The trumpets blow and the bugles play...the circus is coming to town today....

Our last night with the kids, we took them to Norfolk to the circus. Here is Emma with her $15 snow cone. She and Rachael had to have the light up cup it came in.....I forgot how expensive the souvenirs and food is at these events!!

It was a good show and the first one for Salt. Who is sitting downstairs as I type, wondering why we came back to NY so early. I think the plan will be a couple of weeks at Myrtle Beach before we move on to VA Beach and home next year.

My all time favorite.... the elephants.....

Here we are all hooked up and ready to head out. I love being on the island for the summer, but early fall I will be OH so ready to travel again. We love this motor home and the experiences it opens up for us.We had to make a stop at the Mohegan Sun,,,,the casino at Pocono Downs. We played for about 4 hours and walked out with $14.00 more than we went in with.....for us that's a BIG win!!! Any time we don't loose, we consider it a win!!

We stopped in Owego (at the Hickories on the Susquehanna) and spent some time with the family. Here we are out to dinner with my brother Joe, his wife Rindy, three of their 3 children, Paul and Matt on either side of me and Janna left and front. Next to Janna is my niece Alice. Was so good to see everyone after a long winter.

We stopped back at their house after dinner where I got to snuggle with my girls.

Paul was supposed to have a game the night we were there but got rained out. Although we would loved to see him play, it was fun having some quality visiting time!!

We are now home on the island.....the river has been beautiful...just like glass. We have been busy trying to get everything organized. Salt came over 3 days before I did and opened the house. I stayed in town and did all the shopping and cleaning the motor home for storage. Salt is now working on the outside, hoping to get the beach area cleared this year. While I am catching up on inside work. My next task will be to try and get some perennial gardens in. Still researching what the deer won't eat!!!

Robin is doing well with her knee; she is back to work (sitting only) and will be back in school on May 4.

I miss all you guys in Florida.....I know you are all heading for home soon. I will be waiting to hear from you as to when you will be coming to the island.

Can you put some more makeup on my cheesecake....

On Thursday before we left for home we took Robin and the family to the Cheesecake Factory for her birthday dinner.

Here she shows the little Bath and Bodywork hand sanitizers that Emma bought her. I bet with this Swine Flu she will be glad she has them Emma!!

Mike doesn't look the least bit interested in anything except that big piece of Godiva chocolate cheesecake......

We promise not to embarrass you Rob.....right....wanna buy a bridge????

This was MY cheesecake....white chocolate, caramel, macadamia.....I don't need to say anymore (except NUTRISYSTEMS on the way).

Salt with Key Lime....they said it was low carb but it tasted way too good to be low carb?????

Vera Bradley....from Mike. right style, right design....Yea Mike!!

I come when the children are sleeping and hide eggs in each cranny and nook....

We celebrated Easter at the motor home. The kids all had their tents pitched so the Easter Bunny had his work cut out for him trying to make sure everyone was asleep before he left his baskets and hid the eggs.

Emma and Rachael built a bunny house....Betty and Kriston helped and wished Grandma wouldn't come up with all these great ideas and leave!!

Here they are coloring their eggs...These two are a pair!! Emma wrote a chapter in her book on her cousin Rachael and all the things they do when they come to the Island....so cute! They both are counting the days until they are out of school and Rachael can get here. Rachael is already planning a menu of all the things she wants Grandma to cook when she is here.....

Robin was sitting having her coffee, when all of a sudden she started yelling...."Oh my God...a squirrel is eating the plastic eggs." You should have seen her hobble on that bad knee when she saw he had one with money in it!! She didn't need to worry; he took a small bite out of the money and went for the chocolate. We did wake the kids up and have them go out and start hunting the eggs. It is always so much fun to watch the expressions on their faces every time they spot an egg.

Rachael was beside herself when she opened the prize egg....it had a $100.00 bill in it. The kids always look forward to see who will find it each year. They are all so good about not being disappointed if they don't get it. They know there is always next year. Besides Mike had to work so he didn't get to hunt....otherwise there may have been some pouting....ha ha....just kidding Mike!!

The moms always are happy when Grandma is on sight for holidays....Santa and the Easter Bunny always bring more when Grandma and Pop are there!!

It wasn't as warm this year as it was last year, so the kids weren't able to use the pools. They did find a lot of other activities to keep them busy. Besides miniature golf, the park had all kinds of activities planned for the entire weekend.

Rachael being serious....

