Happy Thanksgiving from our gang!


And while you're here... check out the newest sailor!

I just can't resist one last goofy shot....


We had a wonderful weekend with family gathered 'round- God's blessings are bountiful!

Party in Tallahassee!

All sorts of family got together to celebrate Avery's first birthday...Sort of a mini-family reunion! The party was on Saturday, followed by the Canes game. (some went to the game, some stayed home in air-conditioned comfort.) Teddy and Teresa and Bonnie headed back after lunch on Sunday, while Ted and I stayed on for a couple more days. (Never long enough!)
Are you wondering where the birthday girl was for the picture?


In the bathtub under the watchful eye of Auntie Courtney!


It was so good to be with all the Tallahassee folks again.

And even extra fun because of all the people who were in town for the Canes game.... it was just a rip-roarin', action packed weekend!

Family Reunion

I believe this was the 19th annual Wy-ook family reunion. We just get together for the weekend, play games and hang out on the beach, by the pool, in the game room... and catch up on one another's lives. It really is a highlight every year- When we started doing this, we felt like our babies were going to grow up so fast- and we wanted to be sure the cousins would know each other. Now they're Gators, Canes and Noles, some even roommates! Some are married- Now one's engaged- and we keep growing! This was Avery's first reunion (and Greg's- Jill's fiance.) Wonder who'll show up next year for the first time? No tellin'! Next year we'll all be in Atlanta, for a wedding-reunion combo. Can't wait!

I keep saying I must post a picture of our mango tree... before the parrots eat all the mangoes! It's never been this full of fruit before. I foresee lots of smoothies in our future!



And while I'm at it, have you ever seen bananas beginning?





I love living in the tropics! (except for at noon on a Summer Saturday!)

Summer at the Cook House

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Oh my! It's been a while since I've posted... Let's see...where have we been? Well, mid-June we spent a fun weekend at Lake Lanier with friends from college days- thanks, Flo and Shan for sharing your "little cabin" with us. It was so good to reconnect with the Callens, Florences, Geenwoods and McCowns.

Then Kailee and Avery were here for the 4th of July, and we had the Cook/Wyrick clan over for dinner and the amazing neighborhood fireworks display. David couldn't get away from work, so we missed seeing him- but had a great week with "the girls".


Bonnie's home... working at Rick Case Powersports, and enjoying the local "mudding" spots. She's happiest when she's out in the everglades or on a dive boat- and glad to be back in South FL where both are close. We don't see much of her- her work schedule is kind of opposite of ours- but it's good to have her home. She'll be traveling up to Tallahassee next weekend to get her stuff moved back here- I know she'd appreciate your prayers for "traveling mercies" as she's not looking forward to the long drive and quick turn-around... and packing!

And I just got back from spending a week at Middle School Camp with the kids from St. A. It was great fun- made me miss my Student Ministries days...also made me realize I'm getting older! Middle Schoolers have a lot of energy! I'm glad they were the ones in the Dodgeball competitions and Box Soccer games... but I can still run a mean go-cart race! Hah! It was a blast. Also good to see Jamie, who was able to come visit on Thursday. (Her church youth group was there, and she works for the youth pastor, so she came down with his wife to spend the day.)

And now we're home for a week or so till we head up to Family Reunion... Can't wait!

Does anyone want to talk about lightning?

Well, as most of you probably know by now, we had a bit of a shock on Mother's Day... We're o.k.- but another great story (and close call) in the journal of the Cruising Cooks.
We'd been down in the Abacos for about a week- Teddy and Teresa even flew down to join us for a few days, and that was really fun!
They flew home Sunday morning, and we moved over to Green Turtle Cay from Marsh Harbor. A little rain shower washed off the deck for us right after we anchored- we were planning to dinghy ashore for dinner as soon as it passed- well, the wind shifted and as the leading edge of the storm came back in our general direction...and... a bolt from the skies smacked our mast!
We knew we'd been hit as soon as it happened- and in the same instant we knew we were both o.k.- which is really all that matters- Thank you, Lord!
So bottom line is we've got some repairs to do-
We had a very rough crossing home (23 hours straight across the
Bahama Bank then the Gulfstream, with no navigation lights or instruments), and we had to cut our vacation short by a few days.
(yes, that's a wall of water behind us- when I say rough seas, I ain't jokin'- I'm starting to feel like a real sailor...learned how to use the compass and a chart this trip! I also learned that having a precautious captain who brings along an extra handheld GPS and radio is a good thing!)
It's good to be home. Believe it or not though, we're already planning our next trip! Sound familiar?

