Christmas Season 2011

You and your parents were in Scottsdale and came over on December 14th.  On the 21st I flew over to CA to spend a few days with Uncle Jeffrey.  Here's a few photos of us with gifts I brought.

This was the year of head and back massagers.

I bought Donny a salt and pepper set that grinds and has a light.  Also, a bocce set for him and Uncle Jeffrey.

Here's a photo of me and Uncle Jeffrey celebrating his 28th birthday in CA in 1991.  We sure look different 20 years later.

On Christmas eve I came over and we went to the 6:00 church service.  You sat on the isle and when they came to pass the basket for offering, you reached in and tried to take out some money.  You didn't know that you were supposed to give not take.  We had a lot of laughs about that when we got back to the house.  You also sang/read everything.  Even a couple of versus in Latin.  You told me "I don't know what those words mean.".  We also did "Peace be with you", while shaking hands with others around us.  You even held up both hands like other people were doing during the communion part of the service. Then we went home to open gifts.

 Here we are with Terry Fator's puppet Winston. 

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You and your brother wanted Skylander stuff.  So that's what I got you.  I'm not crazy about the hood that covers your face.

Your dad opened the gift I got for him.  A coupon for him to drive a Ferrari for an hour.  That put a smile on his face.

Uncle Bruce with the head massager on his head.

Your mother with the Tulips in the background that me and Mr. Bob got her.  Then below Christmas morning.

You and your mother dancing to something on Wii.  We all laughed about how funny you both were.

Outside you and your brother tried out your new scooters.

Here's the Christmas card your parents sent.  We received it after Christmas because we were having our mail forwarded to Seattle.

I left after dinner.  You asked me if I would come watch you play basketball and I  told you I probably wouldn't see you for a couple of months.  You said "Next year?"  I feel really bad that we are in Seattle and not being able to go to your sporting events or have sleep overs, etc.  I hope you understand that I need to be up here for Mr. Greg and Mr. Bob. 

Seattle

On Sunday, November 6, 2011, Mr. Bob's son, Greg, fell from a ladder at his home in Olympia, WA. He was in very serious condition. Mr. Bob flew up to Seattle the next morning and I followed him on Tuesday. Unfortunately he is in critical condition and paralyzed from the neck down.

On Saturday, November 12th I spoke with you on the phone. I really miss you a lot.
I know Mr. Bob and I won't be back for Thanksgiving and we will miss having everyone at our house for Thanksgiving dinner and swimming. I do plan on being home to spend Christmas. Unfortunately, there will be no Christmas trees at our house, so I plan on spending Christmas at your house.

You and your family went to our house on Sunday the 13th to collect mail and get misc. things me and Mr. Bob needed for us up here in Seattle.

Today was a good and bad day. It's Mr. Bob's fathers birthday and Mr. Bob's son, Mr. Geg's 11th Anniversary. Mr. Bob was very sad today and Mr. Greg was sad. Mr. Greg was put into his wheelchair, his girl's were going to visit him this evening and he was sad because, I think, he couldn't hug them. His mother & I hung photos of him with his wife, Jenna, and a couple of photos of his girls. This was done especially so he couldn't see himself in he mirror. I'm sure seeing yourself in the mirror all hooked up to all sorts of equipment, is very depressing.

Here's some of photos of Mr. Greg. I hope you never have to go thru this. Thanks to lots of prayers and God's blessing, he is doing fabulous.

In any event, I will be returning to Phoenix on Friday, December 9th and will return on Monday, December 26th.

Your dad came back to our house on Monday the 21st to let the telephone people and the carpenter into the house to do some work.
The next day you & your parents came to the house to put my car out in the drive for an auto transport to pick it up and bring it to Seattle. You parents put some clothes and other things we need in the trunk. Hope to have the car here by next Friday.

Today is Thanksgiving.  I just called you to wish you a thankful Thanksgiving. You and your brother went to your friends Thanksgiving football game. It seems a lot of families do that on Thanksgiving morning.

