Pics from Easter

Well it was good to hear from Jim and to see how they celebrate Easter in Italy. Tom said I was supposed to share the Easter pictures so here are a couple. I'm not sure if any one had shared with Jim or Gary so this will let them see what they missed out on. We missed both of you (need to hear some updates from Gary). We didn't take many and I had uploaded a couple more til I realized they were blurry. I added a video of the beginning of the egg hunt. Please ignore me and Melissa talking. I need to learn to be quiet when I take movies instead of pictures. If it really slows things down, let me know and I will delete it from the blog.

Congratulations to Mike, Charly and Barbie for a race well done. Well, I didn't get out until today, but I managed to run 9 (in 2:15:10) in honor of you all, and because I'm getting very worried about completing the mini. I just saw we have a 15 min pace limit for it. I have a lot of work to do. My legs are killing me.

The grandkids had their first soccer games Saturday. Soccer is a lot more fun to watch than t-ball. The kids really like it also. Both have games at 8am next Saturday. So much for sleeping late. I'll be getting my exercise going from field to field.

More from Italy

Sounds like everyone had a good time at Easter, sorry to have missed out but I ended up having a good one too. A coworker and I took advantage of the free weekend to see the tower in Pisa and then Florence where we saw the statue of David, the Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge"), and a rather boisterous Easter morning celebration that included some funky costumes and a rocket-powered wooden dove that shot from the alter of the Basilica, down though the center aisle, and outside where it set off a 15-minute fireworks display. Here is a link to someone else's photo gallery online... I have my own pictures, but left at home the computer cable to upload them (doh!), and my pictures aren't nearly as good - these don't quite capture the crowd around the event.

Other than the trip, I've been looking at apartments and houses to rent for the year - some right on the beach, but most pretty old and not nice enough to choose over the hotel, so the search continues - and still working on my Italian. I'm starting to get a feel for what I read and some of what I hear, but it's definitely going to take some time before I start speaking it. Other than all that, it's just life as usual on the Adriatic. Ciao.

3 of us did it!

Hopefully next year a few more of us will do the triple. It really fits in perfect to training for the mini. Today I learned I have a lot of training to do to get ready for the mini. I never went past 5 miles during training. About 7 (which is after the hills)I realized the next 3 were going to be very very tough. But we all did it (Me, Mike and Charly) and we all came very close to our personal goals. My time was 2:15:18. I'll let Mike and Charly post their times, because I don't remember and I'm going to take a nap now.

Good Luck at Papa John's

I hope everyone does well and hits their target pace. I'm going to try to do 10 miles tomorrow but I won't have the same motivation. Maybe I can get Haley and Will to come over to yell "Go Gamma Go" every now and then. They have their first soccer games in the morning (Haley at 8am and Will at 9:25) so I hope I get motivated after sitting and watching them. Guess I need to run to be able to keep up with them.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good race!

Adoption Update

I spoke with the process server today and the biological father received the papers on Saturday. The attorney is waiting to receive an affidavit from the process server stating the father was served and then he will petition the judge for a court date. I told him it would be really nice if we could get a date before her birthday and he said he wouldn't count on it. He said it would more than likely be toward the end of summer. Our case could be moved up if another case was cancelled for some reason. Keep your fingers crossed that a lot of cases are cancelled or settled out of court.

Easter

Beth and Alan, Easter was great. I hope Reese didn't get into anything that we weren't aware of. I think she was sleeping before we got to the end of your street.

Pat, thanks for the shoes and scissors. The solid color (red and purple)shoes fit great but the mixed green and yellow were a little large. She will have them for next year. She was excited when she saw the jabbits for them.

Laura you and Alex are very lucky to have found eachother. I look forward to seeing him possibly in May. I remember seeing him at Easter but didn't pay nearly as much attention as I should have since he is going to be in the family.

Cole, Reese wanted to know where you went and when she was coming to your house. I guess we won't be able to go to "Kohl's" for a while because she is always confussed.

Charly & Ryan's party

Mike and Jacki, great party you did a wonderful job. The food was great and everyone seemed to be at home. Thanks so much for letting me bring Mom, Terry and Erin along. They enjoyed meeting everyone.

good to see everyone

Just wanted to say I had a wonderful time this weekend and it was great seeing everyone. See everyone soon.

Love to all

Las Vegas

I've sent out pricing to almost everyone, if you didn't get it you can send me an email and I will forward it on.
Thx.

eryn@dehoneytravel.com

Easter: Tiptoe Through The Tulips

Actually, we won't be tiptoeing through any tulips, mainly because I don't have any. The neighbor has some daffodils, but even they have not shown their bright little heads yet. I do have some Lenten Roses that were blooming even before our snowstorm a week or so ago, and have survived very well. I am not sure if they can survive a flood, but we may see... This is one Easter where there is no question as to whether or not to cut the grass for the egg hunt.

