Grandma hard at work

Tasting the hard work

Yes she was growling at me about taking her pic

Sky Diving!

Well, sort of... we went to I-Fly, an indoor wind tunnel.

Another Great Day to be Outdoors

Sunday was a great day in Sunol Regional Wilderness.

More photos here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwAeg43

College to Cookies

Sunday afternoon my cousin Marge Harvey and I attended an MSU Evening College Class at Eagle Heights, the Tudor Manor House W. K. Kellogg called his cottage.  We are pictured with a docent portraying W.K., the Cereal King.  The magnificent stairway took 2 years to hand carve.  We toured the house and Marge was asked to share some of her knowledge about Mr. Kellogg.  Our Grandmother knew him but was better acquainted with his brother John who owned the Battle Creek Sanitarium where Grandma was the hostess for many years.

 W.K. Kellogg's cottage on Gull Lake.

 When Sean woke up during our Halloween cookie baking, he kept busy in the play kitchen.

 Mckenna had a good time decorating the ghosts--some had more decorations than cookie!

Mckenna chose the witch costume and mask from the box of decorations I'm ready to give away.  She had fun playing Halloween in this simple (by today's standards) costume that her Grandma and Aunt Sharon wore!!  Without a doubt it is time to empty some of those boxes in the basement.

It was an expensive day!  I backed out of the garage without putting the tailgate down.  The crunch was loud!  Dad is off this afternoon getting an estimate which he expects to be $2,000+. 

Another Week in Chicago

So this week was a little more interesting. I got to work on a few different projects and was even given a few of my own to work on. I have really enjoyed the past few weeks working with United. Everyone I work with is very good at what they do and its interesting to see how much work and expertise go into making an airline run smoothly.

I didn't do any Chicago exploring this weekend because I went home to see Karli. We had a good weekend watching Michigan State win! I took the train because flights were packed to Grand Rapids but this weekend I might try and take advantage of the flying benefits that I get. If anyone has any good suggestions of places to go, let me know and I will keep them in mind! Hope all is well with everyone.

A few more weekend highlights

 Cynthia finished crocheting projects.  Mckenna's dress flares when she spins around.  Cynthia's scarf is a very nice accent.

On the shore of Lake Huron.  Rene, Audra, Addie, Matt, Heidi, Doris.  Zack is the brave one out in the lake, Matt joined him soon and they got completely wet, head to toe.  Molly, the mermaid, is sitting on a rock further down the shore.

 The porch was built around the tree but there was little growth room left so it was cut down.  There were some anxious moments but finally Jim's 4 wheeler and chain pulled it the right direction and it fell just where it was supposed to.  The stump was cut off at stool height, a table top may be added to it later.

Don did all the splitting, a HOT job on an 80* day!  Stacking will wait for deer season and cooler temperatures.  It proved to be a wonderful Jessup family reunion with 21 there.  Cynthia planned the meals which were just right . The young crowd enjoyed 4 wheeler rides and getting to drive one too. Dave's blind had blown down but with all the manpower to help it was quickly repaired.  The brakes on Dave's 4 wheeler froze but Don and Jim were able to make temporary repairs, then loading it on the truck it broke the back window out!  Many bushels of apples were taken to the woods, shooting lanes were brushed out. Games of Pedro, Oh Heck, rummy filled the evenings--one Pedro game until 11:30p.m.  We missed those of you who couldn't be there.