Ronald McDonald House

February 7, 2009

Mid Life Cycles Ride

Ronald McDonald House

Saturday, February 8, 2009 the Nana and I met up with our Motorcycle Gang, known as the Mid Life Cycles, about 2:30 PM at our organizer's (Spongebob) house to ride as a group to the Ronald McDonald House in Houston. For those of you that don't know about this great place, just know this is for children who have very serious medical condition that need treatment in outpatient setting, and don't live in the Houston area. Located right in middle of the greatest medical facilities in the USA (maybe world) the patient and their family member can stay in a nice and loving environment with out cost to them. The house is funded by private donations and many of the meals are provided by volunteer organizations. You can learn more about this great facility by going to their website - http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhousehouston.org/home.htm.

Saturday night was our night so we went as a group, carrying all the hamburgers, hot dogs and fixings necessary along with a trailer load of paper goods all donated by members! We had great time, but wanted to provide you an opportunity to see the pictures we took --- as they say, one picture is worth a 1000 words! Here are a couple, but to see all go to http://community.webshots.com/user/Dandy1945

Blessings!!! They just keep coming!

Our very first Flat tire on a motorcycle....

Since we have owned a motorcycle Carolyn and I have taken a long drive on New Years Day! We just can't think of a better way to start the year off than "saddling up 'n riding out" into the wide open spaces with no particular route or destination! Usually at least 300 miles....

2009 was a little different in that we decide to leave Pearland early afternoon on New Years Eve and drive to San Antonio to visit with Brendan and his Dad and Step Mom. We arrived mid afternoon and after short visit we drove on into New Braunfels where we had nice supper and went to bed early! After breakfast the next morning we had pick a tentative route that would lead us north east and then east and up around Lake Livingston and south back to Pearland. However, it was getting chilly with overcast skies and after a couple of hours we decided to get up on Texas Highway 290 and take straight shot on into Houston and then to Pearland. We were about 20 miles west of Brenham (home of Blue Bell Ice Cream) when I started noticing a wobble from the bike that I have never experienced before, so I got off the road and onto the shoulder immediately where I had my fears confirmed...back tire was flatter than a pancake!

Hwy 290 by this time was very busy and even though we were on long straight away and off the road we felt somewhat vulnerable with those cars and trucks whizzing by at high rates of speed. Cell phone reception was not too good, but got through to Roadside Assistance, but best they could do (on a holiday) was have someone pick us up and take us to a Honda dealer and "drop us off"! Of course, the dealers were all closed so we would have had to leave the bike outside the dealership and get ourselves home best way possible! While talking to them, Jim & Diane H. each riding a bike pulled up to check on us (bikers are like that....always looking out for each other....just an attitude that comes with two wheels...but I digress...) and they offered to call another biker friend who had a trailer and would probable help us out! Eric agreed to come after us but he was almost an hour away and to sit tight. Jim and Diane stayed with us and kept us company until Eric showed up with his trailer and an air compressor which did not help at all as the air would go out as fast as we could put it in. Eric has done this many times and he immediately took charge and in matter of minutes we got the Wing on the trailer and tied down. We said good bye to our new friends and got in the truck with Eric. He informed us that he had called the local dealers and could not get ahold of anyone to open up the service department so he was just going to take us home....a two and half hour trip, one way! We could not believe how lucky we were! Eric was a real blessing...as was Jim and Diane! Eric helped me get it off the trailer and in my garage and then as we were saying good bye I offered to reimburse him for his gas and he would not even consider taking a nickle! He was serious when he said that all he wanted me to do was....."pay it forward"!!

Our new friends, Jim & Diane!!

Bikes are made "to ride" not ride....

You have to admit....it's a good looking bike...ain't it?
(but..we are saving on gas......)

We got the bike (and us) home Thursday evening and next morning I got up and drove half way to San Antonio, met Dave and Brendan and brought him back for a week end visit....here is a couple of recent pictures of him!

He's giving Nana a few pointers....

Visiting with his Mom and sisters via web-cam...ain't this modern technology grand......?

He's a good looking boy! We love having him close by!

