so much to do....so little time

Here I am another 2 weeks behind on blogging. We have been SO busy, and now that many of our friends are back the social life is soaring! I will try to catch up on a few things we have been doing.

Bingo, Bowling and Church have all started again. Computer classes start on Monday (Salt's ). I am waiting for painting classes to begin.

Joe sent a picture of Janna before they started their Volleyball playoffs. They had a spectacular team this year 18-0 going into the finals. Janna was the only Sophomore starter...we are all so proud of you Janna!!

Remember "Doc" our cat who hid under the bed every time he heard Emma's voice....she carried him around by the tail or ears when she was a toddler. Well, when Salt and I decided to travel and winter in Florida we gave "Doc" back to Betty. He has fallen in love with Emma (or just figured it was easier to"sleep with the enemy" than try to hide. Emma keeps sending these adorable pictures of how they play together.

Emma is really enjoying life now that Betty has her degrees and is no longer in school nights. Here she is taking a pottery class at the Hand weaving Museum. She is also in Karate, Girl Scouts and will start Basketball on Monday. OB O'Brien (the coach) approached Betty and encouraged her to get Em on the team. Since she is tall and FAST, he believes he can turn her into a "champ"....Good Luck OB!!!!!

Last weekend Salt and I took a trip to Lee burg for the Street Fair and opening of the Christmas house. The Christmas House is set up in the old Leesburg library and is just isle after isle of Christmas crafts.

The street fair (which is a weekly event during the winter) was also the home of the Leesburg Chili Cook off. Here one of the fireman's son stirs the pot. We had committed to dinner at a friend's house that night so we didn't stay for the actual "tasting". ... sure smelled good though!!

The house is completed (with the exception of the lattice which had to be specially ordered since I wanted a different color than what was in stock....surprise, surprise!!).

Here is the living room and dining area.

And my favorite room....a little sitting area with/fireplace (which we have actually used a few cool evenings) which I have also made into a small computer/office.

The kitchen....well, part of it, it actually wraps around to the left with more counter and cupboards.

Here is my new "toy".....just an old fashioned bike without all the gears and hand brakes. I LOVE it.


And here they are delivering Salt's new shop/storage shed. Since his "toy" cost much more than mine, I am getting a new patio set as well as a new fire pit!!

All of the kids and grand kids are doing well. Betty is substitute teaching almost daily while she waits for a permanent teaching job to open up. Mike and Rob celebrated their third wedding anniversary in October. They are doing well but exceptionally busy! Mike has taken another part time job, allowing Robin to work part time and have more time to apply towards her studies. Robin has started the clinical part of her nursing program now so is going to school 6 days a week. We are so proud of both of them!!

We had contemplated taking a quick trip to VA Beach for Thanksgiving weekend, since my birthday falls the day before Thanksgiving and Mike's is the day after. However, with their crazy work schedules we opted to stay in our new home this year. Betty and Emma are planning to drive to VA Beach over Easter where we will meet them at Mike and Robin's, before heading back to the Island for the summer.

Salt and I are headed out to lunch, some shopping and then hopefully, I will be able to post some pictures from Oktoberfest.