Adventures of the Nadeaus .........----------------->

Me and Sock Monkey thought it would be fun to put together a map of all the places the Nadeau family has visited over the last 40 years. So we got a world map. We mounted it and took a few color pins and went to work. Black pins are for Paul's work travels, red Emily's, green are where Paul and Emily went together, white is where the whole family went. The big pins are places we have owned a house and blue are where family live. There is one lone yellow for Tracy by herself in South Africa. She has been the farthest south in the family and Paul the farthest north with Helsinki. It was a lot of fun to do and see. Paul really enjoyed the surprise! He got to add a lot of pins from places we did not remember. How he wants to go through all the boxes and boxes of old pictures we have and sort by decade. So look forward to the next addition with old pictures to come soon.

Emily Marie

Special Visitor Arrives in Royal Oak.

I have a very special visitor staying at my house for the next month. His name is Flat Adam and I am thrilled to have him. He arrived in the mailbox today. I hope he wasn't too cold - the temperature has been rising here - it's around 30 degrees. We welcomed him into the house and introduced him to everyone living at tracy's blue house: Not-So-Flat Tim, Not-So-Flat Tracy, Not-So-Flat Carrie, and Not-So-Flat Guinea the Pig. We are all going to get along smashingly (pun intended). Flat Adam was a bit tired so we showed him around the house and then he took a few minutes to write an e-mail to Not-So-Flat Adam.

(picture of the whole gang)

(Flat Adam meeting Not-So-Flat Guinea the pig)

Here's what Flat Adam wrote in his e-mail:

Dear Not-So-Flat Adam,

Thank you so much for sending me on this
adventure. It was a bumpy ride but I have made it safely to No-So-Flat Tracy's house. I'm tired and will write again soon. I wonder what I am going to see in the lower peninsula of Michigan? I heard that they have the first paved road in America right down the street and tunnel into a foreign country called Canada. I forgot to bring my winter jacket but No-So-Flat Tracy said that she'll pick one up from Target for me. Have a great day at school - work hard and have fun at recess. I am going to go to school with N-S-F-Tracy in the morning - I heard they don't have recess at the high school. Boo Hoo!

See you soon,
Flat Adam

Afterward, Flat Adam brushed his teeth and went to bed in the guest room. I wonder what tomorrow's adventures will be?

Love, Not-So-Flat Tracy

ps. Flat Adam is inspired by a book called Flat Stanley written in 1964. There is a large Flat Stanley Project going on that schools participate in. You can visit the Official Flat Stanley Project Website here.

Taking the Train.

This February I'll be taking a short trip to see Pete, Emily, and Alaina. I am so excited to see them. I'll be leaving on a Thursday and taking the train from Royal Oak to Union Station. The Royal Oak train station is about 1 mile from my house and Union Station is kitty-corner to the Sweet Pea's (Pete, Emily, Alaina). I don't have to do any driving. I'll just sit back in my chair; grade some papers; read a book; take a snooze. After six hours - I should be well rested and ready to visit!

The only problem might be that there isn't checked baggage! Here are my limits: Carry-On Baggage is limited to 2 - 50 lbs.(23 kg) @ 28" x 22" x 14". I think I'll go get my measuring tape out!

"SEEING" the eye doctor

Ken and I had the pleasure of going to Dr. Mark for our first eye exam with our cousin.  Here he is with Rebecca, his assistant, who travels with him to all three sites he covers.  What a nice visit we had with him.  We had a thorough eye exam and he smiled the whole time.

Mailman Madness

Hi Everyone - What do you do when your grumpy old hardworking mailman leaves a notice in your mailbox saying that he won't deliver the mail because he is crazy thinks that you don't put enough salt on the driveway and sidewalk? Mind you, I have shoveled every day that it has snowed and have placed 400 pounds of salt down; enough that the cement is coming loose again on my steps. Mind you, this is the same mailman who felt it necessary that I cut my beautiful pinetree all the way to the trunk so that the branches didn't brush against his delicate handsome postal jacket everyday. Mind you, this is the same mail man who would not deliver because the cement on one of my steps was chipped off because I put 400 pounds of salt down so that he would be safe and sound last year. Mind you, this is the same mail man who illegally left me a gift certificate for ice cream in my mailbox 7 years ago with a sympathy card and a poem about Dante when my sewer pipes backed up into the house. Albeit, very thoughtful, it was WEIRD!!!! So, Any Advice? ps. I filed a complaint yesterday - the lady on the phone was very nice.

