Random Ramblings Through the Years: 2009 -- travel, travel and more travel! Orlando/Carolyn, solo Oahu, Kauai/Angie and Josh, Orlando/Ken my b-day, W Palm Beach/Barb, Alaska Fam cruise, Taurus, Pompano/Ken, mexico cruise/Jane and Carolyn

Before all the traveling started, I had to endure a little cold weather. But there are a few highlights when it's cold. Like checking out the frozen Mississippi River in Alton when the Eagles like to hang out in the winter.

Looking over to Alton---one of my favorite places to go for birds and sunsets.

1-19-2009 And seeing the ice flow

Jan. 31-Feb. 7, 2009 Fortunately I was able to escape to Orlando on the 5th week of the year. First trip to Dad's timeshare without him! Love all the BIG birds there.

Love the pools, too.

CArolyn joined me and we spent a day in Epcot. This was on the Epcot ride.

Back in the condo chilling out.

The girls even joined me on the weekend---when Carolyn left early to get a better airfare.

So the girls and I took off to the Atlanta beach near Daytona.

We also took an airboat ride in the Everglades up by Kissimmee.

Hard to believe the Everglades are soooooo big.

2-10-2009 Back at home, we finally forked out about $2000 to get 2 of the trees in the back yard removed and the middle one pruned.

2-18-09 Solo trip to Oahu:

I had made reservations for Barb and her husband to stay in a Wyndham Resort in Waikiki for their honeymoon. He had always wanted to go to Hawaii. Unfortunately he died about 10 days after they got married so they obviously weren't going. It was too late for me to cancel the reservations and get my points back. But since Ken and I had reservations on Kauai the next week, I changed my airline ticket and flew to Oahu by myself for 4 of the 7 nights I'd made reservations for. I didn't know if I'd enjoy myself on vacation by myself, but found out I'm a really good companion for myself! Even rode The Bus to a garden I hadn't been to before.

and to the Aquarium. 2 things I had wanted to do, but never got around to.

Loved the aquarium!

Loved the sunsets over Waikiki Beach!!!!

Even did a sunset cruise

and walked around taking a million photos around Waikiki.

2-22----3-8,2009 Kauai

Then I flew over to Kauai and Angie and Josh picked me up. This was the first time they joined us in Kauai. It's so much fun having the kids around. We were even joined by these kids---a pair of juvenile monk seals!

and this guy waved hi to us.

We went on our 3rd or 4th Napali cruise, the kids' first. It was rough.! So much so that we didn't make it to the Napali. They turned around and made it a sunset/whale watching cruise. This was a picture before Angie turned green.

We also love taking visitors to Smith's luau.

And going out to eat at our favorite places.

Ken resting his head.

This was the year Ken became a bird whisperer, too.

I love wandering around the free garden at McBryde gardens, too. Ken loves sitting there watching me wander around.

I also LOVE Tunnels! Best snorkeling on Kauai and best views. It's not this calm too often this time of year, but when it is, we make a beeline there.

Then we usually go to one of the Wyndhams in Princeville and clean off by one of their pools and change into dry clothes, then head into Hanalei for dinner.

Before we have to head home, we always throw our flower petals in the ocean---if they come back it means you'll be back. We make sure they come back.

5-17-2009 for a week, back to Orlando. Ken and I had a week saved in RCI that we had to use and he suggested we go to Dad's resort. Fine with me!

They used to do a cooking competition then and had judges. I was picked to be one of the 3 judges. It was really fun.

6-9-2009 to West Palm Beach for a week:

A month later (June), I went to West Palm Beach with Barb on another RCI exchange. LOVE the beaches in South Florida! Who knew if a couple years Angie and Josh would be moving there for almost 5 years.

Who would have thought that in in 2015 I'd be living down there!!!!! Certainly not me!!! But I LOVED it!!!

6-11-2009 We even made it to a Cardinals spring training game in Jupiter. My first one!

7-1-2009 Back in St. Louis, we went to a few wed. night free concerts in MOBOT gardens.

7-11-2009 Also enjoyed the hype of the all star game coming to St. Louis.

8-16-2009 week long Alaska cruise with my family and Ken's first cruise

When Sept rolled around, we were off again---this time on an Alaskan cruise with David, Jane, Carolyn, Carol and Joe.

I had a great time. Not sure Ken enjoyed being around my family so long, but I thought it went well.

David and Ken do normally get along.

9-14-2009 Back at home, we got a new (year old) car. our 2009 Taurus Limited. Nice car! We bought it from Hit(t)ler.

10-13-2009 for a week to Pompano, F. with Ken.

And time to take another trip. Back to Pompano with Ken and hanging out in the beach.

Even walked around South Beach, Miami.

10-31-2009 But we were home for Halloween---or should I saw we were around home. Here's Tim and Faith in costume. They had a party, as did Angie and Josh. This was from their party

Angie and Josh's party---the Godfather and family

the Vixen

11-6-2009 Fall at MOBOT Nov and time to check out the changing leaves at MOBOT

11-26-2009 and another Thanksgiving deep fried turkey at the kids' house.

the Hostess with the mostess

12-6-2009 week long cruise with Carolyn and Jane from Longbeach, Ca.

Dec and time for another trip. this time we made Jane come with us.

One of the few pictures I like of myself. Taken on the ship by a professional

Jane and me on a van excursion in Mazatlan; Carolyn was suppose to meet us for breakfast and go with us. We waited and waited, finally went to the room to check on her. That's when we found out she decided not to go with us.

12-19-2009 and home and to another of Tim and the band he played with---The Mad Titans. I enjoyed their music---I think they called it surf rock.

12-24-2009 And that brings us to another Christmas Eve LaBeaume party at our house. Weather was so bad this year that we just had it with our immediate family for a change.