I wrote this long post a few weeks about how great our holidays were…and then I lost it before I got to post it. Aarrgghh! How frustrating. And I can’t re-create how witty and wonderful the writing was. Suffice to say, we had a hectic but great time at the end of 2009. Nick, Ash and Hayden visited us. That created 3 holidays in a row for us – a Christmas celebration with neighbors, followed by all the family over, followed by Hayden’s 1st birthday party.

Tim and Elyse informed us a few days before Christmas that our next grandbaby, due May 17th, will be…another boy! The room has since been painted blue and the crib is put up. Can baby showers be too far off?

Fast forward to February. We started the month by traveling to St. Louis. Nick and Ash picked us up from the airport and we started the 3 hour trek to Macomb. We were greeted by snow. But to see that cute little boy, it was all worth it. More than once he was the center of attention, showing off his new clapping skills.

Friday we did Nick’s “honey do” list and made our way around Macomb in the snow. That night we had Debbie’s Italian beef sandwiches (yum) and of course her daiquiris. I’m still full.

Saturday night we took a drive across the Mississippi river and into Iowa, to eat at Martinins. Great view, great dinner, great martinis, great company…it’s a night we’ll remember for a long time.

Before we knew it, it was time to travel home – on Super Bowl Sunday. So much for the game. The visit was worth so much more.

I have done the Avon Breast Cancer walk for 2 years in a row, but this coming year, they’ve changed the L.A. walk to Santa Barbara. I needed a new goal to stay motivated. The kids had told me about seeing Disney half marathon t-shirts in the restaurant so I did a little research. Because it takes place the first week in September, Danny and I have decided to walk/jog the Disney half marathon for his 60th birthday. Let the training begin. We started out with 7 mile walks. Then we added in a bit of jogging. Now we stay within our 7 miles but are jogging more to decrease our time. The distance is no problem, but the event has a 3.5 hour time limit. My short legs can’t get me across the finish line without jogging some of it.

To help us train, yesterday we went with my 24 hour Fitness “gym gang” on a bike ride to beach and back. The trail takes us 22 miles, along the river bed, the Honda Center, Angel Stadium and beyond. We then go a few more miles down the beach to Mutt’s to catch breakfast. Just enough time to get feeling back in parts that are numb. It was a cool start, but turned into a 75 degree day…just perfect. Nothing like SoCal in Feb.

Next weekend we’ll be going to Tempe, AZ. Luke has been accepted to ASU and we’ll be taking a tour of the campus. We’ll meet up with Glade and Carol as well as Mark, Lisa, Butch and Judy. We’ll also get to finally meet their American Bulldogs – Luke and Lani (don’t even ask about their names).

We’ll be home another weekend and then the Corvette (YELW KAT) is taking us to Las Vegas.

In the meantime, Lani has been accepted to WIU, but is still hoping to hear from Cal Poly Pomona. Luke also go accepted to CO State Univ, but we’re hoping he’s stay closer in AZ.

Graduation is only a few months away. That will be followed by the kids turning 18. Then it’s off on our Alaskan cruise, with the best friends anyone could have. Sounds like it’s going to be a busy year!