Mylah's chickens

We thot Mylah would enjoy chickens since she loves animals.  Tanner built a 6'x12' chicken coop last winter.  John got 11 chickens from a guy he works with.  5 are roosters and we know what that means at 5am.  I ordered 30 chicks--hopefully no roosters and they are in the basement right now under a heat lamp.  I am looking forward to them moving out because chickens stink!

 

 

 

 

Becky is a gardener so I made this for her.  She retired this month so will have more time to play in the dirt.

Sisters

We had a great 3rd year stay at Melboure Beach.
My adventurous sister, the Baywatch Babe. 

 

Shelling was great this year! I 've been teaching Mylah to hold a shell up to her ear and I'm sure she hears the ocean even if she doesn't know what she's hearing.  We are staying 2 weeks next year and maybe Mylah can come see the ocean for a week.  She would love it!

 

We had perfect weather and one short rain.  It was eerie, powerful and comforting all at once.
 

Love my sisters and the easy flow between us. 

 

We always get excited to be in the south where we can find a Waffle House.  Love how the waitresses act like they know you well and holler your order to the cook who is cooking right in front of everyone.  It's unique!

The leg bone's connected to the hip bone

 

In March Mom broke her hip and had surgery.  She had to spend a month in the nursing home to get her get-up-and-go back.  It was hard to see her there and think that she might not get well enough to go back to the assisted living apartment.  I went and lived with Mom and Dad for a week when she left there to make sure she would do okay.  It is a role reversal--no longer the child, but the parent to the parent.  I tend to be rather bossy so after a week they were probably glad to be on their own.  I cherish that time being with them for an extended time.  God truly blessed me with a wonderful childhood with a good mom and dad!  When they are gone I think I will feel like an orphan even if I am old.

Florida in February

Becky and I went on vacation!  We stayed in Bonita Springs and traveled south to Naples a few times.  It is a beautiful city!  We also went north to Fort Meyers Beach.  Spent days at the beaches and being lazy. 

Each evening we went to a different beach to watch the sunset.  I love how people gather like they're going to a movie and when the sun finally sets, everyone applauds.  It's a beautiful world God has created for us! 

 

Enjoyed the Botanical Gardens in Naples.



 

 

The hotel we stayed at was run by Middle Eastern people.  The was a lot of black marble, and sort of strange decorating.  All around the parking lot were Greek style statues.  The shower head was one to be remembered---which has nothing to do with Becky pointing out the obvious.

January

 

Pillows I made for Jessee

 

 

Made one of these for each couple for Valentines Day.

 

Jessee and I had a birthday together.  Jami, the new cake maker in the family, made us the pretty cake.

Christmas

Christmas 2011











 

 Good family time!

I managed to get a quilt made for each kid with Grandma Jane's clothes.  They turned out nice. 

Mylah had to put all her presents in her mouth.
 

When the boys were growing up they spent many hours building things with KNex and one of them let it slip that he still takes his out and builds with them sometimes, so I found each of them some KNex just in case.  I miss buying toys.  Now I can start again with Mylah! 

Honeymoon Cruise-December

 

Tyler and Jami allowed us to go on their honeymoon with them.  They were fun to travel with!

 

We had balcony rooms this time which was great since we spent 2 or 3 full days at sea.  At night we had the doors open and a perfect ocean breeze did not even make John cold(for anyone who knows John).  I loved having our room cleaned all the time.  Sometimes we'd take a nap, leave and come back to clean sheets and tidied room.  I could not figure out how the guy knew when we'd leave--never saw him much--but even if we were gone a short time, the room was cleaned.  One night at dinner I started to feel icky and started to go back to the room  and only got a few feet and knew I was going down so I got back to John and passed out on the floor.  My eyes were closed the whole time so I heard later that an announcement went thru the ship "Alpha Alpha in the Opus dining room"  they hauled me out on a stretcher with my 3 companions parading behind.  I think Tyler might have been embarrassed--what are mothers for?  Spent a few hours in the ER getting drugs and fluid and made a fine recovery.  I was very happy I had purchased trip insurance which covered the $900 bill.


The Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship and was new in 2010.  It is a gorgeous ship with much to do and see.  There was the musical Hairspray, ice skating rink, a water stage where we saw syncronized swimming, diving by Olympic divers, and freestyle shows.  There is a merry-go-round(above), wave surfing, a zipline, mini golf, rock wall, and, of course, all the good eating!  I loved this ship and would really like to go on it again.

Dress up dinner 

 

Royal Carribean has it's own spot in Haiti where we spent a day.  It was beautiful and relaxing.  Lunch is served and there were excursions you could go on.