Torch Lake Musings

Time for our monthly update. Bob and Matt went fishing in Ontario for four days in late June. We celebrated Eli's birthday a few days early since the trip wasn't able to be scheduled differently. Matt caught a 'trophy' brown trout. The guys had a great time.




The Spencer branch of the family was all together at Torch Lake for several days over the past two weeks. Matt and Elaine arrived first. Before anyone else got here, Matt had taken Eli to the Emergency Room-ear infection. And Elaine took Sami Kate to urgent care-double ear infections. Fortunately, both children responded well to treatment and were able to enjoy the rest of their visit. Molly and Dave arrived on Saturday afternoon and Andy and Katie on Saturday night. It was so nice to have everyone together for a time.


Torch Lake is as warm as it ever gets so the kids were swimming every day. Our neighbor has a huge water trampoline and he kindly let us use it. In the spirit of using other people's toys, the kids headed over to the Johnson-Lisenbee home on Grand Traverse Bay where Uncle Jim let them use his newest toys: waverunners. Our days together were filled with trips to the Sleeping Bear Dune for Molly's clan, golf for Matt, Andy and Bob; practice at the driving range with Matt for Jacob, Eli, Ben and Andy; fishing with Grandpa; cousin movie night; two birthday parties (Will and Andy) and so much more.

Bob's 50th (yeah, that's right, 50th) class reunion is next week-end. We will be in Grand Rapids for two nights since this momentous reunion has lots of activities associated with it.

We leave for California on August 13. We will be spending time with Will while his regular daycare person is on vacation. Two week-ends in this visit so we hope to see the rest of our California family too.

Look forward to seeing some of you at Joe's and Stephanie's wedding. Hope all of you are well.

Gus

Lisenbee update

Hi Family,

I haven't written in a long time, but I've been busy training for my second mini-marathon. That's right, 13.1 miles! Yesterday, Jillie and Mick and I ran in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon! It was cold and windy, but we all finished; with faster times than last year, I might add! Molly Pat came along for moral support and to take a few pictures before the race. I wasn't quite sure if I was going to be able to pull it off this year because I came down with a sore foot a week before the race. Something called "plantar facietis" (something I can't spell!). Anyway, it feels the same today as it did before the race so I don't think it hurt to run.

Over spring break, Liz and I went to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Three full days of going through the museum. Liz was like a kid in a candy store. I looked back at him just as we walked through the front doors for the first time and I thought he was going to cry, he was so filled with emotion! Anyway, it was kind of interesting...even to me!

Last month Liz and I took a trip to San Diego. We tried to connect with Matt and Kort, but they were just leaving on a cruise. Otherwise, we had a great time. The weather was perfect, we went to a party on the Midway (a navy ship) that the Beach Boys were singing at and we went to the San Diego Zoo. I highly recommend the trip if only to see that Zoo, it was amazing!

Nate and Kendall are doing well, and Gwennie is about to turn 2! I will try to put some pictures on here if I can figure it out. Nate is still at Ottawa County and Kendall is still at Mary Free Bed.

Jillie and Bryan are just finishing up with Bryan's second year of law school. This year has been much nicer for Jillie because she got a promotion at work and is much happier at her job. Plus, she has Gus to hang around with when Bryan is studying nights.

Well, that is about all for us. Hope you are all having a wonderful Mother's Day and hopefully I will see many of you next weekend at Stepanie's shower!

Love,

Katie

Torch Lake Musings

It's been months since we have touched base with everyone. Retired life continues to grow on us. In January we made a trip to California to visit Andy, Katie and Will. We were able to spend one day with Jon and Trish and the children as well.






Will has a favorite thing to say these days: Tell me a story about that. So we spent hours 'telling stories' about trips we took to the park, the children's museum, the mall ---whatever we did had accompanying stories. When Andy and Katie came home from work, Will would ask them to tell a story about their days. Guess it is just a two year old substitute for 'why'. But we loved it!

In February we spent a day in Sparta. Bob, Matt, Jacob and Eli took in the Grand Rapids Auto Show-the fourth year in a row. Jill, Elaine and Sami met Aunt Kate for breakfast and spent the day shopping in Rockford.

