Visiting Mom and Dad Roth

We have made it home safely and we are certainly glad to be back. Since arriving home, Claire and I have had many people tell us how much they enjoyed reading our blog and how disappointed they were going to be now that we wouldn't be posting any more. Well not being ones to disappoint we decided to start this new adventure in our lives with a new blog for all our fans. We all hope you enjoying staying up to date with us as much as we like sharing our stories with you.

After returning home on June 23rd we had a few days in Bloomington before we were to take off for Angola to visit my side of the family. We were really busy while in Bloomington. We washed and dried, in a dryer, all of our clothes to get any last Dominican dirt off of them. We went to Wal Mart and oooohed and awwwed over comforts that we had missed. We each got new cell phones so we could communicate with all our family and friends. If you are interested in our numbers just send us an email and we will be glad to send them to you. And we each got new driver licences because our old ones expired while we were away. It was a busy couple days unpacking and getting settled in a little.

We headed to Angola just in time to catch a Ft. Wayne Wizards baseball game. Jamie (Claire's best friend from childhood) and her WBCL coworkers had set up a booth at the game so she was able to help get us a seat and then was able to watch it with us when her duties were done. It was a fun game, we all got those nice red Wizard visors when we entered the ball park, the Wizards won the game, and we got to see fireworks afterwards. Because I hadn't gotten the chance to experiment with the firework setting on our camera I thought this would be the perfect chance. I hope you like the outcome of the pictures as much as I do.

The baseball game was just the start of the very busy week and half we spent in Angola. It seemed that each day we had something else to do or someone to see. Saturday night mom, dad, Claire, and I took our camp chairs to the park to watch a concert in the park. It was put on by a local favorite group called Spike and the Bulldogs who sing songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. It was a great night to relax with some oldies.

Sunday we had the chance to spend some time with Joe and Narissa as well as mom and dad. After a nice brunch we went out to the yard to blow some bubbles. With mom however, they are not just any ordinary bubbles. The bubble wand was in full force. After awhile Joe and I were each trying to get inside of one of them. When we were done with the bubbles we loaded up our clubs and all headed out to the driving range to shake some of the rust off the old swing. It was a nice day to spend out side and was even better to finish it off with Ritters frozen custard.

Monday, Claire met up with Jamie in Ft. Wayne and they had a great day hanging out with each other shopping and catching up. Mom and I were on our own so we went out to lunch together and relaxed around the house.

Tuesday it was Claire's turn to relax as I went to hang out with some of my high school friends. We played basketball for 4 hours in the morning before heading back to try our skill at Tiger Woods for the Nintendo Wii. It was great to catch up with them again.

Wednesday was the 4th of July and just like every year we headed to the Nussbaum family picnic. They have held this family tradition for over 30 years and even though the location has changed several times over the years and the family seems to get larger and lager with each passing year we all have a great time together. Some of the highlights of each get together are the food, with is always delicious, yard games, swimming, within the last couple years ping pong, and of course the pictures with all mom's brothers and sisters. Later that night Claire, Jamie and my mom when off to see the local fireworks while I headed back to catch up with some of my high school friends at a party they were having. We had some fireworks of our own and again I took some pictures of them. I told you I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Thursday morning Joe and I got to spend some time just him and me out on the golf course. We had a good time hacking around out there. Later that night Claire and I headed to Goshen to catch up with Fuzzy and Amanda, a couple college friends. We usually get to see Kyle and Christy while we are there but this time we were unable to see them as they were traveling back from Wisconsin. We had fun seeing Fuzzy and Amanda again after a year. They had bought a new house and were nice enough to give us the tour before cooking us dinner. We got the chance to share some of our pictures and stories with them.

Friday Kyle made the journey to mom and dad's house to see us, unfortunately Christy had to work and was unable to join him. While he was there we went out on the lake and did some fishing. We were fairly successful as Kyle caught 7 bass and I reeled in 6. I however had the catch of the day as in one cast I was able to reel in two bass on the same hook. We were both shocked. I had one fish on the top hook and one on the bottom. Later in the day after Kyle left and dad came home from work the four of us hit the links for a round of golf. We couldn't have picked a better night to go. We were late enough to beat the crowd but not to late that we ran out of daylight. We finished it off with a nice dinner.

Saturday, our last day in town, we headed to Pokagon to meet my uncle Ted and his family. We swam in the lake, ate a great picnic, and tried to keep track of all four of Sarah's kids. Neither Claire nor I have any idea how Jeff and Sarah manage all those kids. It was fun to catch up with each of them again. We took off from the park and headed back to Bloomington.

Like I said it was a busy time but we really enjoyed the opportunity to do a little of everything while we were there. So many times when we visit things get cut short or we run out of time and are unable to do something. This time we got to do it all.