Reunion

Almost the end of April and lots going on. Just reunited with my friend, Mary Richter-Brown, who now lives in Oregon. We last saw each other 20 years ago. How wonderful to pick up where we left off....with lots of details (grown children, new grandchildren, new partners, health issues) to discuss....NEVER to be parted again! We have 20+ yrs of catching up to do.

My brother, Frank, his wife Constance, and their son, Austin, arrived April 2 for a 9 day visit. We went to the Easter sunrise service at Punchbowl cemetery that was lovely with music, despite the rain. Frank calls it "liquid sunshine". We did all the tourist things, celebrated Constance's birthday, they took a day trip to Kauai and wrapped up the visit by attending the Highland Celtic Games on 4/10 before they left. Another wonderful reunion and Bob took time off to enjoy too.

Miss Caylyn is receiving her prom dress directly from China this week...but g'ma got nervous, so I sent her a back-up dress. She is soooo lovely and promises pictures of the winter formal and prom after the May 8th event (that I will certainly post!). Constance is loving the participation as auntie after all those boy events of Trent and Austin. So glad she is willing to help Julie with this since the school takes much of Julie's time these days. And the school is a huge success!

Mitch is still working on launching his new business.....everything looks great! Patrick and Sheri went to CA on some business and visited Ty. Summer is branching out by taking a court steno course that will be an asset to her appraisal business. Michelle is working lots and still finds time to completely redecorate her kitchen better than Martha Stewart. Taeven is in our hearts.

May 9 Bob is going on a 2 week trip to Guam and maybe I can catch up emails to friends (Verletta, Zelda).... I will miss him mucho and must keep busy. He is still the love of my life! My brother Ray may NOT need to have surgery, but I've offered to come to KY if he needs me.

Hilo, Kona, Thompson visit, Happy B'day Summer!

ok...so I'm a little slow on updating....been busy!
Bob and I spent Christmas in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. We were only there 3 or 4 days, so we maxed activities. Before sunrise boat ride to see the lava pouring into the ocean....then a helicopter ride later that day to see volcano action from the air...what a great Christmas present to each other. For our "official" (1/1/10) tenth wedding anniversary celebration, we went to the Polynesian cultural center for new year's eve, lots of fireworks and next day a fancy lunch at The Willows, then the movie Avatar, plus a romantic sunset at the beach. See?....busy!
In Feb, Tony and Connie came to visit from AZ and we toured the Mighty Missouri battleship...then, Valentine's weekend, we went to a world class wedding celebration (cute couple, Jim and Stephanie) at the Prince Hotel, Kona and hung out with awesome friends, CA Jim, Betsy, MA Ron and his lovely wife, Ann, sister to the groom.
We had an AZ Thompson visit the end of Feb and Michelle and I were determined to get a tan, even with all the wind left over from tsunami action. It was truly a sweet reunion visit, Bob took the week off, and we did something fun every day and hugged / talked a lot. Oh yea, and ate!
March 6th, beautiful Summer's birthday. When we called, she was flying a kite with Hanna (age 3) and had ladybug cupcakes to celebrate after Sean and Jessica take her to dinner.....uh, there was some jewelry involved too! Life is good and Miss Summer looks 28 at the most!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010

Aloha...Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian for Merry Christmas with love!)
Lots of blessings this past year...Bob and I are healthy, the kids are all healthy, happy and involved in successful lives. We are grateful that our four beautiful grandchildren, Caylyn (14), Evan (10), Mark (5) and Jacob 1 1/2) have parents (Mitch and Julie), uncles (Patrick , Ty and Taeven) and aunts (Michelle, Summer and Sheri) that all love them ,care for them and teach them what is right.

Big news: Mitch and Julie moved into their new home Feb 2009 and recently opened Springfield Academy for pre-school and grammr school students. Check out the details at www.springfield-academy.org
Michelle is writing a column for the AZ Bee Hive LDS Newsletter and she and Taeven are moving to Idaho in April for more school. Winnie and the three kitties keep them company and they are currently still in Mesa.
Patrick and Sheri live in Chandler AZ. Patrick owns an electronics business, Sheri is a manager for an upscale optical company and they enjoy all the nieces and nephews, plus their two cute puppies.
Summer has her own real estate appraisal business in the Denver area and just bought her first home, a new red Jeep and loves snowboarding. Her puppies, Basil and Reggie are spoiled and that works.
Tyson lives in Santa Ana and would love to have a yard with doggies ...maybe soon. He has his own internet business and might be returning to school.
Our sweet Cathy, Bob's sister, was lost to cancer this past November. We are grateful to have been able to visit her several times in El Paso and had hoped to be able to bring her to Hawaii. We will all miss Cathy; and her generous spirit and pretty smile lives on.