We have been enjoying our mild winter. There has been much less snow this year, warmer temperatures and the lake never iced over for long. This week we have awakened to thin ice covering some or all of the surface, but by noon it is gone. Bob has been downhill skiing a couple of times a week at Shanty Creek. Jill is going to yoga a couple of times a week. So we do a little bit to stay healthy. Both of us are feeling fine, though some have questioned if Jill is getting a bit forgetful. In order to be sure none of you know for sure if she is crazy or not she has worked out some strategies for appearing to have a great memory:

• When sending birthday cards, she will put a check mark next to the name on the calendar so she doesn't send two to the same person. Good idea, huh, Trish.
• She has taken a refresher course on the arrows that show up in the email in-box. Now she knows for sure, that if the arrow curves to the right, she has already forwarded it to someone. A quick check of the sent box ought to keep her from sending the same emails over and over. Right!?!
• In order to remember all dates of importance, she will adopt the Sarah Palin trick of writing on the palm of her hand things she should remember until she gets to a calendar. Never want to miss a grandchild's music program again!!

Perhaps some of you will remember what Grandpa Johnson often said about having 'sometimers'. Hope none of the rest of you ever get it!!

Jill is going to Sparta next week to spend a day reading in first grade classrooms at Jacob's school. It has become a March tradition since that is when schools celebrate Reading Month. There are still a number of teachers and other staff members that were working with Jill in Sparta so many years ago. While she is there she will get to take in a swimming class with Jacob and Eli (watching, not swimming).


A week from Saturday we are leaving for a trip to Italy. The tour will take us to Milan, Venice, Florence, Sorrento and Rome. Several of our friends are going with us-it is a group of 10 people we know from various times in our lives. Our group will make up about a third of the total tour so there will be opportunities to meet new people too.


We will go to Molly's in April to share in the joy of Ben's First Communion and the pain of Dave's knee surgery.

Other than that, nothing new to report. Hope everyone is well. We always welcome news from your homes.

I can't figure out how to put titles on these pictures or how to get them where I want them to be. I know, no pictures of Dave or Elaine, but nevertheless, I will publish and hope you enjoy.


Jill and Bob

New Address

Bryan and Jill MacKenzie
3248 Village Dr.
Mishawaka, IN 46545

Merry Christmas to the Johnson Family

Hope everyone is having a happy and safe holiday. Things are quiet in Plymouth. Watching movies, reading books, doing jig saw puzzle. Normal Christmas I guess. We plan to go up north on Sunday and stay for a few days.

Not much new around here. Everyone is gainfully employed and looking forward to 2010. Where did the decade go.

Love to all
Tim

Wow - I guess if i would just read it!

Amazing the things your learn! - Julie back in Mich? Molly has kids? and Ella has a mustache?

Love you all
Matt (J)

Minnesota Update

Hello everyone,

Here in Minnesota, we are enjoying a few warm, sunny, beautiful days - which will probably be the last few nice days before winter. I hope the good weather is blowing eastward toward many of you (those of you in California and Florida I'm not too worried about, since your weather is mostly nicer than ours).

The school year is off to a good start. We've been very pleased with the boys' new school so far, and they both seem happy and settled there. Laura Kate is in nursery school three mornings a week. My mom and dad were here for Halloween and Laura Kate's birthday. Dave and Dad went to the MSU game, and Mom took the kids trick-or-treating with our friends, the Kirkwoods. In case you can't tell from the photo (below) Ben was a zombie, Andy was Yoda, and Laura Kate was Big Bird (please don't tell her it was a duck costume - I have her convinced :)).

Laura Kate turned four on 11/2. Can't believe it has been four years since she arrived. We had a pink cake to celebrate.

Dave has been working like a crazy man, like everyone else who still has a job in this economy. He was in San Jose a couple weeks ago, and had the chance to go see Andy & Katie, and to play fireman with Will.

I am feeling good - much better than a year ago and 11 pounds heavier. I credit the new medication I'm on. I keep busy being a mom and muskrat-lady-housekeeper, and I scratch out a few lines of writing whenever I have a chance.

We are not going home for Thanksgiving, but will be at Torch Lake for Christmas. Hope to see some of you who may be up north at that time. Love to all of you,

Molly

A Torch Lake Update

Greetings from the chilly north! It has been a very cold October in northern Michigan-and rainy as well. We have been hoping for the traditional 'Indian Summer' so that we can finish up end of the season jobs like raking leaves. But it seems as if there will be no reprieve and we are waiting for the flakes to fly tomorrow. Guess it is time to fire up the snow blower instead of the leaf blower.

