Resting

Our move from the north Dayton (OH) area south and east to the Wilmington area went without a hitch.

We pulled into the (Thousand Trails) Wilmington RV Resort 

and set up

then headed to Wilmington for groceries.  On the way we stopped at the corner restaurant for very good lunch sandwiches.

In the evening we were treated to a beautiful sunset sky with the first sliver of new moon hanging above the trees (upper right quadrant).

We are here for a week with nowhere to go and nothing to do.  We plan to get some chores done around the house.

Getting busy tomorrow--maybe.

Louise and Duane

Trivial Pursuits

On our last day in the Dayton OH area, we messed around with the family.  

Maddy and I hung out this morning.  While we watched the last part of Tin Man, I did some mending for Maddy.  She made friendship bracelets 

and broke in her Homecoming shoes.

The family decorated the house for Halloween.

Grandpa indulged the boys.

After Grillmaster Benji made burgers for supper, we played a very serious game of Trivial Crack.

Simon and I won!

Full of hugs, moving tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Long Day

While Duane was attending the (blacksmithing) Quad State Roundup,

 the rest of the family and I drove south of Dayton, OH to watch (grandson) Judah play in a soccer tournament.  

Waiting for the game to start.  

(Son-in-law) Benji threw the football with (daughter) Rachel, (grandkids) Maddy in pink kicked the soccer ball around with Simon in red, and Judah practiced with his team in blue.

Blue played ok in the first game, but lost 1-0.

In the four hour gap between games we went to lunch at Chuey's Tex-Mex Restaurant, then across the street to shop for shoes for Maddy to wear to Homecoming.  Next door we browsed through the Halloween store, before driving to Barnes and Noble, one of our favorite places to while away the time.  When everybody was ready to leave, we drove back to the soccer grounds, stopping along the way to cruise through several car dealerships so that Benji could check out the new trucks. 

We arrived back at the field in plenty of time for the team to get ready to play.

The footwork was fast and furious, with the ball criss-crossing the field until Jude's team tied the score at 1-1 in the last minute of the game.  Everybody went home satisfied.

To top off the day, tonight is Maddy's turn to sleep over.

Last day tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Home Games

Football tag

slight of hand card tricks

Tropical theme night at the football game

serious card game

sleepover at the rv

Can it get any better?

Louise and Duane

Total Insanity!

Half the fun of getting together with my siblings is making them pose for pictures instead of eating or playing games!

Duane and Bev, the in-laws are compliant, but (Bev's) Paul, Ed, Martha, and Marycarol declined to say "cheese". 

Ed and Martha ignoring me while Marycarol tries to intimidate me.

Still one holdout.

Come on, lets play already!

A sneak attack was thwarted by the old classic "crossed eyes" maneuver, 

but I successfully delayed the game!

Tomorrow play for Duane, work for me.

Louise and Duane

Contrast

Duane in his usual clothes, meeting his big brother Dennis and sister-in-law Pat for lunch at the local broasted chicken and to-die-for coleslaw restaurant,

versus Duane all dressed up for his Masonic Lodge meeting.

He cleans up nicely!

My family's turn again tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

All In

Watching grandson Judah play soccer we realized his head is in the game even when he isn't.

His face shows total concentration on kicks,

he's in the thick of the action

and when he's on the sidelines he's coaching!

Unfortunately, they lost 3-2.  

Our time here is short, now.

Louise and Duane

Play Day

While Duane visited with his long time friend Gene and his family, I stayed home and worked on Christmas presents I'm making.

This evening we watched Maddy in action at her soccer game. 

Her team won!

Only one more week with the family.

Louise and Duane

Splitting Up

Our Sunday activities took us in different directions.  Rachel and family went south to Judah's soccer tournament.  I went north with my two sisters and a
friend to visit our aunt for her birthday.

First stop was fried chicken dinners and yakking at the Inn Between, a small restaurant 1/2 way between Toledo and Cincinnati OH.  

At Rhonola's apartment we gathered around the table for a game of Sticks (see Goofiness blog).
(They allow my picture taking only if they can make goofy faces.)

Duane took a bike ride through his old north Dayton neighborhood, observing the recent tornado damage and stopping to chat with an old friend who still lives there.  From there he circled north to visit another old friend before heading home.  In the evening Rachel enjoyed some alone time while Benji and Rachel worked at a local festival and Duane and I played pickleball with the boys.

Weekend's over.

Louise and Duane

Kids!

While the rest of the family went to Judah's soccer tournament, Gramps and I took Maddy to her soccer game.  What a difference between grade school and high school!

Maddy in action

In the evening Rachel and Benji had a rare date night while the grandkids had a sleepover.  

The upper bunk is full of our junk.  Simon and Jude commandeered the bottom bed

while Maddy wanted to try sleeping in my new chair.

Tomorrow--something different.

Louise and Duane

Connections

During the last week here in the Dayton, OH area, we have been been visiting our daughter Rachel, son-in-law Benji and grandchildren Maddy, Simon, and Judah.  While the family is at work and school we meet up with long-time friends and other family members.  

Yesterday when I was visiting my sisters, we drove by the house where we grew up.  The owners added the two additions and the drive on the left and kept the property looking nice.  

(I spent many a happy summer hour at the top of that big old maple tree on the left.)

Today on the way to meet up with friends for lunch Duane and I rode past the house where we lived after we were married.  This place has also been modeled and the property well cared for.

We also passed the property we sold when we moved to Texas.  We kept this place trimmed and neat.  Unfortunately, though the new owners bought it because it was pretty, they failed to keep it so.  They let everything go so that the red brick house isn't visible any more.

Just down the road and around the corner from the house is the village of Christiansburg where we parked at Loretta's for lunch

for lunch and lots of gab with long time friends Eddy and Pam.  Once upon a time Eddy and Duane were steer roping partners, and Pam drove the school bus which took my kids to kindergarten.

The rest of the afternoon and evening we messed around with the family playing games with kids and enjoying pizza and movie night.

Tomorrow, soccer again.

Louise and Duane