We hope that this finds you and your families healthy and happy.
We have had an eventful year.
We started the year off with a bang, celebrating new years twice. Let me explain it was after two days of travel from Michigan to Hyderabad, India where we spent the first few months of the year. Our first celebration was while skyping with Len's sister in Windsor at Midnight EST and then the second time we enjoyed some fireworks from our balcony in our apartment when 2014 was ushered in local time in Hyderabad. This was followed by 10 days of naps at weird hours and boiling pots dry because we kept falling asleep while adjusting to the time change, 10.5 hours difference.
The kids and I spent two months in India, Len spent one more month. While we were there we spent a week in Sri Lanka. Here are a couple of pictures. We blogged about the adventure to keep everyone up to date at home, you can look back at those pages (see blog menu).
We were lucky enough to miss most of the harsh winter that engulfed Michigan and much of the northern US and Canada. The kids and I got home in time for a few more snow days and some cold weather. The kids wanted to know why no one was out playing in the snow. Its hard to explain to kids that haven't seen snow for most of the winter why no one else wants to play in it! We had a similar experience in India when our kids wanted to know why no one else was swimming and the local kids told them it was because it was winter. Okay winter was 75F and sunny. Granted the pool wasn't heated, but there was three feet of snow at home so in the pool they went.
In March, Tyler celebrated his fourth birthday. He is a happy, funny and energetic kid. This kid likes any sport that involves a ball. He tried T-ball this summer and had a blast and then one day hit a bucket and a half of balls at the driving range with my dad. So far he continues to be a lefty.
I participated in a Guinness Book of World Records attempt to have the most number of Rosie the Riveters in one location at the same time. We did it, there were 778 Rosie's. The record setting event was part of the fundraising efforts to "Save the Bomber Plant" to preserve part of a WWII Bomber assembly plant that will now be turned into a museum. Here's me and a friend from work and a whole lot of Rosies.
In June our neice Caleigh graduated from Grade 8 and is now attending high school !
In June the Landale's ventured to Niagara Falls and enjoyed a boat ride near the falls as well as watching a large ship go through the Welland Canal locks.
We had two family reunions on Beth's side of the family this year. In July we headed to Maryland to see all the Tortorelli cousins. It was a great time. We spent some time on an island that has wild horses, yup they just roam, pretty cool. And the cousins paid a visit to see Kristin's grave. My sister and I hadn't been there since the funeral in 2008.
In June the Ruddy side of the family all gathered in Novi, Michigan. We had a great visit and got some great full family pictures.
In August the Landale side ventured on our annual cottage week. This year it was on the west side of Michigan. We swam in Lake Michigan (brrr), went on a wild dune buggy trip (twice), picked peaches in the rain (and I mean downpour), finished a big puzzle, created our own color run and competed several ice bucket challenges.
Katelyn started Grade 1 and Tyler started Pre-K in September.
Len and I completed the Warrior Dash in July. This was a more challenging 5 km obstacle course than we have completed in the past but it was fun. After this the kids decided they wanted to do a run. So we signed up and participated in Detroit annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (US). We ran the Mashed Potato Mile. A one mile loop that finishes at the same finish line as the 5 km and 10 km races. Kids got race shirts, race bibs and the coveted race medal!
You can't have a Landale annual update without some kind of renovation right! Well this year its the master bathroom. The kids were integral in the demo of the previous bathroom. Geared up with safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves the kids went to town breaking up tile and pulling things off walls. They followed that up with helping a friend paint her house.
Len and I have continued to make some more batches of wine this year. The new addition is the oak cask for aging. The first batch is still in it, A Spanish Rioja.
This fall we got a few apple picking trips in. Kids were having a blast climbing the trees to get apples.
We cut down our first Christmas Tree this year, it was more difficult than Len or I thought it would be. Holidays are always fun and special when spent with family. Here are the Tortorelli side cousins at US Thanksgiving and the Landale cousins at Christmas.
December 2014 marked the year anniversary of the passing of Len's father Ellis. In honor/honour (depending where you're reading this) of him, Len participated in Movember by growing the handle bar mustache that Ellis was famous for.
Today is Katelyn's 7th birthday. She had a science themed birthday party (her request) last week where we did a whole bunch of experiments. The kids had a great time. She's enjoying Grade 1 and is loves any type of art/arts and crafts and teaching Tyler.
Len moved to a VP position this year with Secure24. He's enjoying the challenge of an ever busy and growing IT hosting company and works with a great group of people. We recently attended the Christmas party and what was a 40 person or so company when Len first started in 2008 now a 400+ person company. Quite a group.
I continue to work for Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. We merged with an Australian company, GHD this year, although our name doesn't change until next year at which point it will look like I've worked for more than one company in the last 15 years!
