Family Reunion

We recently got back from a wonderful reunion of my brothers at Nags Head, NC. It was a great week spent visiting and just catching up with each other. There were 20 of our immediate and extended family there for most of the week and then I also got to spend time with my best friend for a time too. My brother Rick and his wife Donna handled all the arrangements and Donna did so much extreem couponing that she had most of the food to bring with her. She is amazing. She even did some of the food preparation before hand. Donna made this salad with chicken and rice noodles and toasted almonds tosses with raw spinach and a home made dressing that was to dye for! There were people that volunteered to cook each night and there were so many that did that I didn't even need tocook. It was so relaxing for us. It seemed like I was so lazy!!! Even though we live not far from my brother Bob and his wife Robin, we do not get the opportunity to see them very often so it was great to be with them for the week. Robin took the "ladies" who weren't going out on the boat to fish out for a nice lunch and that was a very nice treat. Robin and Helen and I had a chance to run out and shop for while to one day. I picked up a stainless collendar for Tara and Lee at a great price. Pete and Helen are always great to be with! Pete has such a sense of humor and Helen can really cook! She fixed lasagna and our grandmother Gay's Sweet and Sour Chicken. Which got rave reviews! They also brought with them something else which made the trip so enjoyable! That was their daughter Stephanie...and her twin daughters...Kendall and Madison. Talk about the best mom! Oh, what dedication, and she is right there whenever those girls need her. It is so apparent those girls will be whatever they want to acheive. With Stephanie for a mom and Pop Pop and Grandma how can they not! They sure are two blessed children. Stephanie is always on the go and always including the children. If she goes for a run so do the girls. If she goes for a bike ride, so do the girls. She is such a fit and healthy mom and so are the girls. I can't wait to watch them grow up. They are so adorable and so is mom. Mitch and Pamela smoked a tenderloin one day all day and everyone enjoyed it that evening. Everyone could not stop raving about it. Mitch is such a wonderful addition to the family and so much fun to get to know. Not just because he can smoke a piece of meat but because he is a kind and considerate man that is so thoughtful and sensitive to everyones needs. I picked up on that right away. Pam you picked a good one there! Crystal and Eric also are newly weds and Crystal is so sweet and she was a joy to get to know more. We sure are lucky to have these two newest members to add to the Knowles` family. Crystal made this yummy spaghetti and even went and got gluten free pasta so I could eat it. It was so yummy. She served bread and extra virgin olive oil infused with different things for people to dip their bread in. Oh and Eric made Sangria to go with the meal. Talk about a good dinner. It was so much fun to see our Lee and Tara interact with their cousins now that they are adults. Lee cooked Mother's Day breakfast. He did a good job. Especially since everyone got up at different time. Good job honey. And of course it was so great to see my grandkids after a year. Oh how they have grown. I was so glad they were invited and they could come for the few days they were there. It is always a joy to get to spend time with Tara, she is just like a daughter to me. I feel so close to her she couldn't be any more of a daughter to me than my own is. I love her so very much. One morning Donna decided we all needed to go our front and she had a plan she had these cards and she placed each family in an area in the sand. We were to all make sand castles. We were to build a family tree. What fun it turned out to be. It was hysterical. The brother's and my castle looked a bit pathetic. Then our children's looked so much better. Then the grandchildren's looked even better. There were lots of photos taken and much fun was had by all. A friend of Mitch's came down and took a photo for us of the whole family, I can't wait to see it. On Thursday toward the end of the week, my best friend Sandy drove down all by herself to spend the last days with me. We got up on Friday and spent the whole day together just driving up the main road and stopping in at interesting shops. We only made it to 3 stores and bought very little. But we had wonderful conversations and got to see each other for the first time in over a year. "We just picked up where we left off". As we will do the next time we get together. I am so grateful for the time we had together. So the Knowles reunion was a great success. Thank you all brothers....for a wonderful time and the memories we will hold deep in our hearts.

