Friday, December 23, 2016

December 2016 ... Merry Christmas!


It's hard to believe another year has gone by!
Wishing you a very 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

No new pictures this year ... seems like we just
had these taken!!!
This was last year's entry
We're all just a year older - only the kids have aged ... hahaha!

Just added on 12/31...
We all met at a park after Christmas... We took one picture,
on an iPhone self timer! Pretty great!!!

Next year we'll have a new little granddaughter,
so we'll try to update family pics then!
The Nelson's are expecting a little girl to 
arrive around March 6th!
They'll have 3 boys and 1 girl 
to add to the McInturff's 3 girls and 1 boy!
We'll have 4 of each!!!
Blessed Grandparents!!!

What a busy year it's been!
Tim has been busy working at his
driving job.  Such a faithful guy working
hard since his layoff from Boeing...
until he can actually retire!!

This year I was away from home over 135 days 
and drove over 6000 miles myself!
4 trips to California and 2 trips to Ohio! 
I'm just thankful I've been free to go!
We had some wonderful
 house guests for a few weeks, too!
Details are in the next entries!

This was a special December treat ...
Rachel invited me to join her and the girls
to see the Nutcracker!  Very special memories made!
The 'Big' grandkids sang Christmas carols at a local
nursing home with their friends ... Isn't this just adorable?

This will make your heart Merry!!
Much love to all!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

November Guyer Gathering

My family was planning a early Thanksgiving get-together
in Cincinnati.  I said I just couldn't leave my house again!!!
BUT after finding out I'd be the only Guyer kid not there...
well it worked out for me to go!
I flew into Indianapolis on Nov. 4th, where Lisa and Abby
scooped me up on their way to Cinci.
A few knew I was coming, but I was able to
surprise a few, too ... especially Mom!
She got to be with her 6 kids ... and much of the
rest of the family!  Great memories made!
Mom and her kids on a hay ride in Steve's yard!
The whole gang!
Campfire fun!
Back patio fun!
Front patio fun!
Side backyard fun!
The red nose game!
Great BBQ!
The whole gang at Kyle's championship football game!
The best video of our time together...
Mom and Steve!!!

Lisa and Abby dropped me off at the Indianapolis airport
on their way home on the 7th!  A perfect weekend!
I'm so glad I didn't miss this very special few days with 
very special people!

HOME!!

 I was so happy to be home for a couple months...
A chance to catch up with home and yard work!!!
"My" bunny nibbling on the carrot I put out :)
Lots of patio sitting time!
4 huge loads of yard trimmings to the dump...
and raking the whole yard!  
 Celebrating Beka's 24th Birthday!!  
So special to have her home for this season!
A very special coffee date with my 3 girls!  
5 hours wasn't enough!!
We enjoyed a few great times with these special ones, too!!

Beka was asked to cover her old track in WICKED for a sick leave
 from 11/25-12/12.  She joined the tour in Lansing, MI for rehearsals 
then went to Wallingford, CT to perform for 2 weeks!  
  More Pics!                 

California for 6 1/2 weeks!

Arizona is very hot in August, 
so I thought why not visit James and Beka in CA!
I drove over to LA on August 25th...7 hours door to door!
I was planning to stay just for a short visit.  
Beka was driving for Uber at the time.
On the 27th she called me while she was working,
saying she had gotten in an accident!
Long story, but we got her car into a shop - covered by Uber's insurance.
They said it would be 2 weeks...3 max!
So we decided to take a road trip to Northern California
and visit Uncle Tom in Ferndale!
We were gone for 9 days from 9/4-12th!
We picnic'd along the way...
Driving Hwy 5 north to Pleasanton for the first night. 
The next day we drove into the Bay Area... 
saw my ole stomping grounds: San Leandro & Alameda!
  We had our picnic on Alameda beach and relaxed!
We spent that night in North Vallejo, so we could spend 
some time in Wine Country and do some wine tasting!
  The next day we drove 101 North to Ferndale through beautiful country!
We had a great time with Uncle Tom...
visiting the ocean near his house, walking on the beach,
Walking around Ferndale!  Relaxing and Fun!
            We went to The Avenue of the Giants...spent time 
exploring in the beautiful Redwoods!
  Thinking the car would be done soon, we took off and 
drove the 101 all the way home to LA...
    over the Golden Gate Bridge and through San Francisco!
            We spent night in Salinas CA - 1/2 way to LA...
then drove home on PCH for a bit and enjoyed the coast!  

