James celebrated his 21st birthday in many ways. First he surprised Mom and Dad with gifts in the morning he had his annual physical and blood draw in the morning, then he went to class, and finally after class he went to his favorite restaurant, Bubba’s 33. At the restaurant James met his friend Nick and his Mom who joined us to help celebrate the event. James surprised Mom and Dad by paying for the meal

After Bubba’s 33 we headed home where James had a surprise as one of his gifts was a new bed set including mattress, sheets, and covers.

James then opened gifts in the living room from Mom and Dad and after the gifts were opened we all enjoyed some cake and ice cream.

Continue reading “Happy Birthday James” →

Happy Birthday Mom

This was an interesting Birthday for Mary because we had reserved tickets to the Beetlejuice movie on her birthday and because of this we could not have any flowers delivered on her birthday, so they were sent one day ahead which is actually our wedding anniversary so it all worked out.

The highlight of the gifts was one of those unknown presents that James had bought during our visit to Sea Shell City on the way to Mackinaw. No one knew what was in the package and that made it kind of fun for everyone.

Again, Happy Birthday Mary

Continue reading “Happy Birthday Mom” →

Thanks to my family for all the wonderful gifts, I really did not expect it since I received several gifts early so that they could be used for our Halloween display (the spooky bird bath and the creepy fountain). This year was great with plenty of Halloween gifts including a fantastic Halloween cake.

As usual with any birthday in our family we ordered out. We found a new favorite near our home, Captain Jays, which has seafood and gives us an alternative to Long John Silvers when we order take out for fish.

Of note was the Christmas hoodie I got which I will wear at Christmas. I have plenty of Halloween hoodies but not a single Christmas hoodie.

Continue reading “Dads Birthday 2023” →

James celebrated his 20th birthday today and had a blast as we went to his favorite restaurant (Bubbas 33 which is located on Eureka road across the street from Southland Mall) where he had his favorite meal, hot wings. We then returned home to celebrate as James opened gifts after blowing out the candle on his cake.

James wanted to thank all those who sent him gifts and well wishes for his birthday. He dedicated his birthday celebration to his Grandma (which is why her picture was on the restaurant table).

Congrats James on twenty great years.

Continue reading “Happy Birthday James” →

Happy Birthday Mom!

According to our Ancestry.com account (which is currently operated by her Grandson James) When Judith Elinor Norman was born in 1937, in Oregon, her father, Edwin, was 36, and her mother, Grace, was 27. She married William Howard Landis on December 29, 1954. They had three children during their marriage. She had one sister.

Judith recently came up from Tennessee to stay at the Garden City Tower apartments here in Michigan. She found out about Garden City when she visited James one year and sent in an application. It took several years but finally there was an opening and she got in. She is currently adjusting to life in Michigan and the cold winters that we have, but she is not a stranger to it, she was actually raised in Michigan, living on Woodward near 7 mile road in the 1950’s.

Continue reading “Remembering Judith Norman Landis Born 1937” →

James Dad celebrated his birthday this year with a small cake but large presents including a full size animatronic for Halloween.

Dad also got several shirts from Mom ( a scooby doo Christmas shirt and a snoopy Christmas shirt) and a real nice gift from James.

The celebration actually began in the morning as the family joined Grandma at Big Boys for a nice breakfast bar which marked the first time the family had gone to Big Boys breakfast bar since the pandemic.

The reason for the small cake was because we had been having alot of sweets lately and wanted to cut back especially with Christmas just around the corner.

Its hard to believe James is nineteen years old and in his second year of college at Wayne County Community College but that is exactly what we celebrated today. James had a blast and after opening his gifts we all enjoyed cake and ice cream.

Naturally we take pause this day to remember Aunt Peg, who was also born on September 18th and we take this opportunity to let her know we remember her with love and miss her very much.

Happy Birthday James, and many more… Continue reading “James Birthday 2022” →

We have lots going on in September with several birthdays and anniversaries, so much so Dad often jokes about going broke each month of September. All joking aside it is always fun to celebrate Moms birthday which usually includes a trip to the antique store.

This year Moms cake was a little different with dark chocolate on top and white icing below. The cake was delicious so we will have to try these multi layered icing cakes again in the future. The inside was just as good which is why we have a picture of the cut cake.

Happy Birthday Mom Continue reading “Mom’s Birthday 2022” →

Hard to believe it has been a year since we got Hoot from the pet store. We never really had a kitty quite like Hoot, who seems to be in trouble all the time. When we picked her up from the store they had already named her hoot, because she was a Hoot. Once we got her home we agreed with the name.

We actually adopted her a couple days after the Halloween party because we did not want to traumatize a new kitten so her 1 year anniversary with us is actually mid October, but her actual birth date is Aug 17th, so we thought we would give her a little celebration. Continue reading “Hoot’s First Birthday 2022” →