Back to the blog...

Okay, so a took a little break from blogging.  Well, actually a big break. 

The night of my last post a friend of ours was shot in the line of duty while responding to a domestic dispute call.  He survived, but his partner died.  I'm so thankful he survived and thankful for the community that surrounded his friends and family during his recovery.  He was back on the job in a matter of weeks and is doing quite well.  He's an amazing man of faith and knows he's here for a purpose.  Such an inspiration.

I found it a little strange looking back that the subject of my last blog was his beautiful niece...so I guess if I paused at Aly I should restart with Nick!  Only seems right. 

That shooting upset my world in ways I couldn't have imagined, hence the beginning of the break...as for the big gap??  Well life kind of got crazy in many ways.  

I'll try to be a little more up-to-date from now on...much has changed since December of 2009 as you can well imagine.  I'll probably get you up to speed and then try to keep up!  I'm retired now, right?  Oh yeah, that's one of the changes! LOL

Beautiful Aly

Our friend's daughter Aly is the sweetest, and these new pictures that her grandma shared show that quite well!! The photographer really captured the little one we all know and love!!

To see all of the great photos go to the photographer's blog:

http://smontgomeryphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/watch-out-world-here-comes-aly.html

Welcome baby Ben!

Our friends Jonny and Marina and their little daughter Amy have a new addition in the house, brother Ben! What a beautiful, blessed family!

Our first snow...

After a super summer and a very mild fall (except for these last two weeks which have been COLD and clear!) we have our very first snow. Let the panic begin!! Puget Sounders don't care much for snow and would prefer it stayed up in the Cascades and leave us lowlanders alone. Here's hoping the weather folks are right and warmer temps and rain are on the way Tuesday!

Tumwater Santa!

Every year the fire department here decorates one of their antique trucks and goes around the neighborhoods collecting for the food bank. Pretty snazzy truck, great music playing to, but unfortunately I didn't catch that on video, so we just have the snap:

Nick's Indiana Jones Birthday!

Nick is now 6, hard to imagine! Here are the pictures from his party:

Here is the cute Texas cake Mema made for his birthday, Indy in peril!



Greg, being the good dad, preparing to go outside for the pinata, it was VERY, VERY cold out, and he and Darane' and all the kids braved it! Grandma on the other hand stayed in where it was warm.



I love the expression on Nick's face in this picture as everyone sings Happy Birthday to him. What a sweetheart!



And then on to the presents.



We are so thankful the kids have kept his December birthday separate from the Christmas celebration. The won't even decorate the house until his birthday is over. Love it!

Are they cute or what?

Beau and Ralph both like to sleep in as I'm getting ready for work and leaving the house...they look pretty snug tucked away in bed!!



But for the next few mornings, I'll get to sleep in with them!! Woohoo!!