Just an update. Planning on egg hunt for noon, and eat after that. Hopefully that works for everyone. If not, let me know - it's not carved in stone. Look forward to seeing everyone. You can come whenever is convenient - we will probably go to an early Mass, so we will be here!

Anyone up for a Vegas trip?

I am taking John to Vegas for his 21st birthday. We are looking at going May 29-June 1. I'm working on getting Eryn and Mike to go. Seems John doesn't exactly want to go with just mom. Smart kid. Let me know if you are interested in going.

Buongiorno!

Greetings all. I finally made it into Italy Tuesday afternoon after a nightmarish trip that started Sunday morning. Delays and cancellations galore - a trip worth forgetting. Jumped right into work Wednesday morning, and enjoyed the day off today (Sunday) with a long drive around the Gargano peninsula (the "spur" of the boot - where work and hotel are). It was definitely an adventure, with plenty of tight, crowded streets, and numerous switchbacks up and down the mountains (but not even a single scratch on the car I'm proud to say!). We saw some neat castles and cathedrals and had some great views of the Adriatic, and we also saw some real dumps too - I've heard it been said it's a shame Italy is wasted on Italians. Next week, with the entire weekend free for Easter, a couple of us are planning a 2-day trip to Florence and Pisa.

Weather has been nice and fairly warm, food is good but have yet to have a real, impressive Italian meal since dinner doesn't start until around 9:30 and everyone is pooped by the end of the day. Work will be busy, there's about 15 total from the US here, and it's obvious they need our help. I'm working on my Italian, picking up some of the essentials ("Vino rosso, per favore" - red wine, please; "non capisco" - I don't understand; "Come sta, cane?" - what's up dog?) , and I think slowly but surely I'll be able to pick it up.

All the 10k results sound impressive - I know I couldn't do that right now. Hope everyone has a good Easter, save my egg for me, and I'll try to keep up with the blog when I can. Ciao!

Congratulations

I was going to do a comment, but decided just to do a blog. I think you all did great. What happened to the rest of the crew. Didn't know for sure that you all were doing one Saturday, but its great that you are doing these events together. Keep it up. Some more of you young ones ought to try it. Wish I was able to. Sounds like fun in a way. Starting to pack here, leaving Friday about 4 or 4:30 if I can get up. So will be seeing you all Saturday. Luv to all.

We did it !!!

Well I survived my first 10k. I think I shocked everyone by not only finishing, but doing it at a 13:44 pace. Okay, so I surprised even myself. But being in the middle of everyone else really gets the adrenalin going. I didn't even feel like I pushed myself too hard. Although my legs are killing me tonight, and they did feel like spaghetti for the first hour after the race. But it was fun. I do need to really get some practice in though before the mini. Mike led the way at 52:43. Charly with 1:04:13. then we had Barb at 1:20:09 and I followed up behind at 1:25:15. Sure would be nice if more of the family joined us. It is walkable. But us old folks will just keep showing up you kids.

We are having a little bit of work done around the house. Just think of the movie The Money Pit. Mark (the head man on the project) keeps walking around the house saying, "You know I can fix that" and I of course say "OK". We are starting the second week of a 3-4 day project.

Hopefully we'll get to see everyone next week at Easter...Jim and Gary we will miss you. You need to stay in touch through the blog or we will start talking about you....making things up if we have to.

GO, Days, GO!!

Good luck tomorrow everyone ! Was hoping to make it up to cheer everyone on, but we'll all be there next weekend for Easter. It will be a short visit, but we'll stay longer in April.

Haley & Will are starting soccer now. I think we found Haley's "thing". She is very excited and enthusiastic about soccer. Hope the enthusiasm will stay.

Nothing new really to report here. It's spring break this week, and I think I have more spring fever than the kids.

See y'all in a week. Love and hugs to all!

New way to serve Margarita's.... straight from Mexico!

Having watched the TV show about how many germs are on the lemons and limes put in our drinks, Rosie ordered her margarita on the rocks, with salt, and no lime. She got a glass of Tequila on the rocks, with salt, and a lime stuck on the glass. Then the waiter also gave her a shot glass with the mixer in it.

She just took the lime off the glass after that.

Perfect Timing!

Sounds like I picked the perfect weekend to leave New Albany. Although I would have liked to see the snow, I like snow that only lasts a day or two.

