Denver and the Ahnen Wedding

 Michael and I traveled to Denver Colorado over the Memorial Day weekend to attend the wedding of Nicole Ahnen and Ben Jacobs.  Nicole is the youngest daughter of Mikes cousin Dennis and wife Carol Ahnen.  We stayed with them when Patrick was treated at National Jewish Center in Denver for his asthma...20 years ago!!! They are special to us as they provided much love and emotional support at a difficult time for our family.
We celebrated with sister Fran and husband Harry which was wonderful!
The sun glasses were supplied for the cocktail hour at the reception that was on an outside deck overlooking downtown Denver at the History Center of Denver.

 The wedding was ceremony was beautiful and there was not a dry eye in the place for all the happiness.  Nicole and Ben have been dating for 15 years so it made everyone very happy that the wedding finally came together.  They are a wonderful couple who provided their guests with a true reaffirmation of what marriage means and the joy of love.  We were very glad we could attend.

 The couple planned the wedding on "wedding Tuesdays" which was their common day off and they did a great job.  The wedding party traveled to the reception in the vintage cars above...very fun!

 I made Ben and Nicole a quilt...the third for this family of girls...and I think they like it.  I promised Nicole at the last wedding that I would make her one if she did not get married by the time she was 35.  Luckily Ben came thru and proposed so that was not an issue..I was sure it would be ok.

We returned to Traverse City on Memorial Day...a long travel day for us but we  made it home safe.
 I cannot end with out including a picture of Seamus Patrick and Timothy.  He is three weeks old not and is thriving.  Still has all that hair and is eating and sleeping well... Lucky Timothy and Casey!!  I want to hug him and kiss his chubby cheeks!!
We are going to the cabin this weekend..Mike can hardly wait.. and hope for some nice weather.  Raining here for a few days but we always need the rain...the lawns look wonderful.
Kathy and Michael

Back in Michigan

 We are back in Michigan after a two day drive home through Canada from Vermont.  We were sad to leave our new grandson, Seamus Patrick, and of course his parents.   He is changing so fast even when he is just a week old.  He has more time when he is awake and as you can see from the picture below he is wide eyed and alert.  He is already a pound up on his weight from his birth weight!!!   Great job Casey with the feeding!!

The weather cleared up and finally warmed up by the time we got into Michigan today. No snow left here but my lawn needs to be mowed!!  We had a great time with Casey's mother Kym and we were so glad that we could share such a wonderful experience with her.
We were able to Skype with Patrick, Heather and Finnley so that they could see Seamus and talk to him.  Computers are wonderful!

                                                   Wide awake and ready to party!!

                                                     Is this what his smile is going to be like???

Kathy driving the big bad boy...it was good to be behind the wheel again.  We have a trip  out west scheduled for August to fly fish.  
We are very thankful for the love of our family and for our new grandchildren.
Love and hugs to all   Kathy and Michael

Happy Mothers Day

 Happy Mothers Day

We spent this Mothers Day in Vermont with our new grandson Seamus Patrick McKenzie Nolan
and his parents and his other grandmother Kym McKenzie.  The weather has been cool and rainy but when there was a little sunshine we ran outside for a family pic.

                            Happy parents and a not so happy Seamus...I think it was time to eat.

                                                                      Grandma Kym

                                                           Grandma Kathy rocking away

Such a sweet boy...he is still sleeping lots which is good and seems to be nursing well.  He gained weight after being around only 3 days.  Mike, Kym and I  will be here two more days and then start back to Michigan.  But it is to be cold here tonight ..32 ..but no snow is predicted.
It is so wonderful to see your son become a father.  Both my sons are going to be fantastic fathers and I am so grateful that I am able to see that happen.
Truly a blessed time to be a mother on Mothers Day.  Thank you to my sons for making me a happy grandma.     Kathy and Michael

 Welcome to the world to
Seamus Patrick Mckenzie Nolan
born on May 7th in Putney Vermont.

We traveled to Vermont over the last two daysin the BBB and met Seamus tonight.  It was wonderful!!!  We brought Casey's mother Kym with us so we were in Grandma heaven!!   Grandpa was pretty excited too!

