We finally arrived home on Thursday, August 25th after almost a month on the road! Our travels started earlier than we'd expected due to the passing of my father-in-law, Walter, on July 29th. Itineraries took us to Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota (in that order). Lots of driving back and forth but it was well worth it as we got to see our families! And, I finally got to meet our new nephew, Lucas! He's 8 months old and what a happy little boy...so cute!
Walter's funeral service in the cemetery chapel was very nice...his brother, John did the eulogy. The graveside service had to be cut short due to a thunderstorm. After the service, we all went to John and Marion's house (Mark's uncle and aunt) for a family get-together. It was nice seeing Mark's side of the family even under the circumstances.
After spending a week in Minnesota, we drove to Pennyslvania and stayed with my Mom and Gene. The next two weeks were spent with them alternating time with Julie, Ray, and the boys, and Larry, Stephanie, and Lucas. We racked up a lot of good memories with fun times spent at Ocean City, NJ, Cape May, NJ, Rehoboth Beach, DE, Lewes, DE, and Chesapeake City, MD.
We also enjoyed watching Alex play clarinet in a summer concert band and Zachary play street hockey with him scoring 2 goals and 2 assists! And, we've heard so much about "train club" and finally got to experience what Alex and Zachary do there, as the club was part of the annual 4H fair that we also took in.
We also were lucky enough to celebrate my sister, Julie's 50th birthday, my brother-in-law, Ray's 45th birthday, our nephews' Alex's 11th and Zachary's 9th birthdays! We had a fantastic dinner at Magianno's at King of Prussia for Julie's birthday and then back to Mom and Gene's for cake and presents...fun time!
We also got a chance to eat real fried clams (not just strips) at a favorite childhood place of Ray's...very good!!! Larry and Stephanie took us to one of their favorite places, too, and we ate along the water in Chesapeake City, MD,...very nice!
We had a nice photo session with Melanie (Stephanie's sister) and her fiance, Nick in Delaware! They are a cute couple and we are looking forward to shooting their wedding on January 21st!
We left the East Coast the day the 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia and that was felt throughout the northeast! Talk about timing! Made it to Minnesota for one more day (went to the Mall of America) and then departed for home.
The day after we returned, we just had to see our new granddaughter, Sophia, so we went down to Sara and Zach's. Sophia is so cute and seems to have grown longer; she's interacting even more! It was great seeing all three of them! Sara looks great, too! Looks like she and Zach have settled well into the daycare and work schedules.
Now that we are back home, we are settling back into our routines. Mark and I are both counting Weight Watchers points again to get the excess weight off that we gained on vacation as well as to try to get a few more pounds off. I'm trying my best to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in a day, whether it be power walking, spinning, elliptical or bicycling. If I can keep this up, I'm hoping my body will be kind to me! :)
I'm back into the swing of practicing drums daily and am busy gearing up for the start of the band season--working on my secretarial duties for the board and newsletter editor for the international band organization (the New Horizons International Music Association). And, one more new responsibility...I'm working with Mark and another couple, Bob and Karen as chairpersons this year for the Fort Collins Newcomers Club Winetasting Club!
I think I have enough on my plate right now. It's good to be home and it's refreshing to be in Colorado! Check out some new photos on the right from our trip!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Vacation is Winding Down
Just two more days left on the East Coast before we head to Champlin, MN for two days and then home by Thursday. We've had a great time out here with Mom and Gene, Julie, Ray, Alex, and Zachary, Larry, Stephanie, and Lucas. We were really happy to finally meet Lucas, our newest nephew!
We are so glad to be able to celebrate Ray's 45th, Julie's 50th, Alex's 11th, and Zachary's 9th birthdays with them this weekend, too! We had a fun time with everyone! Went to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, DE with Larry, Stephanie, and Lucas as well as Chesapeake City, MD. Julie, Alex and Zachary took us to Ocean City boardwalk, antique shops in Hammonton, and to Cape May. Ray was able to join us at his favorite childhood clam shack in the Tuckerton, NJ area--very good! Had lots of fun playing "Apples to Apples" with Julie, Ray and the boys the other night. And, as always, we enjoyed shopping and visiting with Mom and Gene!
We met with Melanie and Nick and took some very nice engagement pictures. They certainly make a cute couple! We are looking forward to shooting their wedding back East in January, too.
I hope everyone will be able to make it out to Colorado next year and stay with us for a while. I do miss my family back East but do love living in Colorado, too. Just wish we could transplant everyone to Colorado!
We are looking forward to seeing Sara, Zach, and Sophia when we return! Sophia looks so much bigger already! And, of course, it'll be good to see our old cat, Buster! (I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left. According to our cat sitter (a veterinary technician), Buster seems to have developed a hard lump under his armpit...*sigh*.)
I hope our trip home is uneventful. Just want to make it home safe and sound!
We are so glad to be able to celebrate Ray's 45th, Julie's 50th, Alex's 11th, and Zachary's 9th birthdays with them this weekend, too! We had a fun time with everyone! Went to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, DE with Larry, Stephanie, and Lucas as well as Chesapeake City, MD. Julie, Alex and Zachary took us to Ocean City boardwalk, antique shops in Hammonton, and to Cape May. Ray was able to join us at his favorite childhood clam shack in the Tuckerton, NJ area--very good! Had lots of fun playing "Apples to Apples" with Julie, Ray and the boys the other night. And, as always, we enjoyed shopping and visiting with Mom and Gene!
