Michael Allie's Blog

Time really flies and I’m a little behind on getting some six month pictures of Caleb posted.  The little guy isn’t so little any more!  He’s developing his own personality and Cheryl can really get him laughing in a big way (I’m taking notes….can’t quite get him laughing like Cheryl can).  I could go on and on about him, but instead I’ll just show you the pictures (because that is all you really want to see anyway).

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the left is a picture I took that I really enjoy because of the way he is tugging on his foot and smiling.  On the right, a picture of JT, Cheryl and Caleb.  Below is a picture of Caleb in a more reflective moment!

On April 2, my nephew Brandon married Melissa, a terrific lady who has joined us for many family functions over the last three years or so.  I love family weddings and this one was no exception.  It is great to get everyone together, and all the more so when those who live far away come in to join the festivities.

Brandon and Melissa will be living in Atlanta where Brandon recently took a position with a major actuarial firm.  We’ll miss them at family gatherings but they are actually joining our cousins John & Maureen and family along with Aunt Joy and Uncle Paul by moving to Georgia.  And my brother Jim and his family are right now planning their re-location to Augusta, Georgia.  I guess the bottom line is that family gatherings in Georgia are going to be larger than the ones in Michigan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caleb Jacen Taylor at 2 days old

On January 27, 2011, Caleb Jacen Taylor joined our family.  Proud parents Cheryl and JT welcomed their 7 lb. 12 oz bundle of joy into the world at 1:48 p.m.  Everyone went home from the hospital healthy and happy two days later!  This is my first grandchild and I will say that the emotion was pretty incredible, and holding him in my arms is a real treat!

(left) Proud parents get ready to take their child home.

(below)Grandpa enjoys rocking his new grandson!

2010 was a busy year, as they all are.  I am happy to report that the family is well and we have many blessings to be thankful for.

Our big news this year is that Cheryl is pregnant and she and JT are expecting their son (and my first grandson) to enter the world in late January.  Cheryl’s pregnancy has gone well and she seems to have been able to really enjoy this special time.  She is still helping AAA sell insurance and also enjoys her time representing Mary Kay.

JT is still working for the City of Farmington Hills and is also getting ready for the changes to his life that having a child will bring.  He has been also busy on home projects getting ready for the arrival of his new son (he really can lay down one heck of a new hardwood floor).

Alan continues to live and work in Ann Arbor.  He is a short walk to downtown Ann Arbor and only 3.5 miles to his job.  Alan is still with ADP.  They have been a good employer and he was most pleased with the promotion he received back in the Spring!   Alan and I have taken up investing (specifically options trading).  In this past year we attended classes together in Denver and Cincinnati, and we meet each Thursday evening to continue our development, research the market, and evaluate trade opportunities.  Next May we will take an intensive three day class in Chicago that includes a tour of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange.

I am still at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and enjoy my job.  It has been and will continue to be demanding, but it is really a fine company with many fine people.

2010 will be a pretty exciting year starting with the birth of my grandson in January and the marriage of my nephew Brandon in April.  In early May, Alan and I will head to Chicago for our investment class, and that will be followed by a trip to New Orleans over Memorial Day weekend to attend the wedding of my cousin Al’s daughter, Leanne.  In late June Susan and I are planning a trip to Italy for 10 days.  l am getting exhausted just reading what the first half of the year will be like.  Don’t expect to hear much about the rest of the year because I think I’ll be recuperating from the activities in the first half.

But as always, when I look back at the year, it is the people that are in my life for which I am most thankful.  It is those relationships that make life so much better than it might otherwise be.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

The past month or so has been a most difficult one for our family.  Mom was in the hospital in intensive care for two weeks that ranked among the longest two weeks of my life.  In the end, she came out of it o.k., but as I write this she is in the in-patient rehabilitation unit at St. Mary’s in Livonia where intensive physical therapy has been required to hep her regain muscle strength in her arms and legs.  She has made good progress and should be home in early December, but additional therapy will be required and it will be some time before she is back to the life that she knew not so long ago.  Many prayers along with some wonderful doctors and nurses have made this a Thanksgiving where we had much to be thankful for.