Scrabble Champ

Greetings!

As promised here is the picture of us following the great Scrabble game in which Isaac completely dominated and beat both his mom and cousins! This is something he won't forget any time soon!

Look how proud he is ... and he should be!

The Board

I'm looking forward to us all being together again soon and having a rematch!

Love, Joy

Hello from Isaac!

Hello!

It took awhile but I was finally able to load this cute video of Faith. I hope you're able to see it!I'm planning on posting videos of Adam and me too! In February I'm having a band concernt at Wilson Junior High. I'm hoping to post some of my songs I performed! I also just joined Jazz Band. I have my first practice on this Thursday. On Tuesday it is the Inaugeration and our school is going to celebrate the historic event by all wearing red, white and blue. Then when the Inaugeration is on t.v. the whole school will watch it in our class rooms or the gym. I miss everyone and I hope you can visit me soon! Love, Isaac

Marvin - A Tribute

M: Marvelous Grandfather
A: Amazing Carpenter & Avid Sports Fan
R: Ready To Help & Reaches Out
V: Very Kind & Vivid Photographer
I: Inventor & Ishpeming Hematite
N: Never Ceasing Love

Wedded Bliss - 66 Years

What an outstanding example of love, kindness, patience, and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, that Marvin and Evelyn have modeled for all of us.

(picture compliments of Carol)

A Few Poses

One Generation Will Commend Your Works

Over Christmas I took around 500 digital photographs with my camera. Now that they are all uploaded, downloaded, and right and left loaded, there are about 150 that I want to share with you all. Of that 150, however, this is my favorite because when I saw it - it reminded me of my favorite psalms: number one hundred and forty-five. What a blessing it is to be in a family in which one generation will commend the works of the LORD to the next generation. Though Grandpa barely has the ability to speak words right now - his gentle touch speaks endless words of how great our God is. And now, as the psalm states, the LORD is near to Grandpa since he has called His name and as He has always done, God is watching over him - even when we cannot.

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise

his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend

your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.
The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O LORD;

your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends.

How amazing is the Love of God that He sent is only Son to us.

God is Love.

May He fill your heart with Joy and Gladness.

Love, Tracy

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Ready for some sledding fun!

There's Isaac in the center playing his trombone at his first band concert.

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday! We can't wait to see everyone in Michigan!

Love to all!

Joy, Ryan, Isaac & Adam

Happy Christmas!

Paul and I have started our Christmas Journey. We started in Chicago with our Christmas Angel who is currently the Christmas Moose!!!!LOL

WE LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures of Faith!!!!!!

Emily and Paul

Christmas Cheer

Hi All, Hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season. We have a Winter
Wonderland here in the UP. Looking forward to seeing everyone after Christmas. Here are some pictures of Faith enjoying the holidays!

Snow

Job 37:5-7 (New International Version)
God's voice thunders in marvelous
ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow,
'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower,
'Be a mighty downpour.' So that
all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor.

We ushered in the snow today.
I've been praying for snow.
Tim - our hero - shoveled the entire driveway and the sidewalks.
He even distributed salt around the slippery areas.

I sat on the couch and watched local coverage of the snowfall and the auto bailout.
Thanks, Lord, for the snow.
Thanks, Lord, for the loans. I pray we use them wisely.
Thanks,Tim, for shoveling.
Thanks, Tim, for shoveling without me even asking.

So far we've had 5 inches fall and it is still coming down.
It's beautiful.
Did I mention Tim is beautiful? He shoveled.
Did I mention I ate challah french toast for breakfast?
Did I mention I am still in my pajamas?
I love the snow.

Psalm 51:6-8 (New International Version)
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Putting Her Lights On!

Every year - no matter what - there is a light issue. This year we ran out of lights because one of the strands had gone bad.

Picking out a Perfect Tree

Thanksgiving weekend always means picking out the perfect tree. Tim and Carrie and I fell in love with this fraser fir. She was a little tall (Tim is our measuring stick - he can touch the top of the ceiling at home). We shortened her up a little bit and brought her home to be decorated.

Tim's Birthday

Tim turned 31 this year! I can't believe my little brother isn't so little anymore. I guess he'll always be younger!! Tim has been super super busy with school. Marching band season has just come to an end, the school musical took place "Pirates of Penzance", two cold and snow parades this past weekend and now Pep band starts for the basketball season. Tim managed to squeeze in a piece of cake or two! I love you Timmy! Happy Birthday.

Smile - You Make Me Happy