A Journal, with Pictures

The week­end cel­e­bra­tion started Thurs­day with the arrival of Heidi, Gary, Caitlin, Kin­sey, and Brenn oth­er­wise known as “the cir­cus”. Gil’s brother Mike and Sis­ter Patty arrived in the after­noon from the west coast. Jen­nifer, Mike and Alexan­dra arrived Thurs­day evening.

It was Caitlins and Kin­seys first time in Day­ton.

Fri­day was a busy day with the kids all in the pool, then a belated birth­day party for the twins and in the evening a out­door pic­nic din­ner for our out of town guests and fam­ily.

Birth­day Cake!

Fri­days pic­nic din­ner wel­comed out of town guests for the week end includ­ing Bruce Edwards (Best Man at our Wed­ding) from Cal­i­for­nia, his wife Diane flew in Sat­ur­day. In addi­tion the Fleets, Whites, Gor­don Faulkner and his girl friend Mar­i­lyn from Hilton Head, and Peter and Sherry John from Chicago/Hilton.

The weather was per­fect by the pool and no one left hun­gry or thirsty. It was a great way to start the week­end with friends and fam­ily.

The day of our anniver­sary started with some play­ing golf at Moraine Coun­try Club includ­ing Peter John, Gor­don Faulkner, Larry Hayes, Rich Miller, Elton White, Joe Stephan, Dan Enneck­ing and Gil. Mike, Gary, Rex Fleet and Bruce Edwards vis­ited the Air Force Museum. The ladies did some sight see­ing. The fam­ily got together before the party for fam­ily pic­tures and then it was off to the party. Cock­tails on the ter­race, din­ner, danc­ing with a toast by Heidi and Jen­nifer. It was a great evening and every­one appeared to enjoy them­selves.

Some of the party goers dur­ing cock­tails.

It was a very Happy Anniver­sary!

Sun­day morn­ing August 29th. we served Sun­day brunch for the out of town guests with later flights and a few NCR Alumni in town. Join­ing us were the Fleets, Stephans, Whites, Ennek­ings, James, Pools, John Frazer and Sharon from Cal­i­for­nia, the Bishs from Cleve­land, Joyces Brother Ray and his girl friend Sue, Gils brother Mike and sis­ter Patty as well as the Prado and Mont­gomery fam­ily. It was a beau­ti­ful day, per­fect to be out­doors and enjoy a Bloody Mary or Mimosa.

After the guests departed the fam­ily enjoyed time in and around the pool and a cook out din­ner.

The Montgomery’s departed for Fort laud­erdale Sun­day after­noon. The Prado’s left for Savan­nah Mon­day and Mike, Patty, Ray and Sue returned to the west coast on Tues­day. It was a great cel­e­bra­tion with per­fect weather to be with fam­ily and friends.

Joyce and I flew from Hilton Head, SC to Fort Pierce. Fl and refu­eled then on to North Eleuthera. We then took the ferry to the Rock House hotel on Har­bor island, which turned out to be a great place to stay, with a great din­ing room and view of the inner har­bor.

We explored Har­bor Island by golf cart, pink sand beaches, inter­est­ing typ­i­cal Caribbean habi­tat, good food, and a laid back atmos­phere that fit per­fectly.

Har­bor Town, was fun to see, with typ­i­cal Caribbean houses, a conch warf and the great clear water sur­round­ing us.

We enjoyed Har­bor town, saw the sites and the pink sand and all the local atmos­phere. We would return.

It was now time to fly to Stella Maria, which is due south.

Cape Santa Maria, turned out to be a excel­lent resort des­ti­na­tion, with a spec­tac­u­lar beach. We then rented a car a explored the island head­ing south to the blue hole. I dived on the blue hole off of Belize and I should have known, if you have seen one blue hole you have seen them all, but it was an inter­est­ing drive.

The high­light of the drive was Max’s Conch shop, just north of the Blue Hole. Max pre­pared conch salad, and we had a bot­tle of the local beer and life was good.

We then hung out on the per­fect beach enjoyed the food and Cape Santa Maria and met some nice peo­ple, before fly­ing back on Sat­ur­day May 8th to Fort Laud­erdale to spend a day with Jen­nifer, Mike and Alexan­dra.

On our way over the Exu­mas we made a note to visit George Town on our next trip. The Bahamas, are beau­ti­ful and we will return.

Grand Ma brought a fin­ger nail paint­ing kit, and that was a hit with Alexan­dra.

Alexan­dra showed us all her cos­tumes from her recent visit to Dis­ney World, which was impres­sive, par­tic­u­larly the wigs. We had a great time with Mike and Jen­nifer and Alexan­dra, din­ner at one of our favorite Fort Laud­erdale restau­rants and then on Sun­day flew back to Hilton Head, a good week.