Christmas Letter 2012

Dear Friends and Family,

It is again that time of year.  Wow!  The years go faster and faster.  We enjoyed spending a lot of our granddaughter Briar Rose's first year with her.  We were able to share most of her first holidays. She was a year old December 8. It seems hard to believe.  We are proud of  her mommy Jess for staying in school and participating in so many school activities like band, one acts, show choir, and of course art.  We flew her to Kansas City for portfolio day at the Kansas City Institute of Art where she received favorable reviews.  She is quite the artist.

The other grandkids are doing well too.  Sierra is in 8th grade this year, and Sammy and Kaya are growing taller and wiser.  Our children are still in their same careers.  Mandy and Teresa are in health care.  Teresa did the sugar beet harvest this year, and is now doing home health care.  Mandy is working for a nursing home.  Chad is in his second year of teaching math and coaching.  Tori is doing well with her naturopathy practice.

In January Frank and his brother David had a celebration for their Mom's (Alice's) life.  We shared our favorite memories of her.  Frank made a video to share photos, and we were very moved by it.  We miss her and yet we know she is at peace now.

March madness brought Frank and Chad to Omaha.  I spent one night with them before heading to Kimball to celebrate Jessie's birthday with her, Teresa, and Briar Rose.  Jess and Alex's sister Maegyn have birthdays one week apart so we celebrated them together.  I went back for Easter and took Briar Rose to her first church service.

Frank took me to St. Louis and Chicago to celebrate my birthday.  We went to a Yanni concert.  It was great until someone broke into our van and stole our computers, I-pad, and kindle.  Thankfully, we had insurance and were able to replace them.  Unfortunately, Frank's business computer was stolen though, which cost him hours of work to re-do all his stuff.

After school was out all the grandkids made it to our place for Camp Nana.  We had a good time at Worlds of Fun and other adventures.  I always love spending time with the grandkids and this year it was great to have Briar Rose join Jess, Sierra, Kaya, and Samson for the fun.  We spent part of the time in Eureka Springs.   It was awesome.

July was hot and fun.  We rented a boat and went with Tori, Caleb, and kids to Table Rock Lake. The last part of July and the first part of August we vacationed with Frank's brother and sister-in-law David and Sherry.  We camped on the north rim of the Grand Canyon where we renewed our vows after fifteen years of marriage.  The view was spectacular.  Then we headed for the lights of Vegas where the fun continued.  Above is a photos of Frank's brother David with Vegas showgirls. :) 

October we went to Eureka Springs to carve pumpkins with Kaya and Samson and then to Dallas so Frank could attend continuing ed classes.  Thus was the beginning of our Holiday season.  We went to the Bruce Springsteen concert in KC to celebrate the election results. We went to Tori's for Thanksgiving dinner and had a wonderful feast.  The first of December my brother's son Seth hosted a Christmas party in Gothenburg, NE, where Seth is activity director at the school.  It was a wonderful time.  The children in the above picture are nephews Crayton, Bailey, and Bryce Ryker, Ryan Douglass, nieces Katy Douglass & Jaden Ryker, and our precious baby Briar Rose. Then I went to Kimball for an early celebration of Briar Rose's first birthday.  She is such a sweetie.  Now we are getting ready for Christmas.  It has been a blessed year, and we are looking forward to 2013.  We hope you have an awesome year as well.

Merry Christmas!

Patty and FrankChristmas Letter 2012