Camping Season has officially begun!

Sal and I went camping for the first time of this 2008 season. We have quite the summer/fall planned with camping, but the first time out is always the best. We met some friends down at Pueblo and had a nice relaxing weekend. We have gotten alot of our maintenance work done around the house and yard done so that we can camp whenever possible. We will be camping at Pueblo, Mueller State Park, John Martin Resevoir, Lathrop State Park, Navajo State Park, Mount Princeton, Twin Lakes and the big daddy of all camping - Lake Powell, Utah in September. My niece's wedding is in Omaha in June and then Mike, Leigh Ann, Kaitlin and Ava will be visiting us in August. I honestly don't know how I ever had the time to work! I love it that both of my kids have webcams now, it is so neat being able to see the grandkids. Aidden likes to talk to his grandma daily, Kaitlin is at that "too busy" stage but still appeases me and Ava is changing so fast. I love the fact that I get pictures all the time now from everyone - even my sister Lisa has a digital camera now!

Cruisin 2008

The cruise was wonderful, we had a blast! A 10 day cruise is just right! We were there with 3 other couples that we know from Maryland and had 3 formal nights, one of which we missed because it was catamaran/snorkeling/rum punch day……..That was really the only day that I drank more than one cocktail or glass of wine so I was very good! We even went to a nude beach (Orient Beach) on the French side of St. Marteen. (No we didn’t go nude….) The boobies were not much worth seeing and the men wear these little coin purse pouches over their packages and then string up their butts, the problem was that they were all 70 and older and not in very good shape….They are so unbelievably rude on that side of the island (and very expensive – a hamburger and fries on the beach was 23 euro so about $35 or so, the Dutch side St. Maarten was very friendly. We went to St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Thomas also.

We were on Celebrity (which we absolutely love) cause they treat you like royalty all week long. I am very used to being called Madam now…….I told Sal I wanted to be called this when we got home and one of our friends offered up the term “mydamwife”….There were an awful lot of 80-90 year olds on this ship, we think cause it was 10 days and maybe the younger folks can’t get that many days off in a row.

It was hard not talking to everyone at home though while we were gone, one thing about a cruise, you really do leave all your thoughts and worries behind.

Happy New Year 2008! We now have 3 beautiful grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ava and Aidden. We went home for Christmas to Omaha again this past year and Melissa and Aidden stayed with us for about 3 months while Chris was in schools and transitioned to his new base in North Carolina. They made the successful journey to NC and will be moving in to their new home any day now. Mike, Leigh Ann and Kaitlin are all loving the new addition to their family. She's adorable! Sal and I are getting ready for our 10 day Southern Caribbean Cruise at the beginning of March. We are cruising again with some friends from Maryland. We are looking forward to another great year of camping with family and friends.

Welcome Ava Noelle Ingraldi

We welcome Ava Noelle Ingraldi, born December 11, 2007 at 3:17 pm! She weighed 8lbs 0 oz and was 21 inches long.

Almost Christmas time!

It is now a few days after Thanksgiving and our Anniversary, so now the next big event is the arrival of our new granddaughter, sometime in December. Michael and Leigh Ann are expecting around December 12th. Melissa and Aidden have been staying with us for the past month while Chris is away at military training school in Georgia and then off to North Carolina (their new duty station) awaiting housing. He will come back for Melissa and the baby at Christmas for their new start at Fort Bragg! Melissa, Aidden and I went to Omaha for a visit at the end of October and we will go again, this time with Sal, the week before Christmas. (Kaitlin missed seeing her Papa!) By then, our beautiful new granddaughter will have a name.... I have been petioning but have not yet prevailed. Sal went home last month to visit his dad in North Carolina. Melissa brought her 2 dogs and a cat to stay with us also, so that makes 3 dogs and 2 cats that always seem to end up in bed with me and Sal......For anyone wanting to get more animals than they have right now, STOP for just a moment and think long and hard! They are a joy, but there are just too many animals under foot all the time. Especially when you are in the kitchen trying to cook! Aidden is almost walking and says dada, mama and just now started saying "no" (We all say it enough to the dogs and when we tell them no - he points at them!) Kaitlin in in gymnastics class on Saturdays and I can't wait to see her again in a few weeks. (Check out Mike and Leigh Ann's blog for pictures of Kaitlin doing her gymnastics) (There is a link to the right). It is always hard to be away from the grandkids!! Sal and I are going on a cruise in late Feb-early March with some friends from Maryland, it will be a 10-day Caribbean cruise. We took a bit of a break from our traveling in 2007, just did alot of camping, and of course, trips to Louisiana and Nebraska. 2006 was a bit too busy with our trips to Germany, Lake Powell, Hawaii and all of the camping. Nephews Bryan and Frankie are as adorable as ever and are doing great in school. Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Nephew Bryan and Kaitlin

Nephew Frankie and Aidden at Halloween

Lots to catch up on. Mike and Leigh Ann bought a new house in Bellevue and are expecting a baby in December. Kaitlin is so beautiful and such a bundle of energy! I went home and saw her at Easter, but Sal has not been back since December, so we will go home in a few weeks.

I just got back from visiting Melissa, Chris and Aidden in Lousiana. Aidden is 4 1/2 months old and is such a happy baby. They are moving to North Carolina at the end of the year.

Nothing new with Sal and I, still like to go camping...........