When we got back to LA we checked on the car!  It was
going to be another 2+ weeks!  They said there was an
insurance hold up!  So now what???         
I had a birthday while there...came home from a walk to this!

Since we had time on our hands...
we figured we'd see the sights around LA!
Here's a list...with pics of some!  
Lots to see and do there, if you can stand the traffic!!

The Broad
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Getty Center
Getty Villa
Natural History Museum
PCH - Rancho Palos Verdes
Vasquez Rocks
Arlington Garden
Griffith Park/ PlanetariumScience Center
2 Movies
LA County Arboretum
Biking on Venice Beach
Glendale Galeria shopping
Many Costco's for gas and shopping!
Many puzzles and Netflix documentaries!

Beka's instagram that's mostly of our time together...
many more great pics!

Though all this we talked a lot and decided that
 Beka's time in LA was ending!
Her car was finally done on October 7th!  
So we packed her up and we both drove home on the 8th!
This trip alone I drove over 3300 miles!!!
I REALLY saw California this time!!!

Summer 2016

 June was a month of trying to figure out when it would be good 
to go help my mom in Ohio.  It was a hard year for her.  
She battled sciatic pain for months then had a couple TIA's 
on Mother's Day and was in the hospital for a few days. 
 She had to endure many many tests.  
Lisa was with her for those days in May.   
She was finally diagnosed with 2 encapsulated lung cancer nodules 
and we were trying to arrange for possible surgery.  
I flew to Detroit on July 3rd! Lisa picked me up and we went to Mom's!  
Our Aunt Janie was there, so we all went to Applebee's for dinner!  
What a treat!  This was a first!  Sisters...Sisters!!!
Then on July 6th Deb and her family came to Gramma's!
 Jonah, Deb and the 3 boys were on a road trip for 3 weeks...
spending time with grandparents in Wisconsin
and seeing family and sights along the way!
It worked out that I was in Ohio at the same time!
4 generations on the front stoop of the house I grew up in!
We all went to Cincinnati to see Uncle Steve's family!  
The Guyer 3 boys (Deborah's first cousins!)
and the Nelson 3 boys!
How cute is this???
Ages 13, 12, 10, 7, 4, 2
They had a blast together!
2 gramma's with 3 grandsons each!
While at mom's we waded through many medical decisions and bills!
Mom was a trouper!!  It ended up that I stayed for 6 weeks... 
Waiting for appointments and making decisions! 
We decided against surgery!  Mom figured at
85 years old she would just live!!!  
We all agreed!!!
The last week there I was able to connect with these 2
great friends from high school...Cathy and Jane!
What a great night hanging out and catching up!
AND I was in town when these high school friends had their
monthly dinner out!  What a treat!
 I hadn't seen some of these gals for over 43 years!
We none have changed a bit!
Lisa came back so we could celebrate Mom's 85th birthday together!
We had a wonderful meal out at a wonderful new Fremont  place!
I was gone from home for Tim's birthday...poor guy :(
But his dear sister, Melanie, drove over from Modesto
to spend the weekend with him!
I think they enjoyed a weekend alone together!  Thanks Melanie!!!

Then I went with Lisa back to her home in South Bend on August 7th!  
It was wonderful to spend some time with her and Paul ...
enjoying her new patio and great talks!  
Cousin John stopped by for dinner, after his Roller skating competition in Nebraska!
I got to see my sweet niece, Abby, too!  
Paul drove me to Chicago on August 9th, so I could fly
home... finally after 6 1/2 weeks away!  I was ready to be home! 

But on the 11th Deb and Rach were having a play date at Macs!  
How could I pass up a chance to be with all the grandkids, and my two girls??
On August 16th I had Owen's 7th birthday day out!  We had 
a great time shopping for his Lego's, having lunch and just
spending time together!  So special for me!
On August 23rd I had Caden's 4th birthday day out!  This
was the first time Caden was old enough!  We had a 
special special day!  I just love having time alone,
getting to know each one of these special ones!
Squeezed in from the 19th-21st, I got to spend a weekend with my dear
friend in Scottsdale!  Celebrating her 60th!!!
So this was my July and August!  
I've said I'd be happy not to be in hot Arizona
 those months... this year I got my wish!!
More Pics!