Oldest son playing ice hockey

Son playing against the Andrews University kids. he young legs won out but Daryl's team kept the score 1 - 1 until the third period. Then the young legs made 3 goals plus an open net goal.

Ready for his slap shot. When we played floor hockey I played goalie and often faced Daryl's slap shots. He can really lay the timber to the ole puck.

Feathered visitors

The little downey woodpecker likes the suet.

We enjoy the chickadees that come to our feeders. They just don't sit still very long so it's hard to get good pictures of them.

This is a female cardinal. We usually have two or three pairs in our yard Winter and Summer.
On the right is a downey woodpecker that is a frequent visitor.

Caught this little guy taking a sunflower seed.

The male cardinal is so pretty when viewed against the snow. They are a deeper red in the winter versus summer.

Winter wonderland

Friday evening and Saturday we got 17 inches of new snow. I guess we were lucky since the area where my son Daryl lives they got 25 inches.

The "Let it snow" snowman seems to be working very well.


Fran cleared our path to the neighbors. We often go over to their house for an evening of card playing so we need a good path to find our way home after midnight. She's kneeling down so it makes it look a lot deeper than it is.

The neighbors, The Ludemans, convinced me not to take down our lights last Sunday. Glad I left them up as it was pretty to see the lights shing through the snow.

It's a lot of work shovelling the driveway but I guess it is worth it to have the winter landscape.

Annual kids skating party

For the past 3 or 4 years Daryl's family and Lori's family have met at the Howard skating rink in St. Joseph, MI during one afternoon of the week between Christmas and New Years. Here are Tyler and Rachel burning up the ice.

Tyler, Rachel, and Cheyenne stopped long enough for Grandpa to take this picture. Tanner and Allison, along with Daryl, were unavailable for pictures. Actually the lighting and large number of skaters made it difficult to get them in a picture.

Christmas 2010

The Grandkids who were able to come this year (l-r) Rachel, Cheyenne, Allison, Tanner, and Tyler. Shawn's kids Lexi, Zack, and Connor were not able to make it and we missed them.

The stockings all hung by the chimney with care in the hopes that the Grandkids will soon be here...

Of course they came and along with them lots of goodies. We had a nice visit while the last minute preparations were being done - opps we forgot to make the mashed potatoes.. so our visiting time was just extented. Then everyone dug in.



The Grandkids ate at the bar while the adults ate at the table. We have (l-r) Rachel, Cheyenne, Allison, Tanner, and Tyler. Rachel, Allison (she is wearing her invisible makeup so see first picture to see her), and Tyler are our oldest son Daryl's kids and Cheyenne and Tanner are our daughter Lori's kids.

Here are the adults enjoying the fine food. They are (l-r) Brian, Lori's husband then Daryl and then Tammy, Daryl's wife. Then comes Grandma (Fran) and I'm taking the picture.

After eating it was time to open presents. Tyler played the role of Santa by hauling the presents from under the tree to each family member.

Each Grandchild took turns opening a present so everyone could enjoy the opening of the presents.

Rachel began the opening.

Cheyenne was really happy with her presents especially the cell phone. She promised to phone Grandpa every day to "check in" especially when she starts Junior High next year!!!!

Allison and Tanner opening their gifts. Tanner loves to read, especially books that have a lot of facts about the world around us

Allison opening another gift while Tanner looks through his Facts Book.

Grandma asking something?

Tanner getting ready to open another gift.

Looks like Santas workshop on a very bad day. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the kids interaction with sharing of new things to play with.

Tyler and Tanner joined their presents of Hex Bugs to make one large habitat.

Then it was time to enjoy some special goodies. Tammy brought several trays of her famous chocholate treats. Grandma made her pie in the sky. Lori made shortbread. Cheyenne and Grandpa made ginger cookies and Cheyenne made some peppermint bark.

Lori made my Mom's christmas cake, jujubes and all. It was very good and reminded me of Christmas' past.

Family Pre-Christmas dinner

Since our youngest son Shawn could come down on Monday, Dec 20th we had an early Christmas dinner. These are our three kids; Daryl, Lori, and Shawn.

Daryl giving his youngest son Tyler a helicopter ride. He landed kinda heavily and wasn't sure about that kinda ride.

We are truly blessed. Three great kids and 8 wonderful Grandkids.

Aunt Lori with Tyler.

Tanner, Allison, Tyler, Cheyenne, and Rachel watching Miracle on 34th Street. Shawn's kids were uable to come down since they are in school until December 23rd (Zack and Connor). Lexi, his oldest, is in college at Central Michigan University.

Tanner turns 11

Sunday, December 19th we celebrated Tanner's 11th birthday by doing breakfast at Sophia's in Benton Harbor.

Nana and Tanner after breakfast.

Grandma, Tanner, and Grandpa with sign for Tanner's room. Tanner's Mom, Dad, and Sister Chey were also present. Our prayer is that Tanner will continue to enjoy life and music.

Happy 11th Tanner.