Since my last update, Bob and I traveled to CA. Andy and Katie needed some help with childcare while their regular child care provider was on vacation the last week of August. We drove out so that we could take some time visiting places on the bucket list on our way home. After 10 days in CA, that included a visit with Jon and family, we started home stopping at Crater Lake, OR and Glacier National Park in Montana. We also visited with a cousin of Bob's who lives in Spokane, Washington. It was a great trip! Saw some beautiful parts of our country that I had never been to before.

Our family is well. Andy and Katie are busy with their jobs. They spend evenings and week-ends trying to keep up with Will. Will is a great pretender!! He organizes everyone in the house to be part of his 'band' several times a day. He is usually the drummer with others available assigned to play pretend horns, pianos and guitars. One must be careful to hold the imaginary instrument (oh, except for the drums, there are always drums!) in just the right way in order for the music to go on. Will also loves to play and watch baseball. He can hit a wiffle ball with amazing frequency when it is pitched to him-much better than his grandma. He also likes to walk to their neighborhood park and play on the swings or sit in the bleachers to watch the senior citizen softball games. The California Spencers will probably not be coming to MI for the holidays this year.

Molly and Dave are in the time of life when school and community activities keep them very busy. Ben is in second grade and Andy is going to all day kindergarten. They get on the bus at 6:50 a.m. and get home about 3:00 p.m. pretty well exhausted. Laura goes to pre-school three mornings a week. She proudly reports that she is in the 'big kids' class this year. Ben played flag football this fall; both boys are in cub scouts. Molly is still trying to do some writing. She participates in a writer's group two times a month in which other poets like herself share their work, and provide constructive ideas for improvement to each other. Bob and I are headed to West St. Paul to help celebrate Laura's fourth birthday next week.

The Sparta branch of the family is fine. Sami Kate is sleeping through the night so that means that Matt and Elaine are feeling more rested too. Jake is in first grade. His teacher is a woman that I hired many years ago. He played flag football this fall too. Eli is going to pre-school two mornings a week. When asked to tell us about his new sister, he replied "She's pink." Sadly, Elaine's grandpa died two weeks ago. During the funeral luncheon, her Dad fell and severely injured his knee. He has had surgery and already returned to work. They are hoping that bad things only come in twos this fall.

It was great to so many of you this summer! Hope everyone is well!

Jill

It's been a long time

Hi Family,

It's been a long time since I've sent an update. For that I apologize. Now for the rest of you.

What happened to the blog? Nothing since August. Thanks Kate for trying.

The winter weather just hit this week. It's been fairly beautiful most of the summer and fall, but this week turned to severe rain and wind. Let's hope we have a really wet one and start to refill the water supply. Need lots of rain and snow.

Ella started first grade this year. She loves it so far. She gets homework assigned once a week, and instead of spreading it out, she does it all in one day. She does have reading and writing that she needs to do daily as well - so she stays engaged all week long. She does a great job getting herself ready everyday, and rarely bums out because it's a school day.

Ella is playing soccer and loves it. She's been quite dominant the last few games, and a lot less timid then previous seasons.

For her sixth birthday we surprised her by repainting her room. She has asked for months for a yellow room. She was completely appreciative, which made us so proud. Both she and Jude spend a great deal of time playing with the neighbor kids. They have all become quite good friends.

Jude is a crazy man. He loves golf more than cartoons. In the mornings he asks if he can watch golf instead of cartoons. He's learned the Tiger fist pump as well. He and I and sometimes Ella go the driving range about once a week. I really think it's his favorite pasttime. He has a routine where he hits balls, chips and then putts. Of course when we get the putting green, he needs a gatorade, and sometimes a hot dog for lunch. I love this routine as well.

Jude is also very much into balls and trucks. We can't pass a truck, tractor, jeep, or other on the road without him screaming out "escavator, jeep, cherry picker, back hoe"! We now know all types of building equipment.

Trish has been looking on and off for job during the last couple of months. The activity is starting to heat up, and it looks like she has two really hot irons in the fire. We are keeping our fingers crossed. And, I'm sleeping with one eye open (she really needs to get back to work before something bad happens to me).

