Wishing it was Spring!

Brrrrrrrrr! It is cold. I don't usually complain about the cold, but it is really cold and I have been complaining today. Just a little bit of news catch up. Mac recovered from her wisdom teeth, but not until she had the opportunity to experience a couple of dry sockets. She returned to Boston safely and now is in the throes of schoolwork, volunteering and job. Can't believe she is in the final months of her Junior Year. She is exploring graduate school and is tentatively looking at Pratt Institute in NYC. They have an excellent Master's program in Library Science http://www.pratt.edu/. She and James have asked for an airline ticket for James to visit her in Boston for their birthdays. We thought what a great idea...limit our shopping for items they usually don't want but always graciously accept. Trained them right!

Mom did not have the flu, but an infection that required hospitalization for four days. Rick came and helped out with Stomie, which gave me a break and time to spend with Mackie. It all worked out with the help of some great friends of Mom and Stomie. Thanks Dave and Marlene for all the help and meals delivered to Mom during her illness. Marye, Joe's mom continues to do great. We need some warmer weather so we can all get out in the warm sunshine.

Joe and I just spent a week-end away from the home front thanks to a client who gave us a suite at the Doubletree. Sometimes just getting away from the responsibilities of home life, phone, clients, work, kids and pets can be such a great rejuvenator for the married life. Joe and I have always created time over the years for each other away from the home front which has really kept our marriage strong. We are heading to Sun Valley with our friends next week-end, I have not been there in a couple of years.

Happy Birthday to our great nephew Mitchell tomorrow. He is Cathy's oldest grandson.

Christmas 2007

What a whirlwind it has been. Mackie arrived home safely but not on the 20th but in the wee hours of the morning of the 21st. This year she got stuck in a snow storm in SLC. Never quite call it right when traveling from Boston. Do we go through Chicago, Denver, SLC or who knows! She thinks she is jinxed by the nor easterners and the snow just follows her. We are so excited to have her home though. We all got together on the 23rd for our Adams Welch party. Both of the Adams girls were in from San Francisco. James, Elise, Miles Grandma Marye and Uncle Fred joined us on Christmas morning for a thrash of gift opening! We then all joined Grandma Rose and Grandpa Stomie, Alison, Keith, Megan and Susan for a wonderful Christmas Dinner in the afternoon topped off by a game of Spoons! Mackie Ruled! As tradition goes Mac and I joined the Adams girls for our late night Christmas Movie (Juno). All is all it was a wonderful family day. Joe and I spent New Years in Donnelly Idaho at our good friends Jill and Bear Smith. Jerry and Susan joined us from Seattle. We had a great time of Mexican Dominoes, long snow walks, great food and football. Jill feeds the fox nightly and we were able to get some great pictures of them.

We had our own little fireworks in the snow on New Years Eve and were also able to see the fireworks from Tamarack Resort since their deck overlooks the resort. We went into McCall and shoveled four feet of snow off of our cabin deck. Mackie had a New Years Eve party at our home with friends and James and Elize took in a few parties in the North End on foot! Miles just turned a year old on 1/4/08, Bailee couldn't get enough of Christmas as the picture shows, and our old cat Bubba is ailing at age 14. We were able to capture this picture of our first large snow fall at a neighbors house. As it snowed the fish pond took on the resemblance of Santa so we topped if off with a hat. I am spending this afternoon with Mackie who just had all of her wisdom teeth removed this morning. Pray for her fast healing as she returns to school in a week. Mom is also ill today with the flu and I will see her later in the day. Pray for her safe recovery. We hope this finds you all healthy and well and enjoying the start of a new year! The picture above is from Stanley this past summer and the picture on the right is Snow Grass which I hope we will see soon.....Onward to Spring!

Merry Christmas!

Our daughter is making her way from the East Coast to the mountains of Idaho and home to us. This will bring completeness to having our immediate family together for Christmas.....we are so excited. Our family wishes you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year.

Happy Birthday Andy!

Happy Birthday Andy! Hope you had a great day. When I look at this picture of you it reminds me of our fishing trip to Warm Lake where I met Uncle Joe. Good thing I had you boys to take fishing or my life may not have ever included Uncle Joe......and I can't imagine a life without him.

The Holidays are upon us and we have been very busy just like everyone else preparing for them. I have taken more time for myself this season and it agrees with me. We are anxiously awaiting Mackie's arrival, we haven't seen her in six months since she was in Chicago for most of the summer. She just got a new job at school as the Program Manager of the Making Music program in the Community Service Center. She is very excited about it and looking forward to a very busy spring semester.

James and Elise are great. Elise just got a new job at the Record Exchange. Miles their pup continues to grow an grow.

This is another picture of one of our empty nesters children....From our house to yours have a Peaceful Holiday.

Merry Christmas!

Well this last week-end was a flurry of activity to kick off the Holiday Season. No I did not participate in shopping, but Joe did. I spent time with friends taking in the parade, a little basque lunch, a movie Enchanted, and open house at Edwards Greenhouse where James and Elise work. It was wonderful to put chores on hold and just be with friends! The only thing I miss dearly is my Mac. I think once she graduates no matter where she lands her first job, I am going there the first two weeks of December so we can have our own bonding time at Christmas for Mom and daughter. Love and Miss you Mac. But wait! She will be home the 20th and we will have four days of blitz for shopping, cooking and movies. I am the mom known for double or triple features. Proud of that reputation!

James and Elise appear to be enjoying this kick off of the Holidays. They helped to seed all of these pointsettas and took part in the parade. Bless Elise she practically ran the entire route in these little elve boots making all the children happy with candy.

Please have a peaceful, joyful, holiday season!

Happy Belated Birthday Zeke!

Zeke I know I will get to see you at your Aunt Sara's wedding....watch out for me I like hugs! Hope you had a great birthday! Love Great Aunt Deb

Happy Birthday Gracie! Wow Five!

Little Gracie...where has the time gone! I haven't seen you except in pictures since this picture was taken.....we must get together soon. Maybe I will get to see you a Sara's wedding, I hope so because I need a hug from you.