Spring Break 2010

Since Lori was away in Haitii, Grandpa and Gram Gram took Cheyenne and Tanner on a two day Spring Break excursion.
We first went to Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI where they have a butterfly house. Many of the butterflies were out and flying about BUT these were the cutest of them all.

There were many different flowers in bloom. Sorry I don't know their names but here are some of them.

I think this is a banded orangebutterfly

This is a swallowtail just after coming out of chrysallis.

This is a Small Postman butterfly from South America

Here's where your chocolate bar starts from. It is a cocoa pod.

This is very interesting. It's a clearwing Brush-footed butterfly from Central America. It lacks scales on wings so you can see right through them.

Postman butterflies come in a variety of patterns.

Another Postman

They have a desert house where these guys were standing guard.

Cactus were just starting to bloom

These were Tanner's favorite. Called Golden Barrel cactus. He wants to get the seeds and grow them at home!!

After touring the desert and butterfly houses we went out through the sculpture park. There is a bronze horse that stands 24 feet tall. Unfortunately Grandpa didn't bring his camera to that part but Cheyenne did so I will try getting some pictures from her and add to the blog. After our tour of the aPark we drove to Grand Haven and spent the night in a hotel with a pool. The kids really enjoyed the pool. Popcorn and card games followed and finally to sleep at 10:30.
The next day we drove home stopping along the way to eat and sightsee. GramGram played cards with kids as we drove.

GRANDpa and GRANDma took the GRANDkids to GRAND Rapids then to GRAND Haven and we had a GRAND time.!

Cheyenne Manley turns 13

Chey turned 13 on February 23rd - hard to believe that she is a teenager.

She still likes to goof around. Neat eye enhancers. Actually plastic chain links.

Updated pictures

Shawn and Carrie - Now

Shawn and Carrie - in 2000

Shawn and Carrie's kids, Lexi, Zack, and Connor

Connor - right now he is playing hockey and doing quite well we hear.

Lexi and Shawn

June 2009 we lost Murray. He passed away following a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Summer 2009 Fran and Al did the tour around Lake Superior. This was taken at little Niagara near Thunder Bay, Ontario. The trip around the lake is spectacular.

This is Daryl's family: Rachael, Tyler, Allison, Tammy and Daryl

Daryl and Tammy

Tammy, Allison, Tyler, Rachael, and Daryl (Tyler by the way is carrying on the "Walter" tradition of the McMullen name. Tyler Ryan Walter McMullen)

Brian (Lori's hubby) and son Tanner

Lori's kids: Cheyenne and Tanner

Brian and Lori Manley

This is a little newer picture - Taken last Summer. Gram Gram and Grandpa.

Bathroom vanity updated

Al made a frame and attached it to the old metal vanity mirror. After looking at all the cheap ones in different stores he decided this was the best route to go. Took a while to figure out how to attache it without drilling holes in the mirror.

Hardest part was getting the right stain but after 5 tries this is the one that worked.

The ugly before mirror. Just didn't match the new sink and shower.

Goodbye old mirror.

Covered Bridge Festival 2008

The weekend of October 10 - 13th again found us camping at Turkey Run State Park near Rockville, IN. We have been going down there since 1975 (except for years in Wyoming). We enjoy sitting around the campfire with friends from Andrews. This year only the Shows were there but maybe next year the Peaks will join us.

Cheyenne keeping cool from the fire.

Cheyenne and Tanner playing tether ball (spelling?)

Tanner, Cheyenne and Lori being rescued by a Saint Bernard puppy.

Looks like the puppy doesn't want Tanner to leave.

Lori and Cheyenne about to go for a trail ride. Brian and Tanner also went. They did the ride just before we left for home on Monday and they could smell horse all the way home.
Cheyenne and Tanner all mounted up and ready to ride.

Not sure if Brian was trying to decide on which horse to ride or this was after they got back.

As usual it was a lovely weekend - weather was warm and the time around the fire great.

Annual Lab Reunion at Peaks

For the past 4 years we have met at Herb and Lavonne Peaks' cabin on Silver lake near Tomahawk, WI. In February of this year Herb passed away and so this was the first time we had gathered without him. I think each person sensed the loss as we spent the weekend with Lavonne. Play the video above to see some of the fun we had.