New Car!

Dave's 2008 Chevy Malibu finally seemed to be on its last leg, and neither of us were that sad to see it go, given the repairs it had required.

                                              Good bye, Malibu.  Thanks for your service!



We decided that since there were year end incentives, we might get our first actually NEW car.
We chose a 2017 Hyundai Accent Hatchback.  We got the Sport version, which has some cool features, while still being a pretty simple, practical car.

          Hello, Hyundai!

Blue Living Room

                                           I painted one wall a soft blue and made a few pillows.

                                        I hemmed a blue curtain I had made previously, and painted the lower portion of the dining room white.  The over all affect is a blue living and dining room.  I'm enjoying the change after many years of green.

                                          I have a little darker, mid-blue in the library.

                                          I replaced the green in the hall with white, too, so it's blues and creams in this section of the house.

For fall I also made a few new pillows for the family room, and brought back in the orange colors that are reflected outside with the leaves that have changed color.

Julia's birthday 25!

                                              Happy Birthday, Julia!  25 candles

                                       

                                          Matt and Julia were over and she got to open a few things

                                            We love you, Jules!

Kara's August visit

Kara and her family visited us in August on their way back from a beach trip in North Carolina.  Luke was gone during the week and we spent time with Kara, Jacob, Blake and Ava.

  Ava and Claire at the playground

                           Daniel, Meg and Claire were here and also got to visit with them.
                                           

                                                          Dan on Dad/Uncle duty

                                                                     Jacob

                                                                 Kara and Blake

                                                           Ava insisted we wear these :)

                                                                            Luke and Dave catching up.

                                                                         Thankfully Ava got some good pics.  :)

BEACH with Kara's family and Julia

In August  Kara and her children Jacob, 8, Blake, 6 and Ava, 2 came to visit on their way home from a family reunion of Luke's in North Carolina.

 We had two days at Ocean City, which was just right for us.

 The boardwalk was very pleasant in the evening.

                                                           

                                                              So fun to be together!

Happy Birthday, Dave!

                                           Julia was able to come spend Dave’s Birthday with him. 

                                            We went on a walk that morning. Dan and Meg joined us that night.                                                      Happy Birthday to the best man I know!

Vacation to Seattle 2017

After Boise, Dave and I flew to Seattle to see James family.  

                                         One daye went to the Seattle Zoo, and I have to say it was my favorite of the three we saw that season (also Cincinnati and Boise).

Alek and Audrey really liked the animals and did really well walking around.

                                      It was out first time to see David Adam Meiners, Dave's namesake.

                                   Alek and Audrey both like to practice flashcard, and they know lots of words!

                                                         at the park near the petting zoo...

                                             Alek and Audrey both got their own pony ride!

                                 at the marina where the ferry comes...

                                      Tammy and James live very near the water.  Too bad the ferry wasn't running that day to the little island.

James and Tammy take the kids out often.  We had fun picking strawberries and going to several interesting parks and gardens to hang out with them and the kids.  And the weather in Seattle was much more beautiful than I had supposed.  I don't remember any rain at all.  It was a great trip!