Wishing you and yours all the best of health and happiness in 2015.
The Landales
We have had an eventful year.
We started the year off with a bang, celebrating new years twice. Let me explain it was after two days of travel from Michigan to Hyderabad, India where we spent the first few months of the year. Our first celebration was while skyping with Len's sister in Windsor at Midnight EST and then the second time we enjoyed some fireworks from our balcony in our apartment when 2014 was ushered in local time in Hyderabad. This was followed by 10 days of naps at weird hours and boiling pots dry because we kept falling asleep while adjusting to the time change, 10.5 hours difference.
The kids and I spent two months in India, Len spent one more month. While we were there we spent a week in Sri Lanka. Here are a couple of pictures. We blogged about the adventure to keep everyone up to date at home, you can look back at those pages (see blog menu).
We were lucky enough to miss most of the harsh winter that engulfed Michigan and much of the northern US and Canada. The kids and I got home in time for a few more snow days and some cold weather. The kids wanted to know why no one was out playing in the snow. Its hard to explain to kids that haven't seen snow for most of the winter why no one else wants to play in it! We had a similar experience in India when our kids wanted to know why no one else was swimming and the local kids told them it was because it was winter. Okay winter was 75F and sunny. Granted the pool wasn't heated, but there was three feet of snow at home so in the pool they went.
In March, Tyler celebrated his fourth birthday. He is a happy, funny and energetic kid. This kid likes any sport that involves a ball. He tried T-ball this summer and had a blast and then one day hit a bucket and a half of balls at the driving range with my dad. So far he continues to be a lefty.
I participated in a Guinness Book of World Records attempt to have the most number of Rosie the Riveters in one location at the same time. We did it, there were 778 Rosie's. The record setting event was part of the fundraising efforts to "Save the Bomber Plant" to preserve part of a WWII Bomber assembly plant that will now be turned into a museum. Here's me and a friend from work and a whole lot of Rosies.
In June our neice Caleigh graduated from Grade 8 and is now attending high school !
In June the Landale's ventured to Niagara Falls and enjoyed a boat ride near the falls as well as watching a large ship go through the Welland Canal locks.
We had two family reunions on Beth's side of the family this year. In July we headed to Maryland to see all the Tortorelli cousins. It was a great time. We spent some time on an island that has wild horses, yup they just roam, pretty cool. And the cousins paid a visit to see Kristin's grave. My sister and I hadn't been there since the funeral in 2008.
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| The younger generation |
In June the Ruddy side of the family all gathered in Novi, Michigan. We had a great visit and got some great full family pictures.
In August the Landale side ventured on our annual cottage week. This year it was on the west side of Michigan. We swam in Lake Michigan (brrr), went on a wild dune buggy trip (twice), picked peaches in the rain (and I mean downpour), finished a big puzzle, created our own color run and competed several ice bucket challenges.
Katelyn started Grade 1 and Tyler started Pre-K in September.
Len and I completed the Warrior Dash in July. This was a more challenging 5 km obstacle course than we have completed in the past but it was fun. After this the kids decided they wanted to do a run. So we signed up and participated in Detroit annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (US). We ran the Mashed Potato Mile. A one mile loop that finishes at the same finish line as the 5 km and 10 km races. Kids got race shirts, race bibs and the coveted race medal!
Len and I have continued to make some more batches of wine this year. The new addition is the oak cask for aging. The first batch is still in it, A Spanish Rioja.
This fall we got a few apple picking trips in. Kids were having a blast climbing the trees to get apples.
We cut down our first Christmas Tree this year, it was more difficult than Len or I thought it would be. Holidays are always fun and special when spent with family. Here are the Tortorelli side cousins at US Thanksgiving and the Landale cousins at Christmas.
December 2014 marked the year anniversary of the passing of Len's father Ellis. In honor/honour (depending where you're reading this) of him, Len participated in Movember by growing the handle bar mustache that Ellis was famous for.
Today is Katelyn's 7th birthday. She had a science themed birthday party (her request) last week where we did a whole bunch of experiments. The kids had a great time. She's enjoying Grade 1 and is loves any type of art/arts and crafts and teaching Tyler.
Len moved to a VP position this year with Secure24. He's enjoying the challenge of an ever busy and growing IT hosting company and works with a great group of people. We recently attended the Christmas party and what was a 40 person or so company when Len first started in 2008 now a 400+ person company. Quite a group.
I continue to work for Conestoga-Rovers and Associates. We merged with an Australian company, GHD this year, although our name doesn't change until next year at which point it will look like I've worked for more than one company in the last 15 years!
Wishing you and yours all the best of health and happiness in 2015.
The Landales