Avery's 6 months old!

We made a quick trip up to Tally last weekend to share in Avery's Baptism. It was chilly! and a little too short- but good to see our girls. (and David!)



Avery's getting so big!- she's got a real sweet disposition...and even a sense of humor, I think. She was baptized at Wildwood Pres. on Sunday morning. She behaved beautifully for Pastor Bob, and then fell asleep on her Dad's lap for the rest of the service. We tried to take her out to lunch afterwards, but I'm not quite sure that was her idea of fun.

It was nice to spend a little time with Jamie and Bonnie, too- we worked on a few little projects on the Tally house; Dad the Landlord and Handyman is a great guy to have around!

We sure don't see them often enough- distance stinks. We plan our next visit on our ride home! (hopefully Bonnie will get to come down in June..maybe Jamie in July...and Kai and David in July, if we can twist his arm with the promise of a diving trip!).

Up and Running Again!

Man, that flu was a bad one. We were both out for a week, and Ted swore never to fly without a mask again. There ought to be some more pics on this post...we've been able to get out with friends twice- once our home group, and once with a crazy bunch of kids (not our own)...

The kids were a lot more fun- the game of "jump off the boat and see if you can catch it as it goes by" was a big hit... we haven't taught that game to many people- only the stout of spirit.
The Campos and Richardsons qualified. Even Hannah. After a little encouragement.
And then there was the "find the sunglasses" game! Everyone found at least one pair of nice sunglasses as they snorkeled off of Key Biscayne (where the speed boats go so fast in the channel that the rich people's glasses fly off their aristrocratic noses.). I think we all had a blast!

Wy the bay- I'm working on a shutterfly page... if you want to see more, you can go to my picture page at morningglory.shutterfly.com. Or just hit the link listed in the right hand column (Mili's Shutterfly Collection). I've still got lots to add, but gimme a minute! I'll get there!

ups and downs

And then we got the flu.
Such is life.

All the Cooks and the 3 Grulichs just got back from a week in Park City, Utah...the whole family stayed in a condo...
Most skied, many shopped.
No injuries, lotsa fun.
For an extensive photo experience, see Kailee's website.

February's been a busy month!
The first weekend we made a quick trip to Jacksonville, where Jamie and the Grulichs (that's Kailee, David, Avery) met up with us to attend the wedding of a long time friend, Jamie Richie (from our Perrine Days). Guess we're in that season of life now, attending the weddings of our friend's kids. It's really kind of fun- watching them grow up and being included in these milestone events.
Then the next week Ted's sister Joy and Husband Gordon came down for short visit....of course we went sailing! Ted's parents came too- their first time on Morning Glory.
Then the weather turned chilly- Why does South Florida do that? Just when people are getting jealous of our weather, it'll get cold or rainy, and they realize we aint' all we make ourselves out to be. Then they go home and the next day's gorgeous. Like the misty, cold rain for the Superbowl- how is our chamber of commerce ever going to stay afloat?
We braved the boat show yesterday (and froze!)... got some good ideas for little modifications here and there, and enjoyed swapping many stories with the sailing set. It's in the high 60's here- wonder if anyone's buying boats today? I'm willing to wager those test sails are a little chilly.
So come see us! But maybe not in February! (or August...).

Wedding Weekend

We had a great time last weekend, taking some Bookers sailing,

going out to dinner with more Bookers,





and then celebrating one Booker
turning into a Ballard!



It was a beautiful wedding- congratulations to Andrea and Walter- and wonderful to spend time with family.