Christmas Day

Before everyone was up and while the breakfast casserole was in the oven, there was time for my early morning coffee.

Steve with Jake and Elizabeth
(Jake kept this hat on all day)

Christmas Day is about the only time we use the fireplace

Jessie, Mom, Dad, Dean, Deana, me, Steve and Bill's legs

Christmas Programs

For Jacob's school program, he had to wear a dress shirt and tie. I remember only a year ago I had to bend over to put my arm around him. I think he's grown a bit.

Elizabeth is waiting patiently for Jake's program to begin.

For Elizabeth's program she had to wear a "dressy" dress. She and some of her girlfriends got together to get ready for the program.

December Activities

This is taken out our TV room window.






This was taken out our living room window (through the screen)

Getting ready for Christmas

While Elizabeth and Jacob were in California for Thanksgiving, it gave me plenty of time to decorate for Christmas.

This is our living room with the main tree.

The books all had to be cleared away to make room for snowmen and Santa.

This is our small tree in the TV room.

Halloween

These are a little late getting posted.
Elizabeth and Jacob went trick or treating with neighborhood kids.

Eizabeth's birthday part 2

We continued to celebrate Elizabeth's birthday in Hudson, where Steve's good friend, Tracy lives. We had a wonderful evening; the girls made kabobs, yummy potatoes and salad and she got Elizabeth's favorite cupcakes, red velvet. Two of her good friends, Raiana and Haley, from school went for the weekend. There was a bonfire with smores after dark; it seemed to be a wonderful weekend for everyone.

This is Tracy's daughter, Meredith. She is the same age as Elizabeth.

Girls doing what girls do, while Jake looks on.

More birthday pictures

Tracy's house is on a small lake. There is even a kayak that Jacob loves using.

The backyard is all set up for the evening bonfire and "smores".

Fall in Hudson is beautiful!

Even Sochi is ready for the party to begin.

October colors in Ohio

Not much explanation is needed here. It's fall; it's colorful; and it's Ohio.

Teenager in the house

Elizabeth turned 13 on October 12. We celebrated by going to dinner at one of her favorite places, Hartville Kitchen.

We came back to our house for cake and presents. Elizabeth had help opening her gifts from Brook.

I think her favorite gift was money from her Daddy.

Here is Steve with Brook's mommy.

Chagrin Falls

We've been having beautiful fall weekends. It's a perfect time to visit little hamlets like Chagrin Falls.

No, this isn't Napa

During our anniversary weekend getaway, we drove about 20 miles north of Niagara Falls to one of our favorite little towns, Niagara-on-the-Lake. If you look very closely, across Lake Ontario, you can see the skyline of Toronto. It was a beautiful day to visit some of the vineyards this area is known for. If one didn't know better, you would think we were in Napa. This is better...it's Canada!


We were lucky to hit this area on such a beautiful day.

Vineyards as far as you can see.

This lovely little fruit turns into

this!

Niagara Falls Anniversary

We spent our anniversary (our 45th) at Niagara Falls. We just recently got our passports and wanted to put them to use. It is only a 4 and a half hour drive from home, but it seemed like we were in another country. We were!



Here is the horseshoe falls, the prettier and more spectacular of the two.

I love getting up close and personal. It really is beautiful!

We are enjoying the sights along the Niagara River... while we waited to board

this cage that took us across the rapids.