We had a long day travelling, changing planes in Dallas. Mel's sister, Corann, picked us up at the airport and we went back to her house and that was our home base for the next week. She had Mel's other sister, Nancy, and her husband, Jim over for breakfast. Also, their daughter, Randee...and Will and Ashlynn. Fun to be with all of them. It was our 43rd anniversary and Corann took us out to eat before heading to gospel meeting that evening. On Thursday night, Nancy had Corann, Mel & I for supper along with Don...our friend from back east from years ago. She also had invited Ray & Bertha. We felt like we knew them because we have mutual friends in Virginia, LA & W VA...also know some of Bertha's folks in TX. On Friday, Jim took us to south of Olympia to meet Linda B for lunch and a good visit. The same place we met when we were there 2 years ago! That evening Mel went home w/Jim and I went to Mel's nieces where they and Nancy and Corann were scrapbooking. On Saturday, Corann took us to Arlington's little cafe, The Local Scoop, for a nice lunch. The evening we went north of Arlington to some of the folks that run a bed and breakfast. The lady of the home was having a surprise bday party for her husband. ...a beautiful view from their home. Sunday at noon we met another niece, Becky, and her husband, Trent, for lunch at Applebees...back to Corann's for a little down time before heading to gospel mtg. Then Jim & Nancy took us to have supper and a nice visit w/Steve & Laurie, Dianna & Breenan (sp?)... We knew Laurie in Richmond at the end of the eighties. We also had some other stops & visits while staying w/Corann... we went with her to the mall 2 Monday mornings in a row to the mall where some of the older crew meet for coffee. It was fun to be with some that we knew before and meet some new folks. We also stopped in to see Scott & RoCinda's new home addition and had a nice visit w/Jim's mom. On Monday night, Corann and I fixed supper for Jim, Nancy, and their 3 daughters & families that live in the nearby area.





Scott, RoCinda, Matthew, Jonathan & Daniel


Dave, RoCherra, Michael, Ryan & Garrett


Will, Randee & Ashlynn


Beautiful flowers at RoCinda's


Coffee at the mall




Steve, Laurie & children



Scrapbooking


Scrapbooking At RoCherras


Rudonna, Linda B, Mel & Jim


Ray, Bertha, Rudonna, Mel & Don


Mel & Rudonna... day of 43rd wedding anniv.


Randee & Corann... a wonderful breakfast that Corann fixed...and dear Randee did the clean-up!
Nancy, Jim & Will



Ashlynn.... at breakfast at Coranns.



This is Rudonna here..... It's been a long time since I posted...and I didn't post after Mel & I took our long trip in the fall....so will try to back track here and post a few pictures, etc. We left on September 24 & drove to Richmond and spent the night w/Jack & Mary after going to Paul & Laura's shop for gospel mtg. The next afternoon Mary took Mel and I to the airport and we flew to Boston where Brent picked us up. We went up for Paxton's 5th birthday and stayed from Thursday to Tuesday. It's so hard to believe he is such a big boy now..... also, Shaelyn had grown a lot since we had seen her in June. Lucille & Yasmin came for supper and the night just before we left New Hampshire (flying fr Boston to Seattle). It wasn't quite as hard to leave the children since we knew we would be coming back for a week after our weeks in Washington.


Shaelyn


Paxton At his 5th Birthday party.


Grandpa getting some sweet sugar from Shaelyn