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2008

Thanksgiving 2008

Anyone who knows us is well aware how important Thanksgiving is for our family and 2008 was no exception! John has a brother and two sisters with whom we've celebrated Thanksgiving almost continually since our marriage in 1969. With only a couple of exceptions we have met somewhere and celebrated as a family together. In the beginning (and for many years) we would meet at someones house and have "giant" spend the night(s) party! Frank, Barbara, and Kathy have 3 kids apiece and John two for total of 15 kids...fast forward to now and most of those kids have their own kids so we are now a family of about 40! Therefore, now we have to rent a very large house where we can sleep all of us!

This year we were able to rent a retreat house at a Methodist Camp and Conference Center in Northern Alabama, which was perfect even if we did have to sleep in bunk beds in a room with at lease two other couples and shared a bath room with about 15 other adults and multitude of little people! There were a couple of lakes with canoes and paddle boats and lots of woods and wide open spaces! The weather was just great! Kids (old and young) could get out and play and have lots of fun with their cousins.

We left Pearland Monday, November 24th after work and spent the night on the road and made it to Cindy's (Madison, AL) mid afternoon and were able to spend some "just our family" time with our daughters, their husbands and 7 of our grandchildren - poor Sean - he was only boy! We all left next morning for the retreat house and met up with the rest of our family! Nana & Dandy (sometimes known as "The Grand We Two") had decided that our primary responsibilities were being connected to at least one, but sometimes, more than one, grandchild at all times. Dandy certainly got a lot of exercise on the front porch swing with a baby or two in his lap and in walking around the lake or kicking leaves with the kids....Nana, is still walking with a lean after spending most of her time doing her normal cooking and looking after everyone with a baby on her hip!! There is nothing sweeter than having a sweet little baby taking a nap on your shoulder, even sweeter when one of the older girls curls up beside you or in your lap, just to sit awhile!!

After each Thanksgiving, we all say that it just can't get any better...well they do and this was no exception: Almost everyone was able to attend and everyone got along...the food was fantastic...and except for the little incident where Kyla was practicing her skydiving landing techniques, no one got hurt! It seems this was the only time anyone can recall that "only one" trip to the emergency room was required!

Even though it was great trip, ever thing must end and on Saturday morning everyone started packing up and ---- it hit us ---- this is the first time we are going back to Texas --- alone! Kathy and her group went back to their home in Utah and Cindy was staying in Alabama! And now that Thanksgiving is "over" for this year Christmas was right behind and we knew that this would be our first Christmas since 1970 (Kathy was 4 months old), that we would not have any kids around!! Not trying to turn this into a "downer" but this is tough on us, being out here all alone! Now don't get me wrong, we are active and we have friends and our church family, but it is different not having any "blood" around! So we were not looking forward to this Christmas at all, but as it turns out we have a very good one!

We did finally put up a tree (but not all three) and after doing most of our shopping on line and getting each other a few things, we did get into the spirit. We had several Christmas parties with our Motorcycle Gang and our Church Small Group, and even put lights and decorations on the Goldwing and rode in the Pearland Christmas parade. Then on Christmas morning we had brunch at the home of one of our favorite families, the Embertons and a bunch of other church friends. We had a fantastic Christmas Super with an "almost" family...I say almost because my sister has a daughter, Jenny, who lives in Florida and is married to Paul who has a brother, Mark who lives about one half a mile from us with his wife Barb and three children! They knew we were alone and invited us over for Prime Rib and Maine Lobster --- turns out Mark was professional chef and ran his own restaurant for many years! The boy can cook!! Anyway we had a great time with them, her parents, the two boys 7 & 5 and a precious little girl about 4 months old. We had to leave from there and headed to the church were we had some time with our Celebrate Recovery group, singing Christmas songs and eating treats...! So we spent the day with great people and eating (all day long)!!

So we had good holiday after all even though we did miss our own kids, we were with people we love and love us! OH!!! We did get some time with Kathy and her girls via WEB CAM!!!! We had bought Nana new computer with built in web cam and Kathy has one as well, so she figured out how to work it and we were able to visit for almost an hour in the afternoon, just talking and seeing some of the things they got from Santa...and we got to hear Kyla play the piano! So we got to see and hear four of our girls (5 counting Kathy)! So it was a good day after all....a very good day...our God is so good to us!!!

Here are a few more pictures from Thanksgiving....enjoy!

