Going home

The New Nolan Family

Discharge from the hospital on Monday the 27th.

Baby, Mom and Dad doing well and very happy.

Ready to be home and start being a family.

Finnley was wide awake as they dressed her in an adorable pink outfit.

How many Nolans does it take to dress a little girl?? It was the sleeves that caused the problem.

The weather is beautiful today, sunny and breezy. I made them a spaghetti pie to take home for dinner. They picked up Jackson from 11th street and were ready to go home. I think I will kayak this afternoon as it is so beautiful. It was hard to let that little girl go as she is so adorable. I love the picture of her sleeping on Mike as he rocks her. Lots of fun to come. Update on Heather's stepdad, Duane had open heart surgery today and if doing well.

love and hugs from Grandma and Grandpa Nolan

Grandma and Grandpa

Well it happened today!! Mike and I are grandparents and we could not be more thrilled. Heather had our little angel this morning at 7:4 am and she is perfect.
We saw her for the first time and we are already in love...you should see the big grin on Mikes face. Finnley Shannon Nolan 8# 3 oz and 22 inches long. She is long and has pink chubby cheeks. She is an Irish lass for sure as she has the shamrock hat on already! Mother and father are doing well and basking in the joy of a healthy beautiful baby. She has one sock on as Patrick was in the process of putting them on to keep those long feet warm.

Thank you Patrick and Heather! Kathy and Michael

Hot Salsa Mamas

Well there it is...a big pot of salsa...one of two my friend Cindy and I made today in my kitchen. We alternate years at each others house but have missed the last few years related to traveling. We started with a bushel of tomatoes and added onions, garlic, hot peppers and spices to make our secret mix. Two big pots...one mild and the other hot hot hot.
We did the easy canning by filling hot jars with hot salsa and putting hot tops and caps on and then turning them upside down to make the tops seal. It works really well which is what I am doing in the picture above
Cindy is filling the jars as they are hot out of the oven. We talked, laughed and had a great time together catching up on our lives. I have know Cindy since our kids were in kindergarten.
Extra salsa pot picture just to impress all of you! The picture below is the finished product. My apron says Hot Salsa Mama's and we made 66 jars of various sizes of salsa...our biggest year ever. Lots of great gifts so watch out!!

Mike went to Lansing today to meet with the Lt Governor and discuss the cigar tax issue. He is home and exhausted with all that talking...hard to believe! Weather is beautiful...70's today and sunny and the rest of the week is to be the same. Love and hugs Kathy and Mike

New addition!

I have a new addition to our kayak family...still waiting for baby Nolan on the 24th! I purchased this used kayak from a friend, Susan, who has a kayak adventure business called Paddle Away. They had some smaller kayaks they were not using so I was lucky to snag this Wilderness Pongo in the wonderful color of orange. I LOVE IT!!! It will be my in town kayak and I have been having a great time so far paddling and exploring!
It fits into the Highlander with the frot passenger window open and I can get it in and out by myself. We may get a roof rack eventually but right now it works! I have gone to Lake Boardman (the lake in the middle of TC, which was from damming the river many years ago for logging) and really enjoyed myself. It takes about a half hour to go from one end to the other. I was also able to go down the river into town until reaching the Dam between Cass and Union streets. The picture above is looking north toward town. Lots of birds, ducks, fish that are hiding in the depths and not that many people. They do small boat sailing, some water skiing and some fishing on this lake. It used to have many small industries and most are now closed but the railroad tracks still run along the west side. There are now more apartments and condos with a bike path on the east side but still many areas with no development and lots of trees. I even saw what I think was a muskrat!
The picture above is floating toward the eighth street bridge..this is the main east west road in TC. Lots of traffic on the road but on the water it is very tranquil. The lake has several small bays where the current is less so there are water lilies in bloom. Most of the shore line has no beach and the lake gets deep quick but I did find several areas where there are some sandy shallow spots for swimming or wading. Our weather has not been so hot this week...70's which is nice.
Mike arrived home on Monday after a long day of flying. He got to see his brother Marks daughter Deidre ,her husband Stephan and son Luca while in Orlando(they came over from Tampa) which was wonderful.

I had to share my love of my new kayak with all of you...I do love being out on the water on the river at the cabin and lakes provide a whole new experience. I have ordered a spray skirt as one day I got very wet from the waves and wind. Love the adventure!

Love and hugs to all Kathy and Michael

Shower for Baby Gnome Nolan

So what kind of a picture is this you may ask?? Heather is modeling the Hooter Hider that I made for her...I had never heard of this but you have to love the Internet...found a pattern and a you tube video to instruct me! She is now all set to breast feed the little Nolan anyplace. She is trying it out with a stuffed monkey...lots of laughs from the audience
Welcome Baby Nolan sums it up for the shower that was held yesterday at Deb and Duane's lovely home. The weather was unbelievably warm and humid even for Michigan. But we all managed to tolerated it...drink beer from the kegerator, lots of water, ice tea and lemonade. then there was the food...wonderful. The organization committee lead by Heathers sister Shannon did a great job and we had lots of delicious choices. I made my bruchetta and they were popular ... "those little pizzas are great" .
The kiddie pool allowed some cooling down for the soon to be mom. Doesn't she look beautiful!!

We had lots of sun and heat and a little shower,from the skies, later in the afternoon. It was fun to see them open the gifts and I tell you this little Nolan is ready for anything!! Patrick gave a heart felt thank you to every one and I know he sends it out to everyone who could not attend. Friends and family are so important at this time in their lives.
The morning work was set up and cutting up the pig that Duanne roasted all night in the pig roaster that he and friends built...you can see part of it to the right of the picture.

Mike is due to return tomorrow from the trade show in Orlando. A very busy time for him.

I have been doing some kayaking on lake Boardman, right in the middle of town, and catching up on a few things here in TC. We have been at the cabin so much that I have let a few things go here at home. The weather has improved today with temps in the 70's which is fantastic.

Love to everyone from the beautiful Northern Michigan...I love living here!

Kathy and Michael