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.