Year in Review 2

Takes a bit of work to do the picture blogging, and it really slows the computer down. LOL

Naarah's bachelorette party. We ate at Mongolian BBQ in Novi and then hit the new Dave and Buster's type place near my house. You would think I go there often. NOPE, Tom and I are just too tired after movies to hang out. We usually go home. LOL
We had a great time at Fountain Walk and got Naarah a lovely keepsake of the evening. You'll have to ask her what it was..


Then it was May, and Naarah and Rob's wedding on Mackinac Island. Tom took this picture. We were busy there, I took movies, Tom took pictures and so did like 10 other people. We had a good time. After the wedding and the hours they wandered the island doing pictures, We got together for dinner in the pub. Now that was nice.

The next day was great fun. We took the island tour ride on the carriages and saw the arch rock and the butterflys, They liked Tom. We thouht that was great fun.
The bridge looked nice in the late afternoon, when we should have left hours before...

We then talked Paul Thoma into helping us take the GIANT canoe out for a spin on the river. DANG, it's too big. I can't believe I am saying that, but it is too big. Actually it is too heavy. The canoe is great if you planned a long trip or three people and major lunch and stuff, but just to drag it down there for a little day trip - or couple hours for a work out, you have to be crazy. I guess I could use a little trailer to pull it along.....

Then in June, my cousin Michelle got married. Tom, Michael, Ashley and I were having a bit of fun at the table. I have rather unflattering pictures of my mother and my aunt, but I thought I would try to be a little nice. The wedding was nice and the reception hall was gorgeous..... I hear this was the year of fancy weddings all around.

One of Tom's long time friends from Arvin-Meritor was in town for a few days and we managed to get him to stop by the house. We made a major meal a day before or something and he missed it. I forget what we did for dinner that day. Anyway, it was nice to see Chris Federman. Hope he comes back this way again.


I'm not sure how one explains this picture. Other than it was a 50th birthday party for Kathy Seguin. Here you see, my mother, Kimmy and Linn testing out the new draggin bra. Gives you plenty of room for those now sagging ta-tas. It was a lovely day, we played baseball, volleyball and some crochet. Silliness ruled that day. (This would be July.) (But you knew that.)

A year in Review

Picture style.
I noticed on some of my friends blogs they are pulling up the first line of each month and making it up as a post for the year. Thats boring. I want to put up some of the best pictures of the year. Ok, some aren't the best, but they show what in the world we were doing...
This may take more than one post to get them all up. I think I have at least one per month...
Schwana and Mike were here last Christmas, here we are in Downtown Ann Arbor.
We saw them again over the summer right before Fair. There was a big party at the Thoma Farm, where Paul lives now. Seeing Schawna more than once a year is amazing. We have to go to Alaska now to visit.


Then Rich, Heidi and Alex Grant came to spend the day with us. We had a great time down town in Greek Town. We ate, walked around and took a bunch of pictures. I believe this picture is their x-mas card for this year..




Carrie (who is now a good friend of ours) threw a New Years party and it was a blast. I can't remember the last time we were that silly for New Years. She has pretty good taste in wine.


Mom and I went to visit Trina in her new digs. She now lives in her grandparents house in New Boston. I had visited there at least once before, but now it certainly has Trina's stamp on the place. I could not help it, this was a great picture of mom. (At least she is not eating.)


Here are a couple pictures of mom's condo, in the work stages of the painting. I can't really tell if it is finished or just the base coat. All I can say is that it took a long time, and lots of people helped.


I may have to do a post with more pictures tomorrow. Enjoy these for now. I think this takes us to March...

No room in the kitchen, you can see 10 people here and there are at least 2 more not in the picture. The kitchen is quite small, compared to our old house in Monroe. But everyone had a great time. 

I believe that Tom took this picture and it is really cute. They both wore ties that Dad had and Mike was wearing one of his jackets. 

Back row - Lisa (Martin) Stump, Mike, Trina Seguin. On Couch - Kimmy, Raymond (Spunky) Seguin, Eric Dober, Tammy, Tabatha O. 

What a weekend.

