January 8th, 2012
So are you used to writing 2012 yet? We are into the New Year. So far it has been a good one. We had a great trip to Florida after Christmas. The weather was wonderful. It cooled off last week, but on the day we were leaving. So now hoping for great weather again when we head down January 19th. Marie will be joining us this time and Chris and Marie will be staying when I come home from the weekend. It will be good that they get to enjoy time there. I have told Chris that she could in the past but now she will have some company. I will head home at the end of the weekend and head back down a few weeks later. I have started a project on the kitchen, the goal is to update it now that we have the dining room done. But this will likely be a several year project! A little at a time on the weekends I get down. Lot’s of prep work to start with. So you will hear more for a long time!
We are enjoying the good weather this winter. I certainly enjoy Florida more! But it was nice not to come home to below zero and a driveway full of snow. I am OK if it stays this way! We had a good time at Chris’s work Christmas party this weekend in Milwaukee. She does not get many chances to see the people she works with and it is always fun to see some of those that have been there a number of years. We stayed over night at a nice hotel on Bluemound Road with a nice breakfast included. And we got to spend some nice time with Mom and do a few things for her. Then home on Saturday, a nice sunny afternoon for a drive. And home in time to do some things here. This morning church and then afterwards met old friends Deb and John Ebel It always seems so hard for us to get together but so enjoyable when we do. A fun time catching up with family and plans.
So now the football games are over. We know the Giants will be in Lambeau next Sunday. And New Orleans and San Fran should be fun on Saturday. Time to prepare for work. I have to go in for 5 days this week, that will be tough!
Chris and MJ Dec 2011
Christmas at Denise's condo, women at work
Hi Randy and Chris,
Always good to read your blogs and keep up with what you are doing – thanks for doing them! My Dec. was filled with family and friends, fast paced, fun filled. Started with Christy and Noelle being here weekend before Thanksgiving for annual “Ladies weekend” featuring shopping at craft fair at Kohler. They have been doing this for years, nice to keep it up, and I get to watch the Leffler grandkids while they are there, and get lots of time with my daughters the rest of the time.
Noelle and family came back for Thanksgiving weekend. They stay at Leffler’s and I basically do too except to come home to sleep. Then had a few weeks break getting ready for some real family time to come – used the great weather to get lots of outdoor summer-leftover work done, including cutting down 1 of the 3 pine trees I had in front yard. I wanted to open up the view looking out my windows, and to show off my house more from the street. I love watching people as they walk by slow down to look up at the unique features of my house. Often when I’m outside people will stop and comment how much they like my house. I also got lots of inside work done – mainly moving around the dust and cobwebs that have accumulated over the years – some probably undisturbed in the 39yrs I have lived here! I did feel sorry for so many homeless spiders, well, sort of sorry. And I got in lots of walking – felt strange to feel like I had to put on sun lotion to be outside in Dec.
Then Christmas season started in earnest on 21st with Dombroski family arrival to stay at my house til Jan 1. While they spent 4 days over Christmas in Green Bay, I made a 3 day trip to MN to be with the Elders – Christmas Eve & day – great time to be with children! From 26th to 1st all Miller girls/spouses and grandkids were together again for breakfasts, brunches, balloons, bubbles (adult kind), and parties – ending with 10 kids, and me, ringing in the new year while parents were out doing the same.
So, sad to see 2011 come to an end with so many accumulated memories of good times with family and friends. But lots of promise for that to continue in 2012 with so much to look forward to, starting with 8 days in FL, Tampa/Ft Myers, at end of Jan.
And looking forward to spending time with my good friends the Bauers! Many God be with you.
Love, Allen
Hi Randy, you are right. Always hard to find time but when we do we have a great time. Let’s do more often. This can be 2012 New Year’s resolution. Deb
Glad things were nice for you in Florida. We still have not hit the warm weather. Today it rained all day and so we drove till we got to sunshine. We got out thinking it looked pleasant but discovered that it was windy. Give Chris our love. Take care.