New Scrapbook Pages Sneak Preview

I thought I'd put a copy of our scrapbook pages on our blog. I will be mailing your copies soon.

34th wedding anniversary

For our 34th anniversary we went to a houseboat for a few days. It was in Brinnon, WA. Brinnon is a little, (I mean little) town past Quilcene. The house boats were located at a marina. We spent 2 nights there. On Tue. we drove around the area and went to the Duckabush National Forest and saw the Rocky Brook Water Fall. It was amazing! I think it was the most beautiful water fall I have ever seen. It was really cold and there was ice all around. At times the drift wood and rocks were pretty slippery. But was indeed worth the short hike to get there. We also walked around a garden and nursery. It was calm and peaceful. I'm sure it is beautiful in the summer when the plants are all in bloom. We saw a couple of plants we would like to get for our yard later this spring. There wasn't much to do there but spend time together. We watched a few movies, read, relaxed and visited. The house boat was equiped with a microwave and a small refrigerator. So we took all our food and fixed simple meals. It also had a spa in the room. It was just a special relaxing few days. It is something we would like to do again in the future.

Houseboat

Retirement Edit

We posted pictures of Dad's retirement. Check it out below.

FAMILY REUNION

Last July we had a family reunion. We met at the Lion's Lodge in Smithfield. It was fun seeing everyone and catching up on their lives. These are just random pictures from that day.

Spring Family Reunion 2007

MY GRANDCHILDREN, BLESS THEIR HEARTS!

Spring had called me a few days ago and said that she was going to send me a box and that I needed to call her as soon as I got it. Thomas also called and said they had sent a box for me, he was pretty excited about it. A couple days later Spring said she had sent her other Grandma a snake in the mail. I laughed with her and she finally said she was teasing. I didn't think much more about it until last night when I saw the mail. There was a package from Thomas and Spring. I figured it was something they had made for me. I opened it, totally trusting them. As I opened the box a rubber snake popped out. Of course I screamed and then laughed. They really caught me off guard. I called and left a message on their phone. I called them again this morning and we had a good laugh. I told Spring I would send her spiders in the m,ail. She asked me if they would be real, I said yes. Then she told me she didn't like spiders, not even fake ones. I told her I really wouldn't send her spiders. I was going to tell Thomas that I would send somethiong to him that would make a loud noise as soon as he opened it, but he was busy playing and had to get back to more important things. So Thomas, you'll never know if I'll send you something that will make a really big noise when you open it or not. You both better be careful when you open a package from me. (not really, but I'll tease you about it) You can tell you are your Mother's children. I love you inspite of being scared to death.

snakes

Trip Back to California

Gary's Retirement

After 37 years and 4 months of Federal service (including my sick leave), I decided to retire and start another life outside of a 40 hours per week routine. I start another job on 9 January as a maintenance techician for two apartment complexes in Poulsbo averaging 24 hours per week. It was a special occasion to have my brother, Curt and some of his family attend as well as my wife and two of my children, Jen and Brandon, and most of their family members. My Chief Scheduler, Angie Kramer, represented me and gave my 36 year work history and was presented with a retirement pin, certificate, plaque and watch by the Shipyard Commander, Capt. Peters, and then said a few words in appreciation to those who contributed to my career's success. Fourteen of us were feted at the 4 January 2008 ceremony held at the Olympic Lodge on Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at approximately 1:30 PM for about two hours.

Flowers from Gary

I was at work on Wednesday, January 3rd (Gary's retirement day), around 10:30 am. A florist came into the office with this bouquet of flowers for me. She said that when Gary ordered them for me he told her that for 34 years I had been getting up each morning with him before work, fixing breakfast, and putting up his lunch. He told her this was his way of saying thank you. The flowers were beautiful and he had even enclosed a letter for me. I sat in my office and cried. I called home to see if Gary was there but he wasn't home from work yet so I told Jen, "Guess what Dad did..." and then started crying again.
Here is the letter that Gary enclosed with the flowers:

Maybe I ddin't love you
Quite as often as I could have,
And maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have.
If I made you feel second best,
Girl I'm sorry I was blind.
You were always on my mind.
You were always on my mind.

And maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times,
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine.
Little things I should have said and done,
I just never took the time.
But you were always on my mind.
You were always on my mind.

Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died.
And give me, give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied.
I'll keep you satisfied.

Little things I should have said and done,
I just never took the time.
But you were always on my mind.
You were always on my mind.

"ALWAYS ON MY MIND"
By Willie Nelson

Thank you for all the years you got up in the morning to fix breakfast for me, put up my lunch, make treats for me to take into work and take me to work when I was too late to get in my vanpool and any other things I forgot now. I know I've thanked you for those things before but I felt you needed something more. This is that "something more". I LOVE YOU!

Gary