Can you believe it's the end of 2013? WTF! Where did the time go?! I have not blogged as consistently as I should but I have maintained enough to say I still have a blog! Last I left off I had just turned 50! It's hard to believe that too!

December was busy month so I thought I would post a few pictures since my 50th with a few remarks. Seems like a lot has happened in less than a month.




















Our beautiful home this Christmas. We are so blessed to have moved into such a great neighborhood and into such a great house that we continue to upgrade and make our own.


We had a wonderful neighborhood Christmas party which included our friends and new neighbors this year. We shared the honors with Dave and Corrine next door - they did savories and we did dessert. Had about 45 people stop by.


Our friends Chuck and Carla invited us to the finals of NCAA volleyball at Key Arena! Great fun and great volleyball.


Final basketball game before Christmas.


Party at Sean and Barbara's - Teddy looking his best!


An evening with Buzz and Diane and our dear friend and their daughter Barbara.





Trip to Wenatchee for Christmas Eve with Kent's family and Christmas Eve dinner in Leavenworth.





Home on Christmas Day - just the two of us and our pups. Frog was from my parents - hilarious!





San Fran for the bowl game!


Out of order picture of Harry - this was Christmas Day.


Our new mascot courtesy of Cammy and Dean!


Friend of Heidi's from the Bay Area - go Dawgs!











Bowl game fun with great friends - Dawgs won over BYU!

















Train trip on Amtrak from Bay Area to LA. Loved our trip on the train and met wonderful people!






























Ended our winter break in Palm Springs with lots of relaxation and hiking! Love the desert in the winter!

This pretty much sums up our December. We are having dinner with friends tomorrow evening for New Year's Eve which we are looking forward to.

Couple things the pictures did not depict which are important - in December I got a promotion at work and will be the new director of our division. It's a big job that I am both honored and excited to be given the opportunity to take on. 2014 will be an exciting and challenging year.

Lastly we purchased an iPad mini for my parents for Christmas. It's been fun to use both FaceTime and to text with them more regularly. Can't wait to visit with them in a few months and show them even more features.

Happy New Year!

Later - Jim

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I'm still in my 40's!

Well for one more day! I wanted to share an email that my Mom sent to my brother and I that I thought was very sweet. Thanks Mom. Don't stop reading until you read the follow up email - she cracks me up! I'm on the left, my twin brother Andy is in the middle and my younger brother David is on the right.




Subject: Your First Picture
Sent: 11/17/13

Dear Jim and Andy;

Nov,17,1963 was the first visual image I ever saw of you. The doctor who eventually
agreed to order them was mad at me because he didn't believe I was carrying twins, and thought it was a waste of time. Doctor Solberg was out of town. So I subjected the two of you to x-rays, and the nurse let me look at you before she told the Doctor. Even in black and white imagery you were the most perfect picture I had ever seen. Jim looking for the world like he was ready to head out of there and Andy calmly sitting on Jims butt.. I could never find a way to express my absolute awe of seeing you, as a part of and yet completely separate of me. As I drove home my western music on the radio was interrupted by the news that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas Texas. He was the first president who I recognized as MY President. But even his shocking death could not erase the awe of your picture. Customers and friends always said they were unsure who stirred the most excitement the President or the two of you. So many people rejoiced with my news. They couldn't tell by the x-rays if you were boys or girls, but I knew. For I had requested you right from God. Doctor Solberg guessed by the heart beat that you were both boys. Seventeen days later you made your debut. You have been my joy ever since. So happy first picture day; from your Mom who has been rejoicing for fifty years. I pray that you will each have fifty more. Thank you for being just exactly who you are.
Love and prayers always
Mom

Subject: Mistaken Date
Sent: 11/20/13

I was watching TV on the 17 and the assignation was on and I assumed it was the day President Kennedy was killed, but it was on the 22nd of November that it happened and 12 days not 17 days later the two of you were born. It should be the correct dates so please correct your history. I love you Mom

Love you Mom!

Later - Jim

I'm still in my 40's!

Well for one more day! I wanted to share an email that my Mom sent to my brother and I that I thought was very sweet. Thanks Mom. Don't stop reading until you read the follow up email - she cracks me up! I'm on the left, my twin brother Andy is in the middle and my younger brother David is on the right.




Subject: Your First Picture
Sent: 11/17/13

Dear Jim and Andy;

Nov,17,1963 was the first visual image I ever saw of you. The doctor who eventually
agreed to order them was mad at me because he didn't believe I was carrying twins, and thought it was a waste of time. Doctor Solberg was out of town. So I subjected the two of you to x-rays, and the nurse let me look at you before she told the Doctor. Even in black and white imagery you were the most perfect picture I had ever seen. Jim looking for the world like he was ready to head out of there and Andy calmly sitting on Jims butt.. I could never find a way to express my absolute awe of seeing you, as a part of and yet completely separate of me. As I drove home my western music on the radio was interrupted by the news that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas Texas. He was the first president who I recognized as MY President. But even his shocking death could not erase the awe of your picture. Customers and friends always said they were unsure who stirred the most excitement the President or the two of you. So many people rejoiced with my news. They couldn't tell by the x-rays if you were boys or girls, but I knew. For I had requested you right from God. Doctor Solberg guessed by the heart beat that you were both boys. Seventeen days later you made your debut. You have been my joy ever since. So happy first picture day; from your Mom who has been rejoicing for fifty years. I pray that you will each have fifty more. Thank you for being just exactly who you are.
Love and prayers always
Mom

Subject: Mistaken Date
Sent: 11/20/13

I was watching TV on the 17 and the assignation was on and I assumed it was the day President Kennedy was killed, but it was on the 22nd of November that it happened and 12 days not 17 days later the two of you were born. It should be the correct dates so please correct your history. I love you Mom

Love you Mom!

Later - Jim

Jess and April's Wedding

Congratulations to Jess and April on your wedding! I am so happy for the two of you! What a great event it was!

I'm a little late in posting about the wedding - it took place on 11/23 in Troutdale OR. Not only did we have a great time at the wedding - it was great to see six of my seven siblings. Below are a few pictures of the event.



























































I'll spare you from seeing all the selfies that I took and only include a few!

Later - Jim

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