Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Saying Goodbye To 2012, Welcome To 2013

In talking to a lot of family and friends and reading a lot of posts on Facebook it
seems like a lot of people are anxious for 2012 to end, seems like their year wasn't

all that good and they are hoping 2013 will be better for them. We had a couple of serious health scares, Joan's Mother-in-Law Dot had to be admitted into a nursing home, and we had a few friends pass away this year but all that being said all in all 2012 has been a very good year for us.

All year long we have had the very happy privilege of being able to spend a lot of time with Carter and Griffin. For a few weeks in January and February and March both of them were playing soccer on Saturdays. We would go to Griffin's games, go for lunch and come back for Carter's games so Saturdays were a day we looked forward to.

We celebrated Carter's birthday with a lot of family and friends with a bowling party on January 27. A great time was had by all.

Then on February 1 the actual day of his birthday just the immediate family celebrated with him at Chee Burger, Chee Burger. For his first birthday that is were we went and have been back there every year since. A tradition was started and continues on.

Our first big medical scare was on February 12 when Joan was hospitalized with a ruptured appendix, She had surgery on February 13 and of course spent Valentine's Day in the hospital. She was released on February 20. She got her release from the surgeon on February 29. She had lots of visitors, many who brought food, lots of cards and lots of phone calls for which we were very grateful.

A cousin of mine passed away on February 28.

Barb and Brett moved into a different house in a very nice neighborhood, a beautiful location. wonderful place for the kids.

On March 4 Joan went back to work and that evening two friends that she grew up with in New Jersey came for a visit with their mates. We all had a great time while they were here.

Soccer season ended on March 24.

We celebrated Griffin's third birthday with family at Park Avenue Grill, a very fun evening was had by all.

On April 4 we went to the kids Easter Pageant at their school. On March 5 my old Shell station burned down. I went by to see it the next day, I just stood there for about 30 minutes and relived the whole 24 years we ran it.

We spent Easter Sunday at Barb's and the following Sunday went over to my daughter Martha's to celebrate Easter with them.

On April 17 I went to the Doctor who performed my back surgery for my one year later check-up. All the new X-Rays and MRI's showed every thing to be fine with my back. Boy April was a very busy month, we took Carter and Griffin to kids day at the South Florida Fairground, Joan and I had as much fun as they did.

We celebrated Barb's birthday on April 22, and went to Carter's science fair at his school on April 26. We were all so proud of him for the great job he did with his project.

May was also a very busy month. A few weeks after being diagnosed with neuropathy I swallowed my pride and started using a walking stick, I refuse to call it a cane. LOL Neuropathy is a progressive problem, our hope is that it will progress very slowly.

Wonderful day of celebration for Mother's day on May 13.

On May 23 we went to the kids school for the handing out of the awards they had won. Another proud day for Nana and Papa.

We spent Memorial Day Weekend at the Hilton Club Condo in Orlando with Barb, Brett, Cater & Griffin. Friends from Michigan that just happened to be in Orlando for that weekend came by and spent some fun time with us.

I started doing research for a book I am writing about what is was like to grow up in a small town in West Virginia during the forties and early fifties. I have had so much fun reliving those days with people I went to school with back there and other people who have lived there or still live there. I still have a lot more to write about but with every thing going on have put it on hold until after the first of the year. For only living there the first 13 years of my life I can't believe how many wonderful memories I have of that time.

We celebrated Father's Day on Saturday with Barb and Brett, Brett's family and Carter and Griffin with a great dinner at a wonderful water front restaurant and then drove over to my daughters on Sunday to celebrate with them.

Stayed busy with going to Griffin's swimming lessons and Carter's soccer camp.

Got word that my Brother-in-Law Bob and a dear friend Bob Pippen died. Joan and I have lost a lot of family and friends in the last couple of years.

Martha, Jimmy, and Anita came over to help us celebrate Martha's birthday over here, a couple of other friends stopped by as we celebrated at Applebee's.

A picnic for staff and family at Joan's place of work, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Labor day at Barb's, and Carter's soccer season started again.

On September 8 we had our second big medical scare of the year as Brett was admitted to the hospital with a burst colon. We watched the kids a lot as Barb was working and spending time at the hospital. On September 10 it was Grand Parents Day at the kids school. Another fun, fun, day.

Brett was released from the hospital on September 18 and felt well enough to join us at The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate my birthday. Brett has made a great recovery and is back to work and seems to be doing fine. It was a very scary time.

On September 22 we celebrated Joan's Mother-in-Law Dot's 93 rd birthday. Sadly Dot has had some health set backs and is now living in an assisted living facility.

Joan and I left on October 18 for a great fall trip. We went to a family and friend reunion at dear friends George and Kim's in Waynesboro, Tennessee. Got to see lots of people we hadn't seen in years. Every one there had a great time.

Every where we went on this trip the fall colors just seemed to be at their best. It made for beautiful driving.

We then drove to Maryland and spent time with our dearest friends Bernadine & Butch.We stopped on the way to their place in Virginia at The Natural Bridge, a very enjoyable stop. Some of their children and grandchildren came by to see us.

On October 23 we were joined by some class mates form our high school days at a great Maryland seafood restaurant, great food and great fun reliving some wonderful times. That evening we were joined by Bill and Michelle, niece and nephew at another great restaurant for another wonderful time.

Then it was on to New Jersey to spend time with Joan's sister Chary and her husband Jimmy, and their sons and daughter- in- law. Got to spend time with a new little baby girl. Joan said it felt good to hold a little girl after three grandsons. LOL

Spent the day with Chary and Jimmy at a casino in Mt. Airy, Penn. We didn't have much luck but had a great time.

Spent Halloween with Carter and Griffin, Barb & Brett and a lot of Carter's classmates at a nice Halloween party at a friends house. A very fun evening.

Joan and I celebrated our 11th anniversary with a quiet dinner at one of my favorite restaurants P.F. Changs.

And the entire month of December although at times hectic has been wonderful. A faculty and staff dinner at the university.

Joan has worked her butt off this whole month, with decorating, cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping with just a little bit of help from me. LOL

Carter and Griffin's Christmas pageants were absolutely beautiful. Joan's sister Debbie and her husband Mike came for a great visit the week before Christmas which was wonderful.

Great Christmas programs at our church. Spending the day with Griffin at the Christmas sand displays, great lunch at a restaurant on the ocean with Joan's brother Russ and his wife Joan while Mike & Debbie were here, Christmas Day at Barb's. Russ and Joan came for a great dinner prepared by Joan, and then Saturday Martha and Jimmy and Anita came over to celebrate a belated Christmas with us. Sunday evening Joan and I went to see a hilarious movie, Parental Guidance with Bette Midler and Billy Crystal followed by a quiet dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. And New Year's Eve we have Carter and Griffin here with us so Mommy and Daddy could have a nice evening out. Having our little guys here to spend the end of the year with us is just like the icing on the cake.

So all in all even with a few set backs here and there 2012 has been a pretty darn good year for us.

We hope all our family and friends will experience wonderful things during 2013.