Pictures from DC

The family went to DC before Christmas. I promised my brother-n-law that I would send him pictures before next Christmas:). John's Dad was in WWII and served on the US Enterprise. He told some amazing stories about his experience. During the Pearl Harbor bombing the Enterprise was out to sea; when they returned to port they were fired on by their own country men. Everyone was so freaked out that they shot at anything and everything. I can not imagine living through that trauma. John's Dad gave donations toward the WWII monument. He was never able to see the monument before he died. So the fam went to see it while in DC last December. Savanna had to have her picture taken in front of the White House. So I ran 4 blocks with her, took the pictures and ran back so John would not have a tantrum. Who knows, she may be running the place in a few years:)

Visitor from the past

Just when you think you will never see a friend again, she pops in out of the blue:). Brig, my roommate from college called the other night to say she was about and 1 1/2 hours from the house. I hadn't talked with her for about 5 years. She was driving down to Orlando with her baby Kim. Kim was about 5 years old last time I saw her. Well, you can tell from the picture she is a little older:). We had a wonderful visit and made sure we had the updated contact information. Brig looks just as great as she did in college, if not better. She is running in the Boston Marathon again this year-she puts me to shame. So, that song is right about "all my life is a circle". At least it is the good things that are repeating:)

Trouble

Yes, I finally downloaded the last 6 months of pictures from the camera. One of the funniest pictures is of Trouble. He is one of our three dogs. Ceara took the picture and it depicts his personality perfectly. The first picture is of him sleeping (what he does 90% of the time). The second picture is of him saying "did you say PLAY"? The third picture is the typical view of him on top of you:)

My friend Shelley married Jason last May. Hard to believe it has been almost a whole year. The girls were in the wedding. Ceara even wore a dress.

They are such a great couple. So full of energy and excitement about the future. We love to take the dogs out to their 10 acres of land and let them run. Jason is such a goof ball. He will run (looking much like forest gump) and all the dogs will chase him. The future house is all set out in string, which makes it seem more "real". We are so touched that they share their plans and excitement with us. What great friends.

Picture for Stephanie

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Dad and Stephanie fishing off of Huck's dock (1980 something). Stephanie was always at his side, making him laugh. Dad's laugh would infect the whole room. He was always the life of the party. His eyes would all but disappear into his face and he would laugh so hard that he would wheeze because he was out of breath. Such wonderful memories.

Greetings

Greetings to my friends. I guess it is time that I join the world around me. My dissertation is almost finished and I am running out of reasons to hibernate. I am such a wretch at communicating with my friends and only continue to have friends that are diligent and do not give up on me:)

The excitement of my life today was that I planted strawberry plants in the 85 degree weather. It was so hot that I was tempted to turn on the air conditioning. Ceara even put on shorts (she hates to show her legs). The lettuce is starting to pop out of the ground and I am tempted to plant the tomato plants, but there will be one more frost before the end of April. If I were in Michigan there would be at least one more snow, in Florida only frost. Hopefully it will stay warm and Wendy and the kids can enjoy the pool during spring break.

Here is a picture of Ceara at the Brain Institute. She was able to observe a functional magnetic resonance image of the brain thanks to Bill Perlstein. She also sat through a lecture and fell asleep during the statistical analysis discussion:)

Savanna talks non-stop and keeps us entertained when not annoying us. She hates practicing the piano but practices her curtsy for her recitals.

Well it is late and I must be up early. I miss you all.