Seriously though, she's been great. The kids and me have had it great for a lot of months now. We'll definitely feel the pain when she goes back to work. Ok, maybe me more than the others.

We are planning on staying home this year for the holidays. Wish we could join you all for one or the other. Anyone wishing for a Northern California holiday should feel welcome to come.

Miss you all. Jon

Lisenbee update

Hi Everyone,

Not much happening in the Lisenbee family, but I thought I'd try to get a little something out. Jillie and Bryan are getting ready to move into a two-bedroom townhome in South Bend to give themselves a little more room. (Jillie's one-bedroom apartment just wasn't cutting it). Especially now that they are about to become the proud parents of a new puppy named "Gus". It looks like "Gus" will be at our house here in Rockford for a few weeks til they can move into their new digs.

Baby Gwen is walking all over now and even running a bit. Liz says she walks like the orangutan "Clyde" in the movie "Every Which Way But Loose". I told him not to mention that in front of Kendall.

Not much else is happening here. Having a nice relaxing summer after all the wedding happenings. Liz is down in Kentucky this week visiting family. So I am having some "me" time.

That's about it for us, I would attach some pictures (baby, wedding...)but we all know how good I am at doing that. Maybe if Nate comes over this weekend I will have him put some pictures on the blog.

Love,

Kate

Back home!

Hello family!

I have moved back to Michigan!! I was dreading going back to NC after being home for most of the summer, and when I finally made the decision to move back, I cried happy tears!

I am now looking for a teaching job here, but I will be subbing in a few districts here until I do find one. Wish me luck!

Love you all!
Julie

PS Congrats Matt and Elaine!

Wedding Picture

http://www.karenyouker.com/mp_client/pictures.asp?pagenum=128&action=viewphotos&size=fullsize&id=3061314&eventid=36887

Married

It was so nice to see so many of you at the wedding this past weekend. Bryan and I had such a great time. I'll let you know when pictures are posted on the photographer's website. Thanks for coming!

Torch Lake

I missed doing my update in May and chances are pretty good that I will miss it again in June so thought I would use a rainy, cold Sunday to bring everyone up-to-date on the senior Spencers. This spring we had the opportunity to spend time with all of our grandkids and with Jon and Trish. I am going to try to put some pictures in at the end of this post. (ok, I tried to do it at the end, but here they are at the beginning.) We took a short trip to Washington, DC as well. Our timing meant that we missed the Cherry Blossom Festival (which may have been a good thing), but we enjoyed our visit and the opportunity to see so many things of national pride. I especially enjoyed visiting the World War II monument and the Vietnam Wall. Also visited Arlington Cemetery and witnessed the changing of the guard. One of the attractions at Arlington is the perpetual flame marking the grave site of John F. Kennedy. All of the memories of that horrible event in our history came flooding back. It was pretty emotional though it has been such a long time since the event Recently, we have been spending lots of time in the yard getting ready for the summer season: checking to see what the deer left for us to enjoy, feeding the flowers and trees and moving the summer toys out of the big garage.

We are looking forward to seeing many of the million Johnsons at Jill's and Bryan's wedding in a few weeks. Bob and I are hosting a 'rehearsal dinner' of sorts-if you have a part in the actual ceremony, you will be forced to have dinner at the Rowe Inn in Ellsworth (a truly lovely place with great food). If you only need to practice sitting in chairs and raising your arm in a toast, you can enjoy dinner at our house. If you are in (or near) town on June 26, we hope you will come. The menu will be more like picnic fare, but we think it will be fun to get together. Jon and family and Tim and family will for sure be with us. Gwen Lisenbee will be the center of our attentions since her parents will be dining at the Rowe. Finally, it is rumored that our brother, Matt, will be arriving sometime that afternoon. Come anytime around 4:00 p.m. For planning purposes, let us know if you can join in the fun.

Now comes the hard part, I will try to add some pictures: ok, they're here but not where I wanted. Hope you enjoy.

A Bunch of Minnesota Pics

These are photos of Ben with his track-and-field day ribbons, and of the end-of-year art show at Andy's & Laura Kate's nursery school.