We met with Melanie and Nick and took some very nice engagement pictures. They certainly make a cute couple! We are looking forward to shooting their wedding back East in January, too.
I hope everyone will be able to make it out to Colorado next year and stay with us for a while. I do miss my family back East but do love living in Colorado, too. Just wish we could transplant everyone to Colorado!
We are looking forward to seeing Sara, Zach, and Sophia when we return! Sophia looks so much bigger already! And, of course, it'll be good to see our old cat, Buster! (I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left. According to our cat sitter (a veterinary technician), Buster seems to have developed a hard lump under his armpit...*sigh*.)
I hope our trip home is uneventful. Just want to make it home safe and sound!
Monday, August 8, 2011
On the Road for Awhile
My father-in-law, Walter, died on July 29th around 3:30 p.m. Mark and I quickly changed our vacation plans and moved everything up a couple of weeks. We headed out to the Minneapolis area the next morning at 6:00 a.m.
After 15 hours, we rolled into Champlin, MN and a gully washer of rain greeted us. The next couple of days were busy finalizing details for Walter's funeral. And, on Monday, August 1st at 1:15 p.m. in the cemetary's chapel, the viewing began. At 2 p.m., the casket was closed and the service began. It was a very nice service with about 30 people in attendance. An Army color guard played taps to begin the service, folded the flag that was draped over the casket and presented it Carol, Mark's younger sister and she accepted on behalf of the siblings.
I held it together until three different times during the service. First, the closing of the casket in front of everyone was very symbolical to me of the finality of life on this earth as we know it. Second, was the playing of taps and the rest of the military part of the service. And, finally, the singing of "The Old Rugged Cross" (one of Walter's favorite hymns). This hymn was one of my grandmother's favorites, too and was played at her funeral 18 years ago.
After the service, Mark, Joe, and four others were pallbearers, walking the casket to the hearse for the brief ride to the gravesite. Because it was raining and lightning, there was a very short prayer spoken at the gravesite by the pastor. We all went back to Mark's Uncle John and Aunt Marion's house after the service for a short get-together with family.
The day after, we went back to the gravesite and Carol, Mark, and Sue decided on what inscription they wanted on Walter's headstone.
The last 10 years have been particularly challenging for Carol and Sue since they've had to deal directly with Walter's sicknesses, operations, etc. not to mention all the moves from apartments to assisted living to nursing homes. They can all take a deep breath now.
We spent a few days with Mark's family and are now in Pennsylvania with my Mom and stepdad.
Larry, Stephanie and my new nephew, Lucas (now 8 months old) came over right after we arrived and stayed for dinner. It was the first time we met Lucas and boy, what a cute little guy he is!
Had dinner last night with Julie, Ray and the boys. Alex and Zachary look so much older and they are really sprouting up in their height, particularly Zachary!
I've been taking lots of pictures but probably won't get to upload them for another week or so.
So, my updates will be rather sporadic until we get back home in Colorado. That's it for now.
After 15 hours, we rolled into Champlin, MN and a gully washer of rain greeted us. The next couple of days were busy finalizing details for Walter's funeral. And, on Monday, August 1st at 1:15 p.m. in the cemetary's chapel, the viewing began. At 2 p.m., the casket was closed and the service began. It was a very nice service with about 30 people in attendance. An Army color guard played taps to begin the service, folded the flag that was draped over the casket and presented it Carol, Mark's younger sister and she accepted on behalf of the siblings.
I held it together until three different times during the service. First, the closing of the casket in front of everyone was very symbolical to me of the finality of life on this earth as we know it. Second, was the playing of taps and the rest of the military part of the service. And, finally, the singing of "The Old Rugged Cross" (one of Walter's favorite hymns). This hymn was one of my grandmother's favorites, too and was played at her funeral 18 years ago.
After the service, Mark, Joe, and four others were pallbearers, walking the casket to the hearse for the brief ride to the gravesite. Because it was raining and lightning, there was a very short prayer spoken at the gravesite by the pastor. We all went back to Mark's Uncle John and Aunt Marion's house after the service for a short get-together with family.
The day after, we went back to the gravesite and Carol, Mark, and Sue decided on what inscription they wanted on Walter's headstone.
The last 10 years have been particularly challenging for Carol and Sue since they've had to deal directly with Walter's sicknesses, operations, etc. not to mention all the moves from apartments to assisted living to nursing homes. They can all take a deep breath now.
We spent a few days with Mark's family and are now in Pennsylvania with my Mom and stepdad.
Larry, Stephanie and my new nephew, Lucas (now 8 months old) came over right after we arrived and stayed for dinner. It was the first time we met Lucas and boy, what a cute little guy he is!
Had dinner last night with Julie, Ray and the boys. Alex and Zachary look so much older and they are really sprouting up in their height, particularly Zachary!
I've been taking lots of pictures but probably won't get to upload them for another week or so.
So, my updates will be rather sporadic until we get back home in Colorado. That's it for now.
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