Here's Dad with his gift from Heather. A Buck thermometer.
Mom with her gift from Heather, a decorative rose in enclosed glass and water.
... and Heather showing off a set of Magnetix that was given to her and Ryan.
Here is a picture of Mike and Mariann above.
Here is a picture of nancy. She HATES to have her picture taken, let alone posted online!
And here's Ryan with his "Pirates of the Caribbean" lego set.
Here is Heather with one of the gifts she received from her Grandma Baker.
... and Ryan with Jim as Jim helps him get some of the gifts out of their boxes and wrapping.
And here's Aaron with his girlfriend Heather. Wow! It's hard to believe that Aaron is now graduated from highschool and living out on his own now. Time sure flies!
Here is a picture of my Dad when he was probably around Ryan's age. I put a picture of my son, Ryan next to his picture. Wow! There sure look a lot alike! Don't you think?
Here is my Dad playing the violin, probably 60 years ago (give or take). I went down into my basement today and found that same old violin of my Dad's and handed it to Ryan. Of course, Ryan didn't know how to play it but he held it for the photo-op anyway. The strings are now old and not usable. 60(+/-) years have passed since this photo was taken. I would assume that they are the same strings that were on it when this photo was taken.
(Sorry to give away your age, Dad... but the pictures are really neat to see).
The photo above was part of a Christmas Card that my Grandparents had given out a long time ago. From left to right: My Dad (Lance), my Uncle Bruce, in the middle, and then my Uncle Joe to the right. You can click on any of the photos to see them full sized.
And here is what the old violin looks like today. I don't know how to play it, so I've never gotten it restrung. For now it's just a keep-sake of my Dad's.
Christmas weekend was sort of slow, but a lot of people are out of town for the holiday. (But we did get quite a few Christmas morning, because we were the only ones open). We expect it to pick up when people go back to work and we get the deli open and gas in the gas pumps.
The store is stocked well. We still have to work on back stock, but that will come in time.
Here is a photo of our coffee & ice cream counter. As you can see, it still needs to be finished. We ran out of wood and the Amish are milling some more to match. Hopefully that will be finished some time the first week in January.I'll get some Christmas photos posted on here soon. My parents will be up here tomorrow.
This has been sort of under wraps for the last month or so. It's been a process of jumping through hoops and all sorts of other fun stuff. Our GOAL is to get it open by this Friday.
The store had been closed down since July of this year because of health reasons of the single owner. It used to be a hoppin' business before that.
We plan on making a lot of neat changes, but it's a process. We already added in a coffee counter, which should be completed by Tuesday. The store sits next to the Sugar River and has a pond full of trout at the back. We plan on making a nice picnic area between the store and the river. There is sort of one, already there but we can make it nicer. We also want to make an easier access for people to get up to the store from the river. Sometimes people will go tubing down the river and will stop at the store.
We'll have ice cream and plan to have cappuccino and other coffee products there. We'll have specialty breads delivered and homemade pies from a local restaurant.
We look forward to making this store what it was just a year ago and even better! Stop in and visit when you get a chance!!!
Visit the store web site at http://www.SugarRapids.com
Mack has a place up here in eastern Clare County, but lives in my home town of Pinckney. Small world, isn't it?
I just listed the 10 acres south of his 70 acres. The deer was taken off of the 70 acres, but was walking from the 10 acres to the south. Good job!
Can you feel Santa's pain? OUCH! Jim... you're not as light as you used to be.Santa? Can you feel you leg?
Santa gave Jim this pocket watch, from Glen & Barb Miller. Jim really like his new watch!Thank you Barb and Glen!
Here is Santa checking out Robby's spiky hair.
Hi Bubbles! Bubbles is expecting a bubble baby! Ha ha... Just picking on you Tiffanie!
HUGS!
More HUGS!
Monica's boyfriend (don't know his name) with her brother, Robby.
Static Cling Head!
I know, Tera!!! You don't like your picture taken. You're just scratching your nose, right?
Here is Jim and I. Aren't we cute! Ha ha!
Here is Jim getting cozy with Don Kehoe and Michael Moore.
I guess I can't call this a poker face, since he's using business cards. What Talent!
Tim Gallagher copying Jim with his card face.
Scary!
Or is this scarier? Jim in a sailer hat for the YMCA song, by the Village People.Funny!!!
You go, JIM!
Another Realtor from Lake George (John Britton) sporting his hat for the song.
Well... the tree is up and decorated. The kids are happy. I think Heather is a little tooooo happy!
Over smiling there a bit, don't you think? 
Here are our cuties in front of the tree. 
From left to right is: Heather, Julie, Ivie, Jim and Wes.
Here's me with my buddy, Wes!
Here are the kids visiting with Wes & Julie's grand children.From left to right: Heather, Ryan, Allen and Anne.