I should go get the camera and download pictures. I do have a lot to work with.
Saturday we had the Christmas party and Memorial for my dad. It was at my Mom's house and she made so much food it was amazing.
There were so many surprises that I am glad that no one had a heart attack.
First Surprise - I found ERIC DOBER. Yes, Eric who spent most of the last 3 years in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is home for a week or two because his dad just had triple by-pass surgery. (Eric rode horses with me, we have know eachother since we were 10.)
Second Surprise - Raymond (Spunky) Sequin was home for the holidays. Kathy picked him and Simone up from the Airport on Friday night. Neither Ray or my mother knew that they were going to make it home. Raymond has been in Germany and Iraq most of this year.
Third Surprise - Joyce and Bernie Pierce were found in town and came to the party. They are from our years in 4-H and they now live in North Carolina. (I think)

It was an interesting party. People from all three sides of our family made it. Many from my mom's side of the family. My dad's sister-in-law and her kids came. A very large group of 4-H people and family friends stopped by. Even our neighbors forever, the Tanners'.

We had at least 30 people squashed into my mother's condo. It was great. Most people stayed for several hours. Eric had the hardest time getting out the door, and he had other places to go. Mike's friends came later and were still there when I left around 10pm.

Paul L and I went to Lynn Deprez's house on the North East side. I told them to not really expect us because I knew I would be at mom's all day. It was nice to see everyone who was there. It was not a work party, it was more of invite the people you like, which was nice to see they invited Paul and I.

Sunday - SLEPT. I was coming down with a sore throat on Saturday night. Paul gave me the worst tasting stuff on the planet. But that with some Nyquil and I slept hard and long. Tom and I were major bums and finished off the Chicken Pot Pie I bought and cooked on Friday. Long Live COSTCO.
Today, I am cleaning some, cooking and about ready to go take a nap.
I have even been to the grocery store already.
I'll put up pictures during the week.
Tam

Yes, it looks like a huge bug. That really is all one flower. Most of them don't smell much. But they are cool to look at. I know, get out there and take pictures of over decorated houses. Only 1 week and 1/2 until the big day. UGH Don't ask what I'm working on today. 

Never got around to displaying these. Back after moving Paul into his apartment, a bunch of his orchids bloomed. I got a couple good pictures but not many. These plants are a major pain in the but to take care of. Glad they belong to him.... 

More snow and sad looking Nazi's

Ok, I just checked my brothers blog - the Bad Fisherman. It seems he got on Toledo news last night. And of course, you can watch the Toledo news on the internet.
SO, go to the right of my screen - find his blog - go there and watch the video. He has the link to the video and then you click on the movie on the page.
My brother is in a lot of the shots.
He says his ugly mug made TV. HEY - what about those protesters and their friend. Did anyone teach them that they are supposed to be skin heads. WOW - they look really bad. Kind of hard to get people to pay attention to you when you really look like crap.

Yep, snowing again.
Ok, my outside lights picture and the basement. Taking my camera with me today to look for a few more impressive or just sickening displays in front of peoples houses.

And yes, the crockpot is full of food for dinner tonight. Hopefully it turns out.
later
Tam

Here is my basement. Look some ceiling is up and little santa hats on lights. Mom found them last year and I think they are very festive in the basement. I know what else I need to put down there, just have to find it... 

Ok, sorry been slow with the pictures. 

Narnia and Nazi's

That is a mouthful and a 1/2.

How did I get both of those together?
Well, it seems that the Nazi's (or white supremisits) came back to Toledo this weekend. The last time they were in town, (a month or so ago) a riot broke out.
My brother had to go work the rally this time. Luckily it was so cold that no one went.
There are pictures him in Riot gear.

Narnia - Rob, Naarah, Tom and myself went to see the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on Sunday afternoon. At dinner afterward we discussed the rather religious points that were a part of the story. Resurection of someone who died for someone else's sins- ok I give you that one. I never read the stories as a kid. I am rather disapointed over all.
The production value of the movie was great, although Tom and I both saw 2 horrible points of green screen. Someone messed that up. I'll agree with Matt and his assesment that as human characters they weren't very believable. Tom mentioned that they should have left in that the boy who deserts the others was actually addicted to the food the white witch gave him and was having major withdrawls. Much better reason for skipping on family than they seemed to give in the movie.
One does not need to read the book to enjoy the movie. Taken at face value, it wasn't bad. If you are looking for great acting, not going to find it here.

