We went to the park and Alejandra enjoyed swinging. Gabriel can be seen in the background.

We're enjoying some wonderful days with Marta, Gabriel, and Alejandra. (Steve is on a business trip this week.) The weather is beautiful. It is usually 80 to 85 degrees in the daytime but there is always a comfortable breeze. Evenings are cooler, usually in the 60's. I think it's snowing at home!

Memories of Thanksgiving, 2009





Gabriel in the teepee




The table is ready.






We had a very special dessert.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some of our Thanksgiving foods.

During the taekwando class the instructor invited the fathers to join their sons in a match. Steve is in a blue shirt toward the back of the group. He and Gabe enjoyed taekwando together.

We enjoyed visiting Gabe's tae kwan do class. Here he is in his uniform. Doesn't he look awesome?

Here's Marta modeling some new dresses. Isn't she pretty?

We are so lucky to get away from Michigan's colder weather and spend some time in southern Florida with Steve, Marta, Gabe, and Alejandra.



I was invited to a Thanksgiving celebration at Gabe's school.

The Runners

Saturday was a beautiful day, warm and sunny for November. We enjoyed some time at Cascades Park.

Tyler and Matt enjoy each other so much. Ty is almost ready to crawl and can either roll all over the room or pull himself by his arms. I was thinking that the next time I see them, Tyler will be walking. Kelly and Tom are really busy with these two delightful little boys!

We just spent a wonderful weekend with Tom and Kelly at the lake house enjoying Matt and Tyler.

Wherever I go, I find children happy to help with cookie making:







Grandpa has a talent for getting babies to take their naps:








Matt and Tyler are so cute together:












The most beautiful smile in the world:

My Grandchildren on Halloween:




Tyler, the elephant, with his brother Matt, the football player







Alejandra, the cutest ladybug!







Matt, the football player!













Scarlett, a banana!














Gabe. So scary!

Scarlett rode a train at the farm festival Sunday.

Here are some pictures from last weekend when we went to an autumn farm festival.

Cathy ran the Detroit International Marathon yesterday. Tony was her "manager".

She did well and felt pretty good afterwards considering the distance. It was a very cool but sunny October morning. She said the most challenging part of the run was through the tunnel into Canada where breathing was difficult. The tunnel passes under water. The return trip from Canada is a run across the bridge.

Scarlett and I had activities going on at the same time including a visit to the park and baking cookies. Here is my good cookie helper:

We just spent a little time visiting Cathy, Sasha, and Scarlett. We enjoyed taking Scarlett to the park, we all went for ice cream, we went to the mall, and we ate at a noodle house. Scarlett is a joy to be with. She is very well behaved, always agreeable about everything that's happening. She loves books and spent a lot of time with a Leap Frog learning toy that I got her at a garage sale.

Lake House Visit
We just spent the weekend visiting Tom, Kelly, Matt, and Tyler. It was a beautiful weekend with both sunshine and showers. Projects were accomplished. Dinners were enjoyed together. But most importantly, I had time with my beautiful grandchildren!




Here are Tony and me with Matthew after church enjoying the riverfront.














Tom's project for the weekend was putting together a new dock which he has been preparing for a few weeks.


































Kelly and Matthew together. Matt is a very sweet boy.

Yesterday Ann Marie spent the afternoon with me because her little sister is in the hospital with asthma. She will be celebrating her 7th birthday next week so I enjoy talking to her and doing things together. I dug out my large collection of Legos left over from when my children were young. Legos are the perfect toy, creative with limitless possibilities. Here's Ann Marie with a house we made together. Soon afterward the house toppled and fell apart, but that's okay. With Legos you just make a new and better one!

Come and see my garden!

Visitors


Here we are with our little friend Sakiho who is four years old. Isn't she beautiful in her summer yukata?










My student Michiyo has two friends visiting from Japan, so they came to my house this morning for a little conversation. We had a good visit.

Here we are approaching the Mackinaw Bridge from the ferry going to the Island.

Every summer we like to spend a little time at St. Ignace, Mackinaw Island, and Mackinaw City. The island is 8 miles around so we like to hike its perimeter. This time our ferry to the island made a special pass directly under the Mackinaw Bridge---very interesting! It was a fairly cool day so it was perfect for hiking. Halfway around the island there is a park with picnic tables, so we always plan to eat lunch at that park. Mackinaw is certainly one of the most beautiful places in this state.