On The Road Again ...... in the UP

We left "home" this morning (we waited until the kids started school!) and headed "up north" in Michigan - destination - the shores of Lake Superior.
Kay and Dale were on their way home from Jay and Kim's new condo in Gaylord, going south while we were heading north, so we met in Clare for lunch! It is so great not having a time schedule!
We are in a National Forest Campground - beautiful! Here is Roger enjoying Happy Hour on the shore of Lake Brevoort west of St. Ignace. Life is good!

26th Annual Round Lake Invitational

Brook, Roger, Sue and Patty

 

George and Sue hosted their 26th annual golf tournament on Sunday at Deer Run Golf Course. Eight teams played in a fun scramble and then everyone enjoyed a potluck picnic at their house on Round Lake. Good weather, good food, good friends - a fun day!!

Cascades

Roger and I had a hot date Saturday night - we went to a movie - "The Butler" - and then to see the Cascades in Jackson. There used to be an A&W Root Beer stand nearby where we would get popcorn and root beer in a frozen mug but it is no longer in business - things change in 40 years!!

The Cascades were built in 1932 by Mr. Sparks for his wife. It is a series of cement, tiered waterfalls with lights underneath and fountains on the sides. They play patriotic songs as the lights change colors to make a lovely display. As kids, we used to run up the steps and get wet from the misty spray. We are so glad that, through donations and volunteers, they are able to keep it open. It was a trip down memory lane!

Putman Reunion

John & Janice; Rick & Jo; Jerry & Anita; Kevin & Becky; Gary & Jeannie; Roger & Kathy; Judy; Ray & Mel; Raymond

We talked about a Putman family reunion last year at Mom's funeral - thinking it would be fun to get together under happy circumstances - so my cousin Janice sent out "save the date" cards and invited us all to her house yesterday.
Mom's maiden name was Putman and she had two half brothers, Dick and Paul, and one half sister, Elizabeth. My Uncle Paul (97) and Aunt Max (Maxine) (95) are the only parents still alive but frail and unable to attend. We had a good time playing "catch up" on all of our lives and laughing at old pictures of families and gatherings - remembering funny incidents of our childhood.

Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer

We know we are in Michigan when we drive down roads "tunneled" by big trees; when everything we see is lush green and the flowers are beautiful; when we see produce stands out in all the farmers front yards and the sweet corn is the best you can get!
We are having fun with friends and family - golfing, happy hours and eating out! We've been out on Judy's raft a couple times but the weather hasn't been to cooperative. Roger is loving the cool weather but I'm ready for less rain and more sunny days!
We met Joanne & Bob, my nursing school room-mate, in Adrian for dinner the other night and went to the "Spotted Cow" for an ice cream dessert.

 Roger is on the 10th Annual Tractor Drive with his brothers and about 50 other tractors.  He's pulling the camper they rented to sleep in tonight. So sorry I'm missing all the fun!!! I feel bad for them because it is 64 degrees and raining!  Glad he took his rain suit - hope it clears up later today and tomorrow!

   





 

Samantha and Emily are excited about going to their new schools. Samantha will be in second grade in the nearby public school and Emily is going to a private pre-school. They had a family interview with the principal before she was accepted and Emily told us they were "going to see the boss of my new school." They both will wear uniforms so clothes shopping is made easier. Emily in her navy

blue plaid jumper reminds me of Mel, Judy and I at Queens. Heather said "the blouse needs to be ironed!" I told her to do what I used to do when I wore a jumper - just iron the collar and sleeves - the rest does not show!



 We talked with Emily on SKYPE the other morning and she told us Samantha couldn't talk on the Ipad because her "privileges got busted!"

 

See Ya, Texas!

Happiness for Roger is Texas in our rear view mirror! I thought it would be easier to say good-bye to the kids because they are now within driving distance but it wasn't!
Megan is doing well after her ACL knee surgery but still using a brace and single crutch. She is going to PT twice a week and able to flex it more but it is swollen and painful. I feel for her having to wear the heavy brace in the heat! Despite the circumstances of our stay we so enjoyed spending time in Austin with her and Carlos. We are hoping they can join us on our travels sometime in the near future.
Heather & Kyle are as settled in their new house as they can be until the container from Asia arrives - then they get to start all over! We had a fun July 4th week-end at their house - Megan and Carlos; Kyle and Rachel and Kirt joined us all for food and fireworks! Always good to see our nephews but, we missed Joel and Rachel and especially Charlotte as they were in Michigan for the week.
Roger talked the girls into taking the training wheels off their bikes on Sunday morning. Samantha was very timid about riding without them but Emily jumped on and mastered it in no time! That certainly motivated Samantha try harder!
We went for one last Mexican food hit for lunch and then we left for Michigan. We got these videos around 5pm. Now they know they can trust Grandpa not to lead them astray - he was right - they can do it!!

 

July 4th Bike Parade

We have been busy for the last week helping Heather move into the new house - Kyle was in Corpus Christi on business - forgot how crazy it can be! The first of the week was spent assembling shelving and dressers for closets; changing light fixtures and meeting all the vendors that need to hook up something!
The container of all their household belongings that they stored here in Houston while they were in Kuala Lumpur arrived on Friday at 8:30am and left around 5:00pm! Three guys kept bringing in more and more stuff until we were practically drowning in boxes - then one of them came in and said "I'm leaving to get the other truck!" I finally asked if they were sure they weren't bringing in someone else's stuff because we didn't even recognize some items! Of course, many items that were saved went straight to the garage sale box - or, I should say boxes! Tonight is their first night in their new home.
The girls were so good while we were busy - they play together very well. The subdivision had a July 4th parade, led by a fire truck, today - from the soccer field to the pool for lunch and swimming. They were so excited - they decorated their bikes, their helmets and themselves in hopes of winning a prize! Samantha told me "I'm going to be pretty hard to beat!" and she and Emily did win! They got a $25 gift certificate for Toys R Us to share. Kyle said they weren't all that excited until he told them it was "like 80 ringgits"- then they were practically jumping out of their skin!