                                   Motherhood seems to agree with Casey...she is glowing

                                                                    New father and son

                          Mike brought Timothy some Cigar...Its a boy!!!  He sure looks happy!
                                                Grandpa is just ga ga over his grandson

So here is grandma cuddling with Seamus Patrick ...so sweet and just perfect.  I think he looks like Timothy.  Lots of hair..not blonde but not real dark either...slate blue eyes and he is a cuddler.  We will be here for 4
days so i will post again.
Love and hugs Kathy and Mike

Weekend away

 It has been a month since I did a blog...not sure where the time went or why I checked out.  We traveled to Ann Arbor and Detroit area last weekend.  Michael had his heart surgeon doctors appt in Ann Arbor...all went well and we do not have to go back for 2 years!!! Yea!!!
Thursday night we stayed with Mike's cousin Chris and husband Marti in Fenton.  Great to catch up and make summer plans with them.(forgot to take their picture)
We had lunch with some TC friends, Jeff and Kathleen, who were in Ann Arbor for a doctor appt....great middle eastern restaurant...Ann Arbor has so many options .  Weather was cold and it felt like we were still in TC.  It had been 60 the day before!
We then went to Birmingham to stay with college friends Dan and Elaine.  Elaine is a very talented person...she makes pottery and made the beautiful tiles in her entrance way.

 We also visited my college suite mate  Cathy, her leader dog Lucy and her friend Michael.
We had not seen her in two years and she has a new house and had not met Lucy yet.  Cathy has had several leader dogs and we were lucky enough to adopt two when she retired them.. Louie and Era.  They were great dogs!!  It was fun to go out to lunch..at an Irish Pub...and catch up.
Cathy sang at our wedding and we hope she gets her guitar out to play at one of our anniversaries!!  She was the hit of our wedding!

We also had a great dinner with other college friends..lots of laughs and toasts.  There is nothing better than old friends

 Dan and Elaine in the back yard...we brought the cold TC weather with us.

 We took Riggs to the vet last week for his yearly check up and Finnley went with us...both dog and baby were a hit with the staff.

 Almost 8 months old and she is just adorable!!  Love the overalls with hearts.  We are waiting for her cousin  in Vermont to be born...due may 4th.  So exciting!!!  Love to all   Kathy and Michael

PEO Program

 I am a member of a great group called PEO.  It is a group of  "sisters" who work to help women move forward in life thru education.  We are a local chapter but under the umbrella of the national organization.  Many  of you are aware of my involvement as well as that o of my mother and aunt Kay.
I had the St Patrick's Day meeting at my house in honor and memory of my mom..she was the ultimate entertainer for PEO.
It is also the meeting that we install the new officers. the picture to the left is most of the officers after they took the oath of office.

 We have a corned beef dinner and I provide the green scarfs for those who do not have green in their wardrobe.   It is a fun evening with lots of laughing and socializing.

 The new President,Karen on the left and Judy is the out going President.  I gave the  PEO program to a small but mighty and brave group to come to the meeting on a snowy Traverse City day.  I talked about my blog , how to make a blog and why to make a blog.  Lots of good questions and comments.
Thanks PEO's for listening to me!!!  Kathy Nola

St Patricks Day 2013

St Patrick's Day for 2013 was a milestone...Finnleys first celebration!  She had a blast as you can see by the pictures.  We celebrate St Patrick's day and being Irish all of March and she has been wearing shamrock outfits for weeks.
We started the day at North Peak with lunch and socializing.  Finnley was the hit of the party with smiling and flirting all the way around.
Lots of older men for her to charm...she seems a sucker for men with beards and Hibernian shashes!

                                                       What a beautiful Irish family!!!

                                        Grandma made Finnley's outfit and so we had to show it off!!

 The weather for the parade was cold but sunny which was nice.  Last years 70-80 degrees was a fluke that will not soon be repeated.  Patrick decorated the stroller with shamrocks and Finnley stayed awake for the whole parade.

                                                              Two handsome Nolan guys!!

 The Irish princess who is the apple of her daddy's eye!!
The picture below is at the end of our St Patricks Day party.  We had the Irish "Chinese" Auction and lots of laughs and lots of great food with wonderful friends!  We  now look forward to spring...it can't be long now!!   Kathy and Michael