…far too much partying!
25 Years and we’re still having fun…
…in the sun! Yes, it will be 25 years of wedded bliss on Wednesday. To celebrate, we went to Key West, with good friends of ours, Ed & Mary Kipp. They are celebrating 30 years the day before us (and they’re younger than us!).
Here are a few pictures:Â 1) Sunset on the pier 2) Lobster dinner at an outdoor cafe 3) Poolside at our B&B
Next week we’re off to Orlando with Dawn, Chris & the “K-boys”. That should be interesting! Â We’ll post more pictures upon our return!
Bonjour…Buon giorno!
Finally uploaded pictures from vacation. Loved Paris…most impressed with Notre Dame (although indoor pictures of most buildings we took on vacation did not turn out). Also got to see Mona and Venus at the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph. We definitely wished we had more time, three days is not enough (especially when we had very bad rain one evening).
Geneva was more relaxed. Steve’s class (on cultural relationships) was a week long. It gave me time to go out and about on my own. We know a couple from HSBC who live there, so the wife showed me around one day. I know Geneva’s public transportation system better than Chicago’s. One evening I was the tour guide for a group of Steve’s co-workers.
Than, three days in Italy. Much too short! We took the train from Geneva to Milan, then Milan to Genoa. We stayed in Genoa, at the Hotel Bristol Palace. The spiral staircase is rumored to be the inspiration to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”. We crammed in Pisa and then two days visiting Cinque Terre (fives lands). The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the surrounding “Field of Miracles” was fascinating (again though, several of my pictures did not turn out). There is a domed Baptistery with amazing acoustics. You can hear an echo for ten seconds…enabling a person to harmonize with himself. A security guard sings every half hour to demonstrate. It’s pretty neat!
Cinque Terre was the best. We decided to go there on the recommendation of a friend of Shannon. There are five adorable villages built on the cliffs of the Italian Riviera. They’re connected by hiking paths through the cliffs (trust me, we took the simple trails). We hiked from the first to the fourth village. Unfortunately our train was 1 1/2 hours late, so our schedule got a little fouled up. We got to the fourth village at 8PM and decided not to attempt the fifth in the dark. We then sat outside along a bay and had a wonderful Italian dinner.
Au Revoir … Arrivederci!
Goodbye …goodbye!
Steve and I leave tomorrow morning for a two week vacation in Europe…sort of. Steve has a business trip to Switzerland and I’m tagging along (finally taking advantage of retirement). We’re going to spend a few days in Paris first, go to Geneva for his business trip, then wrap up with a few days in Italy. Hopefully I’ll figure out how to post a gallery of pictures when I return…I’ve never been able to do more than two at a time.
We’ll be out of the country for Lex and Natalie’s birthdays, so I’m mailing my cards early (I’m sure they won’t mind early birthday wishes). And yes, Shannon, I’ll get yours out also!
More to follow upon our return…
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Grandpa’s Got His Hands Full!
Reid looks more and more like Blake every day. Â Blake is very tall for his age…for 17 months he towers over two year olds! But Reid is on track to surpass that! I think Dawn will have two very big boys, and very big grocery bills!Â
I took Blake to a family music class at the local Gymboree yesterday. He wanted nothing to do with the class. Of the ten children (six of them were reserved oriental children), Blake was the only one who would not sit still, play the instruments nor sing the songs. He did participate in chasing bubbles around the room. I think it was even in beat to the music being played. Â
So, afterwards we went to the gym class. I lost control during the “Hello” song. I guess he felt he suffered through enough music for one day. Once we had free play he went crazy…jumping on the trampoline, dunking all the balls (about 25) in the 3 ft. basketball hoop, running through tunnels and climbing up and down the slides (yes, he didn’t use the steps, he climbed back up the slide).
At the end of class the instructor came and spoke to me and suggested Blake be enrolled in a Park District sport, that he really wasn’t suited for Gymboree. Can a 17 month old really be expelled from Gymboree??? Â
Guess Grandpa and Grandmar both have their hands full (not to mention Mommy & Daddy)!
My Favorite Picture!
I had planned on posting pictures of Blake’s first birthday, but we’ll have to wait a little longer for that. I can’t find them! I thought they had been uploaded to our new computer, but they aren’t. Steve is in Hong Kong & India on business and has our camera with the disk, so…blah, blah, blah. Instead, I’ll post my favorite picture of Blake…he was all sweaty with his hair slicked back but he looks so cute. By the way, Larry, you’re probably the only family member who doesn’t know this, but Dawn is pregnant again. She’s due March 3rd with another boy. How about some Penn State memorabilia if the baby is born on your birthday, the 2nd? Chris’ family has bombarded Blake with University of Illinois stuff and Dawn really wants to get the competition going. Can you help?
Gary’s 50th Birthday Bash
Better late than never. October is such a busy, fun-filled month for us; Steve’s father’s birthday, Steve’s birthday and Blake’s birthday so we’re having a party and even a play ground for the kids from www.softplaydesignandinstallation.co.uk. But best of all this year, was getting together with family to celebrate Gary’s 50th. My pictures are a little out of focus (hopefully Kenny & Gary have better), but I thought my few pictures might get the ball rolling with others posting theirs.
The first two pictures are from our evening at Havana’s. The third is a shot of the Neshaminy Creek in Chalfont from the bridge (remember when it was an old wooden bridge?). The last is one of the covered bridges we visited.
Bergquist Blasts thru Battle Creek…
…and wins the Fall Family Cup! Unfortunately, having the humble husband that I do, I have few other details. And I don’t think we’re going to get the usual blow-by-blow, hole-by-hole write up that Steve F. usually gives (for two reasons; he lost and his computer crashed)! I do know that Steve B. also came in 3rd for the entire Battle, apparently blowing his chances for 1st place on one hole (with a score of 15 on that hole).
I think there will be a challenge by Brian very shortly. Steve and he actually played golf two weeks ago and Brian beat the pants off Steve. He is very anxious to play his father again…especially if he can win the “Cup”…any interest Steve and Ron?
Our "Grand-den" and Go Bears!!!!
Since Blake has been spending so much time here (we love it!) we decided to convert his mommy’s old bedroom into a room for him. We originally set up Shannon’s old crib, but then decided it was a little too worn so we invested in a new one. In order to be fair to any future grandchildren we are not calling it Blake’s room, it’s the “Grand-den”.
I’ve also attached a current picture of Blake…very close up. Looks as though he will have hazel eyes like his daddy and his reddish hair is starting to turn brown, also like his daddy. He still has a round, very round face like his mommy (and grandpa).
Hope everyone is doing well! Haven’t had any personal news on here for a while…where is everyone? Watching the Bears, I hope!!!
Love,
GrandMar
