Our Michigan Adventure...

Thursday, October 15th, found us "On The Road Again!" This time, we were off to Michigan to support Drew and Katelyn as they went through Drew's mother's Celebration of Life. 

I usually go to the back door and check the back yard in the morning. This morning I found an huge bird perched on the fence. I couldn't tell what kind of bird it was but I was sure it was not a crow. The beak was all wrong. Interesting the wildlife we get in the backyard living in the city.

In the front yard, I noted a few bright red leaves on the tree. I wanted to remember to see how many more there were when we returned. 

We went to Bojangles first, of course, to get our biscuit and soda breakfast. As we left Bojangles and Claude took his first swig of Diet Coke, he broke into song "Sweet Diet Coke" to the tun of "Sweet Caroline".  I did that Bah-bah-bah's. We are cool that way.

It was quite a foggy morning. Fortunately, it lifted fast once we got on I-75 North. Not fun to drive in fog. There was also a closing of the bridge from Kentucky into Ohio at Cincinnati. It would be closed Friday through Monday. When we originally heard of this early in the month, we agreed not to do anything in Cincinnati that weekend. Claude would take the I-275 around Cincinnati and avoid the bridge completely as we drove to Michigan. 

Claude and I were wondering about a fall color drive this year. Turns out, this drive to Michigan was that fall color drive. So very pretty in Indiana and then all of Michigan.

We would drive to Rochester, Indiana for our pit stop. This is about halfway. Claude found a Snickers bar with pecans in it. We had not tried one of these yet. We purchased one that had two pieces in the wrapper. We both really liked it. However, even with me being the sugar-loving one of us, we found this candy bar very sweet. Delicious but a little too sweet for us. As we left Rochester, the rain started a little bit.

Our tradition has been to purchase Lee's chicken for dinner with Nissa and Todd the night we arrive. Another glitch in our plans this time. Apple Avenue is the road on which Lee's and Port City Automotive are located. It is under major construction and closed off. You have to use alleys to get to Nissa and Todd's work or to get to Lee's. Hmmmm... There is a Popeye's chicken on the opposite side of Apple and that road was not closed. We would have Popeye's this trip. Maybe next time we can have Lee's. 

We arrived at the Tyler's home right after they got home from work. As we went into their home, Baby didn't even bark at us. She was very happy to see us and immediately took her play with Claude. 

It would rain through the night.

Friday, October 16th, was a day with grandmonsters and great grandmonsters. Claude had a bee in his bonnet that the Roper's need donuts. Claude really wanted a donut. We stopped at Walmart to pick up some donuts. I realized I left my little rain jacket on the sofa at Nissa and Todd's. Ugh. Claude had his sweatshirt in the back seat that we purchased for him in Seaside, Oregon. It says Oregon Coast down the sleep. I happened to be wearing my sweatshirt from Ocean City, Maryland. I realized I was "bi-coastal". I asked Claude to take a picture of me being bi-coastal.

We found donuts and Halloween treats for all the great grandmonsters. Then we drove to the Ropers to visit till time to get Paul. The three older kids were in school. Kennedi was the only child home during the morning. She is really, really, really into Toy Story where the character Jessie is a cowgirl. Her Halloween costume this year will be Jessie. She has a little Jessie doll she carries around. Her favorite thing to show us was her saying, "Yee Haw Cowgirl". Oh my it was cute.

Paul wanted to go to Red Wok. He loves sushi. Claude and I haven't developed a taste for sushi yet. But they also have a huge buffet so we picked Paul up and headed to Red Wok. I was amazed to learn the terra cotta warriors wore glasses! We have visit the terra cotta warriors and I truly do not remember one of them wearing glasses. Now you know!

We enjoyed a good meal. Paul had two plates with sushi and other things. Then we opened our fortune cookies. Michael taught us years ago to read you fortune and add 'in bed' at the end. My fortune was "You'll experience a love that knows no limits...in bed." Oh my! Claude fortune was "Be a life-long learner and stay curious...in bed." Oh my, again!!

We got Paul back to his apartment and got a good hug. 

Then went back to the Ropers for a few hours till time to meet up with Aubrey and Nelson. The three older Roper kids came home from school. Claude gave Drew and Katelyn each a blessing. Blessings are very important when dealing with difficult times. 