Lexie & Lauren

Cousins, Angie & Donna

Dandy & Kyla

Barbara, Donna & Angie (unwinding)

Donna & Tara

Sisters (in-law)

Barbara & Peggy

Crazy Jeff & Little Mike

Cousins, Kathy & Donna

Happy ray of Sunshine, "Melody"!

View from front porch

Kyla on Back dock

Kyla had to try luck on the big lake!

Cousins, Lizzy & Ryann (already telling secrets)

Big Sister with her little Sisters!

Sean with his "big" cousins "coloring together...ain't it sweet?

Greg & his own personal "good" fairy...he hopes!

(Tinker Bell Lizzy)

Who is this mystery "cousin"?

Mama-Daughter time

Picture was taken the last night and they were a "tired" bunch!

Cindy's so proud...you'd think she cooked it!!

Nana with the 3 "littlest" girls....Caitlyn, Lizzy & Tara

Uncle Charlie with Kyla, Lizzy, Melody & Gracie

He loves it....

And now a "bonus" pic.....

See.....! It does snow in south Texas!

(Taken first week in December 2008)

We're BACK!!!

Over two years ago, after buying the Yamaha, Nana and I (Dandy) decided it would be great to have our own “adventure” blog and following our daughter Kathy's lead and assistance, we got it up and running. We added a couple of new items, then we went though some family changes…Kathy moved with her family to Utah and then few months later Cindy and Kevin moved their family to Alabama. Not that we went on big downer and withdrew to ourselves, but we actually had a lot going on and we (being the certified procrastinator that I am) kept putting off the updates until “later”! In meantime we kept taking more and more pictures and having more motorcycle or grand children related adventures.
· We’ve been on trips with Brendan and Kyla to Utah in 07

· We have had Cindy and Kevin visit us a couple of times
· We have visited Cindy and Kevin (Easter)
· We have had Brendan (and/or) Kyla numerous times at our house or on short vacation to the Texas Hill County.
· We have been to Alabama for Thanksgiving
· I have been on numerous “Patriot Guard Riders” missions
· We have been on numerous other rides together for fun or for fund raising group rides
· We have joined a great group of like minded biker types – Mid Life Cycles (MLC) and joined them on several social “meet , ride & eat”
· Took long ride in June to Arkansas with the MLC (1400 miles in 4 days)
· Bought a new Motorcycle (The Wing)
· And a bunch of other things
· Traveled again to Utah to welcome Caitlyn Joyce, who made her arrival August 11, 2008.
So rather than try to relate and document all the events (play by play) what follows is going to be our attempt at providing a “pictorial” update. I am not even going to try and get them in exactly the right order or to put the dates on each. I will add a couple of other posts that I have written previously, but did not publish.
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…………………..enjoy!!!

These are not in order, but wanted to share!

On the Guadalupe River 2008
Brendan at Canyon Lake Spring 2008
Brendan and Tara

Ride that Bull, Kyla!! Houston Rodeo 2008 Arkansas Pig Trail 2008 Mid Life Cycles
Kathy and Tara 2008
Kyla "Bell" with the Texas Blue Bonnets

Easter 2008 with the Brady's

Dandy with Brendan & Kyla

On the River - saw this cute little monkey

These guys like the outdoors
In Arkansas
Here is Kathy with all her Chidren in "one" spot!

Moody Gardens (Galveston, TX) 2008
Boy loves the water
So does Kyla & Dandy
Kyla's 10th Birthday
The view from the Morgan's back porch - Smithfield, UT

Typical Background for these "cool" bikers!
She's crying...finally a quilt store and it was closed - Eureka Springs, Ark.
Brendan & Kyla, Sean, Melody & Lizzie Summer 2008
We vacationed...HARD!
They love their Nana!!!

Cowgirl Kyla - what a smile!

Nana & Dandy with the Brady bunch - Easter 2008
Eureka Springs

Biker Daughter!
Brendan with Caitlyn Aug. 2008
Kyla & Caitlyn

Kathy and her sweet number 5 - Caitlyn Joyce

Nana helping baby Caitlyn to "yawn"

Dandy & Kyla teaching Tara to wade in a cold creek!