Mike with a beard full of Smores...

The girls just having fun....

Since Mike was working and I was spending all my time with Robin, Salt, Betty and Kriston kept the girls busy with a trip to the Aquarium, bowling and a movie.

Life is a runaway train you can't wait to jump on....

After leaving Florida, we spent one night in South Carolina before heading to VA Beach. Our timing was perfect. Robin took a spill at work and ended up with some pretty serious damage to her knee. She was so distraught, as she had to take a leave of absence from school. Fortunately her surgeon found an opening and was able to get her in for arthroscopic surgery two days after we arrived. He was so sweet....he said he sure didn't want to hold her up from becoming a nurse...there is already a huge shortage!!

Betty, Emma and Kriston arrived a couple of days after we did and took over with entertaining the kids while I took Rob for her surgery and appointments at school to reschedule her next mod.

While we were at the school, I was peeking in one of the lab windows. One of the teachers came with a key and took me on a tour of the new facility. These dummies are SO cool.
This is the pregnant woman (she actually gives birth) and don't you just love the expression on her face. Obviously this was designed by a woman!!

She was totally anatomically correct, but I didn't think the pictures were blog appropriate.


The baby.....

And the $30,000 man who speaks 23 different languages. This guy is set up to perform every procedure you can think of!!

Here is Emma with one of the 7 four leaf clovers she found. I have never found one in my life and she just goes along and picks them out of nowhere! I was checking all of them out to make sure she wasn't tricking me. I guess she has more patience then I do. Emma patience??????

The girls loved the campgrounds for bike riding.

Monica, one of Robin's friends from school joined us for dinner and a campfire on the weekend.

Dave and Kriston wait patiently for Poppy's famous burgers....

It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk Angels

I can't believe it has been almost a month since we left Florida (and just as long since I have blogged...urgh). The night before we left, we went to the Ice House Theater in Mt Dora to see Honky Tonk Angels. It was a great play, good comedy as well as the music. Unfortunately, we were forbidden to take pictures even without a flash. The girls were kind enough to at least pose outside the theater for this one shot.

As Susie and Gene were both celebrating birthdays that week, we celebrated with dinner at Friendly's. Ed and Becky joined us for this trip!

Gene displays his gift of a meal ticket....who says there are no free lunches????

Terry gifted Susie with a shirt....I'm sure you all know who the girls are!! Susie's comment whenever she spills something "whoops, just feeding the girls". We also gifted her with an "adult bib" and a "tide pen" which I am sure I will probably have returned to me on MY birthday!

Once again it was a very slow departure the next morning. Everyone stopped over for "hugs" and "good-byes" I am SO going to miss everyone there. We do however look forward to getting to VA Beach with the kids and grand kids!

I 'm a glass-half-full girl in a glass-half-empty world...

Just to let all of you know we are in VA Beach with the kids (Mike, Robin, Rachael and Sarah)....Betty, Emma and Kriston will be here sometime tomorrow night or early Friday morning. I have not had any time to take pictures as we have been working to get the kids settled in their new house before Easter. With Robin not being able to walk, she gives direction from the couch.

I took her to the doctor today to have her MRI read and it is worse than we originally thought. She will be having arthroscopic surgery on Monday and will be out of work for at least another 2 weeks. She has also taken a "leave of absence" from school, but can start again on May 4. It's a bummer to say the least but at least we are getting to spend some quality time with her and get a lot done around the house.

I finished lining the cupboards and getting the kitchen set up today while Salt hung curtains and blinds. Tomorrow is more doctor's appointments and hanging shelves, pictures, towel racks, etc. Hopefully we can finish up as they all want to come over and camp in the RV park with us.

There will be lots of pictures over Easter. There are all kinds of activities for the kids, here at the park. We will also be having our big Easter egg hunt that we have had since our kids were little. Weather providing, we will have dinner here at the park; if not, we will cook at Mike and Robin's.

Music makes my world go round...And music keeps me high and keeps me on the ground....

The one thing I miss while we are in Florida....all my kids and their concerts. Our little Matthew (Joe's son) has become quite the musician!! Here he is performing with the jazz band at their spring concert. And here is our beautiful Emma...all dressed for her spring concert.

Clock is ticking....the motor home is packed and I am cleaning my way out of this house. I am however being distracted with FOX news and the ongoing hostage system in Binghamton, NY.

I am hoping all my curious brothers are staying way away from the city!!