Shame, Shame, Shame

I have been so negligent with my posting but I am sure you will understand after reading this. So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. Lee, Tara, Sydney and Ella arrived for their visit and in the mist of their visit we got a call that we were to get the unexpected arrival of our other 3 grandchildren. Kristy's children. So we interrupted our visit and left to take Lee and family up to San Marcos to my brother Bob's home dropped them there and immediately went to the Austin airport to pick up the three children at the gate. We picked up their bags and headed back to Bob and Robin's and spent several days there. Lee, Tara, Sydney and Ella left for VA a couple days later. My brother Pete and his wife Helen assisted in getting the children from their home to their home and keeping them for a couple days before taking them to the Baltimore airport and getting them on the direct flight to Austin. I can't thank them enough too for their help in all this. Love you both! Next we loaded Trinity up and accompanying her to camp. What a gorgeous place to spend 4 weeks. She was such a fortunate child to go to this camp. Then it was time for Christopher, Ginger, Sarah and Roger and I headed to Corpus Christi. I can only imagine how it must have felt for Bob and Robin to have their home back. At times there were 12 people in their home sleeping everywhere; and I mean everywhere! They were wonderful in all this. Thanks for all you did and continue to do to help. Love you! Well all that started a month and a half ago. The children have settled into a routine now and they just went up to Bob and Robin's for the weekend. They had a great time. We had a nice relaxing weekend and went to a Hook's game last night. Oh by the way the children love the Hook's games. The first night Sarah went to one she caught a ball in her hat. Ever since then she has been hooked. So that brings me to now...as you can see we have been hopping. I have learned over the years, life can throw you some unexpected curves and lately I have had plenty. So enjoy life each day to its fullest. You never know what tomorrow may bring!!! Love and hugs to everyone!

March has come and almost gone!

Well here it is almost the end of March. I can't believe it. What am I up to now? Since my last post, I went on the cruise. It was fabulous. I had so much fun. Thanks, Pete, Helen & Bob for gifting me this wonderful trip! I now know I want to go on another cruise as soon as I can!!!!

Next weekend Sharon and her granddaughter Payton are coming for a week from Ohio. It will be fun to have visitors. Hope some of my other family and friends will come to visit us soon. We have extra bedrooms.

I am looking forward to my two oldest granddaughter's coming for a visit this summer too. Plus my son and his family are coming down for a week too. Then I will fly back with my two granddaughter's and spend two weeks in Virginia!

We purchased "mini season tickets" to the Hook's baseball games here in Corpus Christi. They are the minor league team for the Huston Astro's. I am hoping we can get to many of the games and that Roger's being on call so much won't interfere too much.

I keep busy with church activities, a Red Hat group, book club and piecing quilt tops. I hope everyone is enjoying this strange weather this year. I have no idea about the weather here as it is my first year down here. But as far as I am concerned, I like the warmth!!! Take care til I write again! Love and hugs!

Hello From Texas

It has been a long time since I have posted my son informed me. Since I have posted before many changes have happened in my life. I now live in Texas.

In September of 2011 Roger came home and told me that he was retiring and had taken a position in Corpus Christi, TX. In my last post I mentioned we were going to Ohio for a wedding. The day Roger told me we were going to move was the day we were leaving to go to Ohio for the wedding. So you can see why I haven't had time to post since then. All "heck" broke loose after that.

After the shock set in and many tears, many boxes were packed, I boarded a plane on my birthday and flew to San Marcos, TX and spent several days at my brother Bob and wife Robin's home. Roger drove down and joined me and we spent a week there while our things were brought down from Virginia. They made us feel at home and were so gracious while we were there.

We moved into a townhouse sight unseen. It is very difficult making the adjustment from a house to a townhouse but we are becoming accustomed to it. The kitchen is so small but the bedrooms are good sized and we have more bathrooms here than in the house.

In October my friend Sandy flew down and she helped me navigate around and find stores etc. It is hard living in a big city after being in a rural setting for so many years.

Christmas was very difficult. Thank goodness it fell on a Sunday. That helped a great deal. We found a church right away that welcomed us with open arms and we became active right away.

Sandy came again this past week and we went to S. Padre Island for a few days and that was nice. She left yesterday and I will miss her so much.

I have a week and then my brother Pete and his wife Helen are taking me on a cruise to Belize and Cozumel which I am very excited about. I can't believe I am going on a cruise.

I have been so busy finding Dr.'s and a dentist. Seems like since I have been here I have had to have lots of dental work and problems with my feet etc but hoping to have everything straightened out before I leave on the cruise. Wish me luck!!

I also keep busy making quilt tops. I have made several since moving here and have found a wonderful little quilt shop called, "The Quilt Cottage" very close to where we live, to Roger's dismay. No, not really. I figure, he moved me here, he has to live with it. LOL

When I get back it won't be long and our friend Sharon from Ohio and her granddaughter are coming for a visit. In June our son and his family is coming down and one of our granddaughters is spending a month in Texas going to camp and when she is done I am going to have her here for a week. When she leaves in July I am flying back with her to Virginia and I will spend two weeks there visiting. I am so looking forward to going "home" and seeing everyone.