Puerto Vallarta was very nice and exactly what Rosie and I wanted .....beach, book, booze. The temp was about 80 every day and a good breeze. The mornings were chilly until about 11. The hotel was very nice. I wasn't thrilled with the beach. You walk out from the resort and the sand hurt to walk on, then there would be a drop off and more beach. Where the ocean washed up it was easier to walk but up towards the drop-off it wasn't. Then between each resort they had built out these extensions with large rocks that went from the drop off to a little way in to the ocean. They were usually grass covered, and this is where they set up massage tables inside tents. So even if you wore shoes, to walk by the edge of the ocean you had to climb up and down these extensions. The ocean wasn't as blue as the Gulf side either.

That said, we did enjoy it. We woke up, ate the breakfast buffet, sat by the pool (sun reached there first) reading our book or working puzzles, moved to the beach, ate lunch, sunned again, went for a walk (Saturday we walked to the mall, Sunday down the beach), ate supper. Friday and Saturday we just read our books again, Sunday we sat at the bar.

Our trip down there was uneventful, our trip back was one event after another. To much to post here since I already said so much.

Hey all

Looks like New Albany got dumped on - Todd was down there and said you all were getting heavy snow.  Didn't amount to much up here, though! Been the usual up here - basketball is finishing up and baseball is starting so a little bit of overlap, but not too bad.  Everyone's doing well. I've been living on mushy food for the last several day - I've been told that the major ear pain I've had for several months is due to TMJ and am supposed to rest my jaws (no comments on that one!)  Hopefully after 2 weeks if it improves i won't have to get a mouthpiece type of thing to keep me in line.  Meanwhile I'm really getting tired of yogurt and soup! Guess that's what I get for not going to the dentist regularly enough - they could've caught the fact that my jaw pops every time I move it! I was just used to it and never really thought about it - anyone else dealing with this? Hope everyone is well and looking forward to seeing you all at Easter.

Snow Day! (and my first blog)

Didnt have to work today! So I thought I would take Samson out into the snow for the first time. Here are some pics of our fun time in the snow.

Did we miss lunch?

Reese was waiting for the call. Just kidding? We have been out making a snowman. Reese loved the snow. She made snow angels and played with the little boy next door. They had a great time building a fort and then crawling through the opening. We went out twice but I think we are in for the day. We are sitting at the table having chilli. If any of you were here you could join us.

Sure would be nice to be sitting on a beach about now. Shawn is here so he got the full snow experience including clearing the drive.

Everyone be safe in their travels.

I'm Here!!!!

Well we made it to New Orleans this morning, we left last night it took about 3 - 4 hours traveling just through KY, it didn't stop snowing until Alabama or so. Well about to head out again most likely to Bourbon Street, its like 60 degrees right now. :)
I'll post pictures when I get back.
Take care and be safe in the snow.

FYI

Planning to celebrate Laura's graduation (from Butler) during the Memorial Day weekend. It is more likely that Alex could join us then, but even so, he may not be able to. Anyways, on Sunday, the 26th, is what we are planning so far. And we will be having Easter here (unless someone wants it otherwise). Usual time, I guess, which someone will have to remind me what that is. Egg hunt first?

TO ALL TRAVELERS HERE & THERE

Italy, Mexico, New Orleans and New Albany (eventually) everyone have a safe and wonderful time, either playing, sunning, working and what ever suits your fancy, just be safe. And of course, Mom knows how old everyone is. She was there. See you all in a couple of weeks.

Happy B-Day Lil Bro

Happy 47th Birthday Robert Jeffery! You may have caught me in height but you'll never be as old or good looking as me. Hope you've have a great day! Love you, Big brother

She Beat Me

Happy 46th Birthday Jeff. Don't know if you ever check the blog or not as I haven't seen you write anything yet, but Happy Birthday Again. Love you much, Mom

Happy Birth Day, Jeff, from Beth Day

Okay - maybe not so clever and not at all funny, but I do wish you a great day. I don't even do the math any more, but I do know you "Little Kids" are still on the uphill side of 50 - so enjoy the climb and take your time! (as if you have a choice) I'm sure Reese will help keep you young! Enjoy!

Arrivederci!

Jim leaves Sunday for Foggia, Italy. He plans to drive home Saturday (probably late Saturday considering all that he will still need to do) and fly out of Louisville on Sunday afternoon. He was advised to fly into Rome and rent a car there, then drive the 4 hours to where his hotel will be (which is actually on the southeastern coast, about 40 minutes from where he will be working). It seems several others are there now, and that is what they are doing. Jim has talked to the person he will be reporting to in Foggia, and he actually met him while in Winnipeg. Things have been moving pretty quickly for him, but he always seems to take things in stride, and manages to get done what needs to get done. I'm trying really hard to keep this post simple and short - just wanted to update! I'm hoping I have things right (but things have a habit of changing, also).

Engagement Party Invitations

Have you all gotten your engagement party invitations yet? They are soooooo cute! Terri did them!

AWESOME JOB TERRI JO!