We met Aubrey and Nelson at Firehouse Subs for dinner. Nelson happily showed me where they removed the abscess from his right shoulder. No scar at all. Yeah!! I also learned our boy loved dill pickles. After dinner, I would give him the blanket that Mimi made for Jake when he was little with an eagle embroidered on it. It was a good quick visit.

Back to Holton we drove for a quiet evening with the Tyler's. How we do enjoy this quiet time with them.

Saturday, October 17th, was the Celebration of Life for Denise Beaune, Drew's mother. A little over 50 people came. There was a buffet set out. A table was set with pictures of Denise and family. Claude was asked to start this time together with the reading of Denise's obituary and then giving a blessing on the food. He did a very nice job. Drew patted him on the back when he was finished. 

After all was done, we paused to get a few family pictures. 

The first picture has Denise's sister, Barb, and her brother, Mark, on the left. The back row has her daughter, Becca by her husband, then her son Brian by his daughter, then Katelyn and Drew, Denise's youngest child. Seated by Barb is Megan, Brian's wife. Their youngest daughters are in her lap and seated on the floor in a pink sweater. I do not know their names. Standing behind Megan's left shoulder is Phoebe, Becca's daughter. On the floor left to right are Emelia, Raelyn, Megan and Brian's daughter, Kennedi and Joel, the Roper kids. 

Next we got a picture of Denise's siblings and her kids. Left to right Mark, Barb, Becca, Brian and Drew.

This Denise's children in birth order: Becca, Brian and Drew.

This is Brian and his wife Megan and their three daughters. I turned and missed the picture of Becca, Brad and Phoebe. Oops.

The Ropers: Joel, Katelyn and Drew. Raelyn, Kennedi and Emelia. 

We all pitched in to help with clean-up. It was a nice celebration. Family mingled and visited. The Relief Society Compassionate Service ladies did and outstanding job in the kitchen. The Bennett's held a nursery for little ones who were restless. There is still a lot for the kids to deal with after the funeral. But this was a nice time for family to be together.

Sunday, October 18th, we attended the Muskegon North Ward with the Ropers. Drew taught his first Sunday School class. It was the adults and he was teaching the final chapters of Isaiah. He did a wonderful job. So proud of him. Then I went to Young Women with Katelyn who is the Young Women president now. 

After church, we did our traditional lunch at McDonald's with the Roper kids. We gave them their animal crackers from the Bad Lands. Then we had hugs and headed to Holton.

Nissa was sick during the night so we stayed very low key. She and Todd put an roast in a crock pot with some potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. Very, very good. By the end of the day, Nissa was slowly improving. 

Monday, October 19th, we were on the road by 8:45am. We stopped at the Amish Market to get some bread, cookies and cheese for Jake. We got us a load of bread also. 

We picked up Jake and had a very nice lunch at The Valiant. I enjoyed a tuna salad sandwich with sweet potato fries. They had a dipping sauce for the fries that was scrumptious. We took Jake to the bank and the grocery store. He is without wheels at the moment so this little bit helps some. 

Then we drove to Dayton, Ohio for the night. They upgraded our room to a King Suite. It was very nice but we really didn't use that extra room except to open our luggage. 

Tuesday, October 20th, we left the hotel at 9:30am. Found a McDonald's for Claude to get a little breakfast to have with his morning pill. Then off to Georgetown we drove. The bridge over the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Kentucky was open and we had timed it so there was less traffic. It felt really good to be on Kentucky soil again. 

Claude had a prescription filled while we were traveling. We stopped at CVS and picked it up before driving home. 

Once home, we unpacked. Then Claude got a nap while I cleared the DVR. We would go to McAllister's for dinner. Then enjoy a quiet evening with Psych. Yes. it was good to be home. We love to travel but it only helps make home sweeter when you return. 

Katelyn shared these pictures of her littles. The first in a clocklike rotation is Emelia (Princess Rosalina), Raelyn (Wednesday Addams), Joel (Mikey the Ninja Turtle) and Kennedi (Jessie from Toy Story) all dressed in their Halloween costumes. 

These are their school pictures. Well the first three are actual school pictures. The last is an AI version of a school picture for Kennedi. In order we have Raelyn, Emelia, Joel and then Kennedi.