Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Another blue sky day!!

It has warmed up nicely and we are enjoying lovely sunny blue skies for the most part.  Seems like we had a busy first week or so back to FL just catching up with friends who we haven't seen for a little while.  Most of them are from "up north" - either Holland or Charlevoix so it's not like it's been since last year but it is always good to get together with friends.  Larry and I had a nice boat ride Sunday afternoon.  Went to the Green Flash for lunch then rode into South Seas Plantation Resort to look around.  Usually we see at least one dolphin there but not that day.  We had seen quite a few dolphin on the way - through the "narrows" - one pair looking like they were having a blast following at the transom of a boat and occasionally jumping into the air.  We rode up to North Captive to the ice cream shop but it looks like they are not opening for this year.  Too bad, we loved to stop there after lunch.  Besides the good ice cream it was a fun place to go - just behind Barnacle Phil's.  The breeze was a little cool but the sun was very warm so it was a very nice ride!

We are looking forward to ALL of our nieces coming down this weekend.  8 of them between 9 and 35 yrs. old.  Should be lots of fun.  They arrive late Friday night and are here through Monday afternoon.  We have a lot planned for them.  This was "Uncle Larry's" idea and I think he's just as excited about it as the girls seem to be!  I'll try to put some pictures from the weekend on my next blog.

My goal this winter is to try to "plug in" a couple places a little better.  I am helping in the nursery at Lifeline Family Center one afternoon a week.  It's fun to get to know the kids and babies there.  Also, we have been attending Cape Christian Fellowship for the past few years but don't really know anyone there so I am trying to plug into a woman's bible study group.  I think there is one that meets every other Tues. morning that might work out but the leader is sick and so had to skip this week.  I'll try to keep you "posted" on how that goes as well.

Otherwise, we are putting up with the same sunny skies day after day..................  :-).  Sorry, just had to rub it in a little!!  :-)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Sunny (but not so warm) Florida

Well, we finally made it to Florida on Wed. even though we started out on Tues.  We got a ride to the airport and our plane was supposed to leave at 7 put they had mechanical problems so it ended up getting canceled.  Northwest "put us up" for the night at the Crowne Plaza hotel in GR and we were back again about 5:45 AM Wed. for another flight.  Oh well, we got here safe and sound, at least we didn't have to land in a river somewhere!!  I can't imagine the feelings the people were having who landed in the Hudson River yesterday.  So thankful to be alive today, I imagine. 

We are having a cold front, cold spell here too but thankfully not as frigid as up north.  It has been in the low 60s the past couple days and it might get up to 70 tomorrow and be there for a couple days but it looks like back to the 60s by Tues. again.  Oh well, not complaining since it's not below zero!!  The idea for being here is to get out of the snow, boots and heavy coat weather so I'm just fine!!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Happy New Year by 4 days

I see that I am only the 2nd from the bottom of Amanda's list of bloggers so that means it has been WAY too long since I have added anything to my blog.  As I have said before, I really do not like to "write" but I do enjoy the "finished product" and looking back on past posts.

Christmas was busy with family get togethers  and it was lots of fun to be with family.  All the "kids"and grandkids were here for Christmas day to open presents and we all got some nice things.  Mom and Dad Spaulding joined us for brunch and for the rest of the day to play with the gifts and for some Quesadillas later in the day.  The kids all had fun playing with Jamie and Jacob's new Rock Band 2 game.  It was mostly nice just to have everyone together.  

Jacob tries out his new scooter

         Ashlyn got a dolly with a bottle

          The Hilldore "Rockers"

Friday we headed up to Charlevoix for the rest of the week and by Sat. night all the kids were together again, including Allison's sister Jen who spent the week with us too.

We went to the water park at Boyne on Monday,

Ben's surfing!!

Jacob will catch you Ashlyn

Ben, Amanda and Jamie Skied on Tuesday, Travis, Jacob and Jen Snowboarded on Tuesday too.

Jacob and Travis
Amanda, Ben and Jen

Jamie and Jacob

Ben and Amanda

Ben and Travis went back to Boyne for more skiing/snowboarding on Wed.

We all went Snowmobiling on Thurs.


On Friday we all wished we could have a massage because most of us were sore from the bumpy snowmobile trails!!  (But the "girls" did all get pedicures on Wed.)