I wish to thank my son Lee for reminding me that I needed to update my blog. Thanks Lee. Sorry everyone I have neglected it for so long. But as you can see I have had lots going on. If you would like to keep in touch my email is suehilt1@hotmail.com

Earthquake, Hurricane, What Next?

It has been sometime since I have posted. It has been a very hot summer, little rain. Now we have been experiencing some unusual things as the title of this post indicates.

Praise the Lord, we were not affected too badly by the earthquake or the hurricane. I was sewing when the earthquake happened. At first I thought "what in the world did the electric men do when they trimmed that tree"? They had just finished. Then I realized it was an earthquake. It was the strangest feeling. My feet felt like they were vibrating for hours even after it was over. They weren't of course, but I had that sensation. Roger was at work in Richmond, and said he was sitting on a turned over bucket and it moved him and the bucket at least 6".

Kristy and family did have some damage from the high winds and rains. A tree fell on their house. Luckily they got it taken down and seems to be no damage to the house. Their electric was off from the hurricane for a bit, but they are alright.

My brother Pete and his wife's home was damaged from the earthquake. Their chimney lost bricks that neighbors said sounded like bullets when they fell. Quite a bit of damage and their insurance is not going to cover it. However I spoke with them today and they did not experience any damage from the hurricane. Their neighbors did loose trees.

This all leaves me wondering what we are in for next. In my last post I stated we would be going on vacation in September. As of now we have no plans for that. We are going to Ohio the beginning of Sept. to a joyful event. Our dear friends daughter will be getting married on the 10th. She is the daughter of Roger's best friend that passed away over 10 years ago. She asked Roger to give her away. What an honor. It was with the greatest pleasure he accepted.

Other than that we are also looking forward to our youngest granddaughter's first birthday this Wednesday. It is so hard to believe she will be one already. She is walking everywhere and the sweetest little thing. And I mean little. She may be tiny but boy does she have an attitude and boy is she strong!

I am praying for all those who were affected by the earthquake and the hurricane.

Summer is here in Staunton Virginia!!!!!!

Hello! It may not officially be summer, but in Staunton, Virginia it is. We have had 90 degree weather for several days, visitors have been arriving and today is the last day of school for the children around here.

Stephanie is here from Massachusettes so, I think officially it really is summer. When Stephanie leaves it will be time for Robin to come and do her summer "grading" and we will be anxious for her time here and chance to visit with her. Then we will be into July. Our grandchildren from up in Northern Virginia are planning to each come spend a week with us in July...so that will take the rest of July.

Roger and I will go to the beach sometime in September. We still have a few days to take yet for vacation and haven't figured out yet when we will take that. Lee started his new job and seems to be enjoying it. Tara has been dealing with a foot issue and is struggling with that.

I still watch Ella and now that school will be out I will also have Trinity which will be nice as she can help entertain Ella. Ella has grown so much. She is a real live wire. Sydney will be at her "dad's" for the summer so she won't be able to be with us. But we will see her some weekends.

We have finished a big job...we remodeled our bathroom, completed gutted it. That was a tremendous job and learned we sure are getting older and slower! But is was worth all the hard work.

Well that is the update here at the Hilt house....

Summer is here in Staunton Virginia!!!!!!

Hello! It may not officially be summer, but in Staunton, Virginia it is. We have had 90 degree weather for several days, visitors have been arriving and today is the last day of school for the children around here.

Stephanie is here from Massachusettes so, I think officially it really is summer. When Stephanie leaves it will be time for Robin to come and do her summer "grading" and we will be anxious for her time here and chance to visit with her. Then we will be into July. Our grandchildren from up in Northern Virginia are planning to each come spend a week with us in July...so that will take the rest of July.

Roger and I will go to the beach sometime in September. We still have a few days to take yet for vacation and haven't figured out yet when we will take that. Lee started his new job and seems to be enjoying it. Tara has been dealing with a foot issue and is struggling with that.

I still watch Ella and now that school will be out I will also have Trinity which will be nice as she can help entertain Ella. Ella has grown so much. She is a real live wire. Sydney will be at her "dad's" for the summer so she won't be able to be with us. But we will see her some weekends.

Well that is the update here at the Hilt house....