Merry CHRISTmas to all!

Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed CHRISTmas this year. Levi was able to spend Christmas with Grandad and Grandma Dixie down in Yuma, I hear it was quite the dinner and a very enjoyable family time. We are hoping to make it down there next year for an even bigger holiday dinner!

Jacqui has spent the last week between Grandad #1's and Grandma Quack Quack's houses while I stay in Spokane and work. I have enjoyed the break (I have been sleeping in every day!), but also miss my little 'helper'. Grandad #1 sent some pics to post on the blog so here they are. Jacqui has been very excited about Christmas this year and was very impressed that ALL the presents under Grandad's tree had her name on it "not even one little one was for Grandad, they were all mine!" They had dinner with some of his friends from work, and she was happily the center of attention as she was the only kid there. She has been giving his puppies lots of attention and love. Grandad was pretty smart for her presents this year and wrapped up the fixin's for s'mores, her favorite. She was very excited and told me all about it on the phone. They also had a tea party outside by the fire, in the freezing cold... Grandad #1 tells me they spend hours out there, it is Jacqui's favorite thing to do with Grandad! They also went to see 'The Princess and the Frog' the new Disney movie, which Jacqui was pretty impressed with. Grandad #2 and Grandma Dixie got her the Princess Tiana doll for Christmas, and she thought that was pretty neat! Hope everyone's Christmas was wonderful. It was cold in Spokane, but no snow. I worked the whole week, but enjoyed some time scrapbooking and looking at family pics. I will put up more pics and stories from Grandma Quack Quack and Grandad #1 as I get them over the next few weeks. God Bless!

Happy Birthday Mikey/Thanksgiving 09'

This year Mike and I were happy to have Thanksgiving at our little home:) We fit 12 people into our space, and it worked! Katie and Sean made a delicious pie and turkey, mom and Matt brought mom's famous candied yams, dad and Diana made a delightful dinner salad, Cass and Eric decorated the cute x-mas cookies in the picture, and I had to make mashed potatoes of course. Mike's brother John and his son Billy joined in on the festivities.


Mike also celebrated his birthday on the 2nd. We had a few gatherings for his birthday. Here are a few pictures including lunch at Ivar's on the pier in Seattle with dad and Diana, and the Outback Steakhouse with mom, Matt and friends.

Lion King on Broadway

Jacqui and I took our friends Cori and Kris to the Lion King last night as our Christmas present. It was a spectacular show! The set was absolutely breathtaking, the lights, colors, details, everything was just amazing. The costumes are so creative, the dancers are the animals, as the costumes, and the lines of the animal blends right into the person. You cannot differentiate where the animal ends, what is costume, and where the human and the dancer begins. The dancers were all so graceful in their portrayal of zebra, elephants, antelope, lions and the other animals of the pride lands. It was a great performance and we really enjoyed it. It was a 3 hour long show, but Jacqui was even able to sit through it, and stay awake (we were up way past her bedtime on a school night!). At the end of the performance they were taking donations for Broadway Cares, a charity for fighting AIDS in South Africa. Jacqui and I were able to donate and got a picture with Mufasa and little Simba. Little Simba is a 10 year old boy, and he was amazing on stage, he has quite a voice and is quite the little spunky dancer! It was a great show and we really had a great time. The Lion King has a great message and if any of you get a chance to see this show, there is definitely a reason it is a number 1 Broadway production. You will not be disappointed, we are hoping to go again next year, if they still come to Spokane. The set was so intricate and detailed, the lighting exquisite, you really felt like you were right there in the Pride Lands, or part of the jungle... The singing was marvelous, these guys can sing! My favorite was Rafiki, who was played by a woman. Her voice was very powerful and moving. It was a great show, and a wonderful Christmas memory.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! In Spokane, we had Grandad come and stay with us for the long weekend. He helped me finish many of my projects (I've always got SO many going!) and spent lots of quality time with JR while I was working. We decided to forgo a traditional turkey dinner, and instead had Thanksgiving fondue... Delicious! Jacqui and I are very thankful for all of you this year and for all our supportive family and friends. We really are very blessed and are thankful for that. We got to talk to Grandma Dixie and Grandad #2 on Skype, which was fun. Jacqui sang them some of her school songs, and Grandma sang her the little white duck song, which tickled her pink!
We went to Red Lobster for dinner the first night Grandad was here by Jacqui's request, they are new in Spokane, so that was a nice treat. We talked about what we are thankful for throughout the weekend, and Jacqui did remind me before I posted this that "Mom I know what you are thankful for... You are thankful for such a cute kid! (as she is beaming with her missing teeth)". And truly, I am thankful for my cute kid, as well as our good health, and that we are both learning so much in school, that I am employed in a job I really enjoy, and for all we have. It is a year to give much thanks, and I am thankful for all of you. So, thank you, all of you, for being great family, supportive friends, and loving to us in every way possible. We would not be able to accomplish so much without your prayers and support, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice is back in town and Jacqui and I were able to go and take our friend Cori, and her friend Devin. It was a great show this year with Cars, the Little Mermaid, the Lion King, and Tinkerbell and her fairy friends. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy were the hosts, and we had such a great time. Jacqui dressed up in her princess dress that Grandad (#1) bought her in Mexico, last year the dress was way too big, and this year... well she has obviously grown a lot since last year! Cars was fun to watch the different characters slide around the ice and figure out how to get Mickey and Minnie's care running. Her favorite part of the show was the Lion King, "because I like the lift up part". She liked the duet skating with the lifts and all the pretty animals that were part of the Lion King. Cori, Devin, and I really liked the Tinkerbell part of the show and watching all the fairies work on bringing spring to the world. The costumes were so colorful and sparkly. Jacqui also really wanted a picture with Tinkerbell, so we all got a picture taken for the scrapbook, that I scanned for the blog. She was quite the princess watching the show and we are blessed to have the opportunity to go to fun events like this!

Jacqui's Kindergarten School Picture

We finally got Jacqui's school pictures back. Amazingly, she took a pretty good pic, since they herd them through pretty quickly :)! You can see her 2 new 'grown up' teeth coming in the bottom.

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day, and we all have many people to thank for their service to our country and their bravery and potential sacrifice for the allowance of our way of life. Grandad and Grandpa Jim served in the Army and the Air Force (although it wasn't called the Air Force then, it was the Air Corps) at the end of World War II. Grandpa Al was a military policeman in the Army, and Jacqui and I have many friends in Spokane who have served in all branches, the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and even the Coast Guard. Many of us get this day off as a federal holiday, and do not know its history or even what we are 'celebrating'. A brief history of Veterans Day off of Military.com follows:
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Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.
Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday — Saturday or Sunday — the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management — a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.
President Eisenhower’s letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee

The White House Office
October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
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We are blessed to live in this country, to have men and women who are willing on a regular basis to serve our country in protecting our freedom and fighting for justice, dignity, and equality. Many of your friends and even extended family may be veterans. Please recognize their sacrifice and their service and tell them thank you. They always appreciate it so much and do not get this recognition or thanks enough. So thank you Grandad (#2), Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Al, and all our other friends who have served and contributed toward the freedom we take for granted. We love you guys and appreciate everything you did and were willing to do for this country and for us. Thank You!