Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve Party





Everything is ready for a wonderful evening with family and friends as we welcome the new year! Hope 2011 will be great! My daughter-in-law Lauren Cleek and I have planned a fun evening with a mix of young and young at heart adults! Trey and Matt have to work and will be coming in around 11:30 pm - Just in time for a glass of champagne!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas family gathering at my brother's 2





More family photos - my brother Mike and his wife Lisa; my oldest son - Trey Cleek; Elaine and Darrell; my neice Mary Claire with her cat "Snowball"

Christmas family gathering at my brother's





We enjoyed a wonderful brunch on Sunday after Christmas at my brother's house in Jackson, TN. Mike and Lisa Hatch; Trey Cleek and Chris Hatch. Chris with his girlfirend Taylor; Mary Claire and Catie Beth Hatch; My sweet Daddy - Elvin Hatch

Christmas with the family in Jackson, TN 2





Lots of fun exchanging presents!

Christmas with the family in Jackson, TN





A few flurries of snow added to the wonderful Christmas Day spent with our family in Jackson, Tennessee! My sons Trey Cleek and Matt & his wife Lauren Cleek joined me and Darrell!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Lauren and Elaine on Christmas Eve

Lauren sang at First Christian Church in Jackson on Christmas Eve
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Santa Express - Darrell's airplane



Darrell flew our plane - a Piper Saratoga - to the Carolina's for Christmas. It was loaded with presents!

The Christian Family Christmas




Visiting the children in North and South Carolina for Christmas! Chaos with the opening of the presents. "Papa" Darrell with the 5 grandchildren - Linnea (14), Emma (12) Matthew (4) Markus (10) and Lindsey (7)

Little Matthew received a "Darth Vader" with a light saber costume as a present. He called it "Dark Vader" and his "life saver"

Emma, Markus and Lindsey put on a show of modern dance!

A fun time!

Sold out performances




Jackson Theater Guild's production of White Christmas sold out all performances. Our daughter-in-law Lauren Cleek starred as Judy Haines (the younger sister)! A wonderful play!!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Cast of White Christmas



White Christmas is my all time favorite Christmas movie! I have watched White Christmas over 20 times!! It is so much fun to watch the Jackson Theater Group's production of the play! Lauren is wonderful as Judy Haines. She is joined by Rhonda Greer as Betty Haines. David Stutzman plays Bob Wallace and Jimmy Glossom plays Phil Davis. Tonight was the Preview with Opening night tomorrow!! The production is almost sold out for the 5 performances!! Will be a fun week!! Way to go Lauren - you are fantastic in the play!!

White Christmas




Wonderful evening at the Preview for Jackson Theater Guild's White Christmas!! Our sweet daughter-in-law Lauren Cleek is playing Judy Haines. It is such a joy to watch her - she just lights up the stage!! She and Matt have celebrated birthdays this week - Matt on Dec 12 and Lauren on Dec 13. This has been a fun week!!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tom Reed Book Signing

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Why we travel...

"People travel for many different reasons: some to confirm the sights they have seen in books, others travel to challenge their existing beliefs about the world; others travel to forget, and still others travel to remember. Some travel to feel connected with the world, while others travel to be alone. I travel for the sights and stories, for the people and the places; to hear the heartbeat of the world, and to beat in tune with it.

I travel for the beautiful conversations with strangers at unsuspecting moments, I travel for the common and the not so common, for the sights and the stories, for the people and the places; to hear the heartbeat of the world, and to beat in tune with it.

To travel, in short, is to understand the meaning of Life and all that's in it."

I found these quotes on a fellow traveler's (Jane P) blog while searching on Trip Advisor about our upcoming trip to the "End of the World" in Ushuaia, Argentina. It spoke to me!

Monday, November 15, 2010

West Tennessee Healthcare Gala


Darrell and I had fun at the West Tennessee Health Care Gala. This is the "big" charity event of the year in Jackson. Our dear friends - Katherine and Tyler Swindle received the Community Service Award that evening! I helped with the Gala Committee this year working on the Silent Auction - with a fun group of ladies!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Dream cars in Naples





Lauren and I went to a wonderful dinner at AZN in the Mercado. This is the "hot spot" in Naples. The cars in front of the restaurant were really cool - one of the new Gold Wing Mercedes (where the door lifts out and straight up), brand new Rolls Royce and a Lamborghini.
So glad Lauren came - we had a really great time!!

Beach Day in Naples with Lauren




Sunset at Pelican Bay Beach - we took a bottle of wine - and just caught sunset one evening. Another day - we started back to Pelican Bay beach. Robyn Lents was joining us for lunch. Elaine's foundation id card was left in Jackson for Darrell to bring. Of course - they would not let us through to go to the beach. So we went to Vanderbilt Beach. Had lunch at the Turtle Club!

Then - Toes in the sand! Yes - it was that kind of day! We stayed all afternoon and caught sunset again! Beautiful

Lauren's visit to Naples





I had a wonderful week with my sweet daughter-in-law Lauren in Naples! She was on Fall Break - so we traveled together to Naples. We worked hard and played too! Our condo needed repairs and cleaning. I was ready to quit - but Lauren said - let's knock this out!

We had to go shopping = just a little! Lauren liked "The Best of Everything" store. We had lunch at Riverwalk on Naples Bay!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Lewis and Clark Center - Sioux City, Iowa




The Interpretive Center for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Sioux City sits alongside the Missouri River and features a day in the life on the trail. As part of the bicentennial of the expedition - a series a Interpretive Centers were built. We had already visited other centers. The unique larger than life statues welcome visitors to the centers. bicentenial

Friday, October 1, 2010

Lewis and Clark Center - Sioux City, Iowa 2




Interactive displays and recreations of camp life are featured in the Lewis and Clark Intreptive Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Lewis and Clark in uniform, Seaman the Newfoundland dog and Sacagawea are part of the exhibit.