Here are some signs of Spring found recently. The weeping cherry in the backyard sprouts beautiful blossoms. Patti, John and Barb make their first visit in 2008 to Jacobs, er, Progressive Field. Barb and Jim fly a kite. Barb and Carly took this picture at Amelia Island Plantation, site of their Spring fling.
Melanie was in town recently for two baby showers. We enjoyed a wonderful visit with her!
Nature must have been inspired for next we were visited by an ice storm and then, today, a huge snowstorm. Wow!
Carly and Melanie strike a pose at Pier W. Those aren't raindrops on the branches. That's ice! Evidence of today's huge snowfall. Jim attempts to measure the new snow...more than a foot! Our house looks like a scene out of Dr. Zhivago.
Jim spent most of this past week in New York where he provided childcare services for Michaela and visited with Jeff and Lexi, Melanie and Mo, Nicole, and Dennis and Alice. Time with Michaela was very special indeed! Included were the following activities: * Delightful visit to the Long Island Children's Museum. * Parent/Child Workshop with Lexi and Michaela at the Rockville Centre Public Library. * Lap-sit Storytime at the Oceanside Public Library. * Outdoor walks including one to a nearby park to visit geese, ducks and one crane. * Granddad and Michaela making faces at each other, among other funny things.
All in all, it was a fantastic visit!
Michaela and Mom open a Valentine's Day gift from GB and Granddad. Michaela loves the gift AND the card. Special thanks to GB.
At the Long Island Children's Museum. Michaela discovers construction equipment. Could Coast to Coast Equipment, working with Carly and Tiffany, be in Michaela's future? Working on the lobster boat. Preparing to make giant bubbles. The bubble wand fits nicely over the head. A pause in the action. A day in the life of Michaela. From throwing footballs to checking on sleeping Puppet, Ms. M leads an active life! At the Rockville Centre Library. See Melanie's Store. On the way back to Cleveland I stopped in Paramus NJ to see Melanie's store. Here it is just prior to opening for business.
Today we made our way to Chapin Park in Kirtland where we put on snow shoes and hiked a few trails. Though very cold, the day was picture perfect--bright with sunshine. It was a marvelous walk in the park.
Barbara has her snow shoes on and is ready to go!Jim is ready too. Come along with us on the trail.
Beautiful scenery reminded us of how winter is a very special time to observe nature. Our trail led us down the middle of this ravine. (Click on the picture to enlarge.) Jim enjoys a post hike warm-up--a cup of hot tea. After our hike we stopped to admire the nearby Kirtland Temple. It was the first house of worship for the followers of Joseph Smith, Jr., who founded the Latter Day Saint movement in western New York in 1830.
The Holidays 2007 were very busy and filled with great family times. Activities included:
* Zoll family gathering at John and Karen's in Pittsburgh. The fun included a jubilant celebration of Dad's 80th birthday, complete with everyone singing "Ode To David Zoll"...the musician of O-HI-O! * Dinner and Cleveland Orchestra holiday concert with Patti and John. * Dinner, A Christmas Carol performance and visit to the Christmas Story house in Tremont with Birgitta and Ray. * Visits with Jen and Tom, and Kathy. * Christmas Eve special time with Carly. * Christmas Day festive brunch at Carly and Tiffany's. * Visits in New York City with Melanie and Mo; Lexi, Jeff and Michaela; and Nicole and Darrell; and, a potluck dinner with just about everyone including Amine. Unfortunately, Darrell and Mo had to work and could not join us at the potluck. The trip included a very special visit with Michaela to the Long Island Children's Museum. We had a superb time with Michaela--reading, playing and having fun putting her new kitchen together. (See below and also The Pearce Family blog.) All in all we received the royal treatment, including great conversations, Broadway plays, dinners out, a brisk walk through Central Park and a visit to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. The drive to and from New York was in almost perfect weather. Whew!
Below are some photos and a video. Thanks to Lexi for sharing several photos!
Happy 80th! Karen and John pause for a photo op. Jen won the "prize" in the under $5 gift exchange. Jacob and Jonah try out their new Wii game, a gift from Grandmama and Grandad. With John and Patti at Severance Hall. Carly and Scout get into the Christmas spirit on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve visit with Tom and Jen... and Kathy! Michaela sports a hard hat and highway safety jacket at the Long Island Children's Museum. Michaela serves GB a pretend dinner, fresh off the "hot stove" in the Mongolian model hut in the Children's Museum. Michaela happily checks out her new kitchen, a gift from Grandad and GB, which Dad and Grandad had just assembled. Christmas portrait with Santa. A chef's apron with Michaela's hand prints in colors that match our kitchen. What a great Christmas gift! Nicole and Darrell outside the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in Manhattan. Getting ready for the potluck at Melanie and Mo's. Amine pauses from playing computer games to strike a pose. Birgitta and Ray pause after touring the Tremont house in which the movie A Christmas Story was filmed. Michaela crosses a bridge at the Long Island Children's Museum.
Today members of the Good family (Lois' family) gathered in Huron,OH for its annual holiday meal of delicious turkey, all the trimmings and wonderful, warm hospitality. Four generations were present as shown in the pictures below. Participants travelled from many different states outside Ohio including Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia and Washington. It was a great event!
Good Generation 1. (Left click to enlarge photos for best viewing.) Good Generation 2. Good Generation 3. Good Generation 4. Good Spouses. Kendall, Kayla and Barb prepare to pass out gifts to the Gen4s. Lois poses with members of Generations 3 and 4. Jen, Tom, William, Elizabeth, Meg and Kathy enjoy cathcing up. Anne, Carly, Andrew, Philip, Kendall, Kayla and Aidan play Moose in the House, a card game. Actually, there's a pause in the action as participants discuss the how-to's of the game. (Note: the video is a little dark.)
Carly and Jim went on a mission today to take photos of several lifts in the field. Here are some examples. To get this shot we climbed into a nearby lift and Carly took us up, up and up! This video will give you an idea of what our trip back down felt like. The wind was blowing quite a bit and it was very cold. The cold winds were still blowing later when Jim stopped at Edgewater Park for a look at frothy Lake Erie.