I have been watching Macy's 85th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Santa arrives at the end of the parade.

On Tuesday the 29th.  Mr. Greg's mother and I went to his house to put up a tree and decorate the outside.  We couldn't get it all done so we spent the night and finished up the following day.  It was an okay substitute for me not putting up my decorations at home.

Yesterday, the 3rd, my car arrived. Now we could turn in the rental. Talked to you and your brother last night. Instead of money, you now want gifts for Christmas.

Yesterday, Uncle Jeffrey had a couple of teeth pulled. He was in extreme pain. Tomorrow, the 7th, is his 48th birthday.

I sent a text message to your father, Uncle Bruce and Uncle Jeffrey asking them: "What things money cannot buy?"  Uncle Bruce said "opportunity, independence, wisdom and time", Uncle Jeffrey said " love, health, friends, happiness and your way into heaven" These were all great, but I asked: "What about respect? And Class?"  Your father is of the opinion that money can buy everything.  However, if you really think about it money can't buy true love, true friends, true respect, health, class and you can never buy your way into heaven.

Mr. Bob and I arrived home yesterday, December 9th.

September/October 2011

While I was visiting family and friends in WNY 7 PA, your mother sent this photo of you and your brother reading in your spare room.  It was Sunday morning September 18th.

Here's a photo taken at Uncle Ted's house when Uncle Jeffrey and Uncle Bruce came to visit. From top to botton: Jennifer, Jeffrey Welt, Aunt Kim, Uncle Jeffrey, Uncle Ted, Uncle Bruce, Katie & Nana.

After my trip east I came home and had surgery on my left hand. I have Dupuytren's Disease, which primarily found in people decendent from Norther Europe. I hope you never get this disease. Both of my brother's have it on their hands and feet. I also have it on my left foot and right hand.

You and your family came over to visit on Sudnay, October 8th. We celebrated Mr. Bob's birthday.

We played Monoply and had cake that your parent's brought.

You and Andrew wanted to play around and he ended up falling in.  The water was very cold.

Your family came over on Sunday, October 23rd for a belated birthday visit. You wanted to play Monopoly and you finally finished a game with me.  That's because you were able to buy both Park Place and Boardwalk.  You won!!!  You are growing up so fast.

You and your brother were not behaving very good and your parents said they were going to take you to an orphanage so you could appreciate what you have.  Both of you wanted to come and live with me and Mr. Bob and I told you that we would have strict rules also, so you better be good and stay with your parents.

Here's the card you guys gave me.

On Saturday, October 29th you had a tournament at the University of Phoenix stadium in the West Valley.  You were very cranky because you had to get up early to get to the event.

During the first game, you had an interception and pulled two flags.  Your father said he would give you $20.00 for the interception and $5.00 for each flag pulled.  In the second game you got three flags, so your dad owed you $45.00.  Go Zachary!!

Some guy brought his Ferrari to the tournament.  I took this photo of you with this $200,000.00 car.  Some kids were rubbing their hands all over the car.  I didn't think the owner would be happy about that.

After the tournament, the coach had a little cookout in the parking lot.  I took some photos.

On the way home you feel asleep with an empty water bottle in your mouth. 

After the tournament, we went back to my house and your mother helped me with some decorating ideas.  You and your brother got into it and were forced to make up, by hugging each other.

Later you guys wanted to go into the jacuzzi. 

Your father came over later and took us all out to the Outback for my birthday dinner.  Then all of you spent the night so I would not be alone.  Mr. Bob went to Jacksonville, FL to look at some commercial property.

On Halloween, I drove over to your house to go trick or treating with you.  I was running late because of traffic and an accident on the 101.  As soon as I arrived we went out into the neighborhood.

Andrew did not want to wear his hat so your father wore it.

Later at the house you and your brother checked out your loot.

"Hee how for Halloween, when all of the witches are to be seen.  Some in black and some in green.  Hee how for Halloween."  I learned this poem when I was about your age and have been saying it to you every Halloween.