Minnesota Update

Hi Everyone,

I just posted this on Facebook, but for all of you who are not yet on Facebook, here it is (P.S. come on over to Facebook, it's fun!):

We went up for a short visit to Gooseberry Falls and the Lake Superior shoreline nearby, then the Duluth waterfront. We saw a freighter come in for loading - pretty cool. It was fun, but not as fun as a Memorial Day weekend in northern Michigan would have been. Here are some photos:





























































Andy & Laura Kate have their last day at nursery school tomorrow. Ben's done on June 9th. We're looking forward to summer.

I had the most awesome dream of Grandma the other night - she gave me a great big hug and it felt exactly like a Grandma hug. Okay, right now: everybody, imagine one of Grandma's wonderful hugs around you.





















Wasn't that great?

Love you all,
Molly

I did it!

Hi Family,

Many of you know that I have been training for a mini-marathon (13.1 miles) with Jillie and Mick. The marathon was last weekend in Indianapolis and we all were able to complete the run. I even got a medal! Actually, it was alot of fun. On just about every other corner there was a band playing, and people lined the route cheering the runners on. We ran one lap around the Indi 500 speedway. That was my first experience as a runner and my goal was just to finish the race and not care about how fast I went. Mick was already showered and dressed by the time Jillie and I got back to the hotel. I think I might do it next year.

In other news, the wedding date is getting closer. We had a wonderful shower for Jillie two weekends ago. I would attach some pictures but I am at work right now. Maybe when I get home. The invitations for the wedding should be going out soon!

Baby Gwen is doing great! She is ten months old, not quite walking yet but she will walk while holding onto things. She got her fist haircut last week and Grandpa Liz got in trouble with her Mom by saying she looked like a Beetle! I think she is going to keep her brunette hair, it doesn't seem to be lightening up like Nate and Jill's did.

That's about it for now. I'll post some pictures if I can when I get home. Can't wait to see you all at the wedding.


Katie

I love you!

I feel like the blog has been neglected a little lately since so many of us have adopted Facebook (yes!!!) so I am going to give it a little attention before it feels unwanted and unappreciated.

I am nearing the end of my third year of teaching... getting closer to Tenure and am very excited. My year in second grade started off rough, but after much growth and training (for my students as well as myself) I know I will be ending my year on a good note. My class is wonderful, they are so cute and loving and have made a lot of growth this year. I am very proud. I have one student who (I know) is going to be a doctor when he grows up. He was telling me about his baby cousin who is one year old, and how he has been sick lately. He told me his cousin has Ramonia (pnemonia). Then a few months later, he was out sick for a few days, when he came back to school, he told me that he went to the doctor and the doctor told him that he had a weasel in his chest. You have GOT to love kids!

Since I dont have babies to talk about, I will talk about the closest thing I've got. Lily is big and she is trained! YEAH! She is currently chewing on her toys and not my feet or the couch which is just wonderful! She got a Red Wings collar for Easter/1st birthday and I have decided she is their good luck charm.

I will be home this summer for Jillie's wedding and through the month of July. I hope to see as many of you as possible!

LOVE
Julie

The 23rd

Not much news from Torch Lake, but it is the 23rd and since I give my brothers and sisters encouragement to provide a monthly update, I am trying to do the same. Bob and I have been home just a few days from a visit to Molly and Dave and then a short stay with Matt and Elaine to help celebrate Jake's 6th birthday. Next week we are leaving for a few days to go to Washington, DC. I have never been there and Bob has just passed through. We have booked a day-long tour so that we see the highlights and then will spend a day or two on our own just poking around.

Andy, Katie and Will are all well. They are enjoying having Katie's mom and dad living in San Francisco for six months. The Millers and Spencers joined Jon and Trish and family for Easter dinner. A trip to Torch Lake is in the works for August.

Matt and Elaine, Jacob and Eli had a wonderful trip to Disney World over spring break. The boys loved the rides and the fun of the park. Matt and Elaine just enjoyed being away from the distractions of life as a high school principal and nursing student. Elaine is feeling well and of course they are thrilled about the prospect of a new female family member. Each time we see them there is something else pink just waiting for August!

Molly and Dave, Ben, Andy and Laura are looking forward to a family vacation towards the end of June and then a trip to Torch in August. Ben is losing teeth! Two this week, he has that 'all I want for Christmas. . . ' look. Andy will start school in the fall-all day kindergarten. Laura goes to pre-school three days a week and is all excited about a father-daughter night today.



ok, so by now you have figured out that I can't manuever the pictures too well. Anyway, enjoy. Love to you all.