Happy Holidays and SNOW

Well, it finally arrived - and I know who to blame it on. Paul L's parent came down to visit and go to a show and they brought all that Traverse City snow with them.

What is new you would like to know??
Well, Paul's parents are in town and I have not seen his mother in years. I was frantically cleaning my house to let them come visit. It wasn't a long stay and there were lots of closed doors, but it was great to finally show them my house. Tom could have met her too if he would have answered his phone. He drove up about 5 minutes after they went back to Paul's to make dinner. They were off to see the TSO concert at the Palace. Needless to say, I was a little jealous.

So, the main point - my house is basically clean. I certainly have ceiling work and spare rooms to do, but I'm not afraid to let people in at this point.

Game night at Carrie's. I had the privilege to be invited to Carrie's for game night. They seem to play Cranium a lot and I knew I didn't have a chance. SO, I took Name Burst with me. This game has hundreds of names on little cards and you try to get the person you are partnered with at the moment to guess the name. Much like 25000 pyramid or whatever it was worth in the end. You will need to read Matt's Blog to get the real effect. He shall be quoting Carrie in all her frustrated glory. Carrie hates to lose, I know this, You know this and now the world at large with know this.

So, enjoy the pictures of the inside of my house; My tree and Fireplace. I have outside and basement pictures to put up next week and I am searching for more outdoor displays to take pictures off and to share. I love the holidays - the lights make all this darkness bearable. January and February are a whole other story for me.

FRAPPER - I couldn't help it, I made a map. I really want to see where everyone is from who looks at this blog. I know it's mostly family, but I know there are a few friends out there that keep track of what is going on. Please - this is safe, your not added to any email list.
http://www.frappr.com/ourfirstyear2 - just add your name, zip code and a SMALL picture if you want. LOL

My fireplace, unfortunetly we shall not be buring anything in the fireplace because they turned it into a gas fireplace long ago and no one can afford to run one of those now. Yes, those are snowmen on the stockings, and snowman holders holding up the stockings. I am pleased that I have managed to make my home feel cozy, even though it is not a finished showplace like my mothers. Ah well. 

Finally a decent picture of my Christmas tree. Ok, so the arm of the chair is the tripod, use whatever is at hand. Yes, it is a skinny Christmas tree as I do not have large rooms. There is lots of (Evil) silver beads and ribbon in blue and silver and many ornaments that blink and move. Very eclectic over all. Fits my style well. Thanks to mom for helping me get all the stuff on it. 

Hmm. Whose hand is that? Most of you will never see the cast. It comes off before the 17 - she hopes. LOL 

That unasuming tree hiding in the corner. Who is that tree illuminating? I'm sure you can guess. Tomorrow begins the gluttony of christmas decorations at MY house. Tom just puts up with it... 

Birthday presents - don't you love them. It works well too. Now, what to put in it.... 

Ok, I know it is blurry, but this is the brightest one. I don't want to have their electric bill. This is a house set BACK off the road down by my mom's house. I was driving home and had to pull over on the shoulder to take the picture. (This is why we always take a camera with us.) Impressive. 

Extras today, Naarah said that the original was way too dark. So here they are in the while and gold glory. 

For those of you who have not been to my mothers house yet, she has a loft and a flat space over the front door and a closet. We set up a village - SHE MADE - ceramics back in the 80's-90's. Well, she got all the pieces back from her sister and we set it up on that landing in the middle of the room. It is really impressive and a pain to set up. Enjoy 

This is the second half of the set. You'll just have to come see it on the 17th. 

Mom's House

Here is her fireplace. Yes, 4 Angels, stocking holders that spell Noel. Lights and candles. If you feel it is really too hard to see, post a note and I'll put up the flash one.

Ok, Today's pictures start at Mom's house. This is her Christmas tree. She has moved to the Gold and Silver coloring she started in Tenn. Nice (yes the tree is very tall.)

Ok, I have been bad. So I'm going to put up a couple pictures each day to keep you coming back for more. YES, this is Mike's Birthday that was a over a week ago. Look, people eating, that is all we ever do... 

Nice picture of Mike and Ashley. Before cake, you saw the cake on Mikes Blog, Go there to see it again.