Thanksgiving and a move.

Thanksgiving was a little different this year. We went to Ohio to be with Ashley and the children. John carved the turkey breast that we had for dinner. Keep it simple was the plan as the weekend also included a move. Dinner was turkey, dressing, squash from my garden, fresh pears.........

And, of course, pumpkin pie - with the most important "cream."

The move was from the duplex that Ashley and the children have been in since spring. Everyone knew it was temporary - not in a good location - drugs, drunks, shootings, and country hicks.

We worked our butts off on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday - with a little time off to watch MSU football. Everyone helped - Andrew was great with the shop vac!! Alexander helped John hang closet rods for Ashley in her bedroom. Allison scrubed shelves like a trooper. John did lots of little adds - hooks, curtain rod, etc. Everyone worked on their bedrooms, packing up boxes of "stuff."

By late Sunday all that was left at the duplex was the large furniture and clothing for Monday morning. We went to Olive Garden for dinner. Andrew ordered chicken fingers and basketti for dinner. He tackled that basketti with gusto and let out a loud belch - something he is good at. Ashley asked if he liked his dinner, and he replied "What does it look like?"

This is a fixture in the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!! I would not even take a picture of the corner shower in this bathroom - unbelievably awful..............but it was a roof over their heads and they were given soooo much to make it livable.

So..........from this god-awful dawg............to...............

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does she look happy????

Andrew is happy because now he can take a bath!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and not in the kitchen sink!!!!!

The house that they are renting is in a great older quiet neighborhood - 2 blocks from the elementary school. It's a small ranch with a garage and yard - Ashley can shoo the children outside and they can be out there and safe!!!!!!!! Ashley has also noticed how quiet it is there.

The house is neat and tidy and has some brand new updates - the bathroom, kitchen counters and sink. Full basement with lots of storage space.

The boys will share a bedroom.

Andrew on his bed - I think there are 4 quilts there!!!!

Allison "LOVES" her room........here she is singing along with Taylor Swift.

Alexander on his bed - with his game boy........

This is Ladybelle, their cat. She did well with the move. We kept her in her cage in bathrooms!!!! Poor kitty.........but she enjoyed exploring her new digs.

Children ready for school on Tuesday morning..............

Ashley, John and I had a few more things to do and some shopping. John and I headed home.

We took a detour and stopped by Mom Wilsons' Sausage shop just north of Delaware - UNBELIEVABLE great pork - hickory smoked ham, pork chops, bacon, etc. Homemade saurkraut, too. We LOVE this place!!!!

It rained the whole way home and we stopped for dinner at the Common Grill in Chelsea - both of us had great dinners........and it was good not to vibrate from the road and rain. As we left the waitress said there was to be 3-5 inches of snow overnight. We had no news or weather since leaving Michigan - we were working too hard to pay any attention.

The snow had started while in the restaurant and the freeway was getting covered - 50 miles per hour from Chelsea to Jackson - trying to see any line on the roadway. Roads kept deteriorating and it was 20 mph, single lane, from Leslie to home - and many cars and trailers had slid into ditches..........scary!!!

We did fine..........until the driveway - the truck would not turn in.........so we went inside to get warm clothing and boots. It didn't take tooo much to get unstuck and into the garage. We unloaded just the essentials, had a stiff drink, gave LOTS of attention to Mango, and a good nights' sleep.

Lansing got 10 inches of snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The view from out front door - bushes do not usually lay on the porch!!!

This was an extremely wet, heavy snowfall. Many branches are down around town.
We will have a few to pick up when we can get to the yard.

It was beautiful...........like a sparkling fairy land.

We feel so much better about where Ashley and the children are living............a load off our minds.........and I know that Ashley feels better about it all too.

She has come a long way in 9 months......job, taking care of 3 children, making new relationships, and working on an MBA on line........on her own.........we are very proud of her.