Texas Hill Country - 2008

On an Arkansas Road - the famous Pig Tail!
Our Biker Gang - the Mid Life Cycles - In Eureka Springs

With their "littlest" sister

The sign puts in "mildly" - we love these curvy, hilly back roads across USA

That sun was coming UP! Getting ready to saddle up for Arkansas 2008
Are we "cool" or what?

Nana and Melody
Lizzie is good at finding Easter Eggs!
Ready for the Easter Parade!

Kathy and all five!!!
Ryann loves her new baby sister!

Here are a fewpics take on our trip to Utha with Brendan and Kyla July/August 2007. We nearly lost Kyla in Roswell...but thanks to a little help from her big brother...the aliens did not get her!!!
The First of about 647 photo ops for B&K...(but only a few here..)

...you stay on your side of the Continent and I will stand on my side!

Come Nana....PUSH!!!!

Four Corners (Utah, New Mexico, Colorada & Arizona) - Brendan was the photographer -

Out in the Wide Open Spaces

Over the Grand Canyou (North Rim)

They like things "up close"!! Real Close!!!

Just awesome.....

We had an awesome time!!!

View from Daughter #1's back deck!!

While in Utah we did (just had to) rent this Goldwing and in 24 hours put 600 miles cruising the moutains and plains of Utah and Wyoming (slept 8 hours too!!)

Mug Shots

On Thursday evening we were finally able to get the whole gang together for a family picture
We were even able to get all the grandkids to sit still together to have this great shot made.
This was Tara Patrice's first professional photo. She sure has grown and already a photo ham.
After the pictures were all done we had six of the grandkids spend the night with us. These pictures were actually made this morning and in the first one Ryann was still asleep. We had pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Then everyone helped clean up. Ryann wanted to get done in half the time so she used both hands.

Brendan, Kyla and Ryann will be with us until Wednesday next week while Kathy and Steve are in Utah looking for a house. That's right for all you that didn't know, they are moving to Utah and taking the children with them. Steve has a new job out there and starts work on June 11th.

We can't beleive they are going and even have a hard time writing about it so I won't.

More Pictures from our Hill Country Trip!

Hill County: Nana-Dandy Style

Summer's coming quick and we knew that one of the reasons we got the cruiser was to ride in the Texas Hill County in the Spring during the Wildflower seasons and Spring was slipping into Summer quick so we decided to hit the road last weekend. Everything seem perfect for a long week end...especially the weather (at least according to weatherman --- HA!), so we took off Friday May 4th after Carolyn got off work! Two pair of Jeans each, few more shirts and undies, toothbrush and our rain gear and off we went!

We had decided to drive as far as Eagle Lake (about 100 miles from Pearland) by the long way to avoid traffic on country roads. We arrived the Eagle Lake Lodge (sort of a B&B without the last B), before dark and then had supper ... Next morning we had big breakfast at the Sportsman Resturant in Eagle Lake and hit the road. The day was cloudy and as we got into the Hills we started running into misty rain, but did not dampen our spirits.

After a couple of stops we pulled into Fredricksburg and found our B&B, The Oak Cottage at the Rosewood Manor, which was beautiful and was hosted by Daine and Bob ? We stayed there Saturday and Sunday nights and enjoyed the great setting, nice room and excellent Gourmet Breakfasts...Awesome!

Even though we had the misty rain most all of time, we continue with our plans to "roam the Hills" and roam we did! We just drove slow and carefully and had a ball! We know it is all about attitude and we decided we were going to ride, enjoy God's beautiful Texas Countryside and each other and we had a wonderful time! Carolyn and I know that we are constantly being "Graced...by our Gracious God" in our marriage over and over again! And you know, we've been to the Hill Country before and traveled some of the same scenic roads before in our Car, but there is nothing like being out in the country on a motorcycle...you not only see more, but you feel the wind and the various temperture changes as well as the sweet smell of the flowers and trees as well as the smells of the farms and ranches and some of the other "natural smells" like skunk and the occasional dead animal...but it is all part of the package when you are experiencing the Great Outdoors from the back of a 1100cc Motorcycle....kinda like the Cowboys must have felt on Horse back...just a little faster!! Enjoy the pics....until next time...just living life...."The Grand We Two" way!! God Bless.