Promise of Jumping Back In

Christmas has been fun and busy. Starting on Christmas Eve at Steves sister Janets. We had a great dinner and then a pool challenge which Steve and John won. Some Buckeye O-H-I-O combinations with current and former Buckeyes. And of course some family shots.

John, Steve, Janet, and Jessica

John, Steve, Tim, and Janet

Christmas Day

AJ's arrangement of napkin ring reindeer, Santa and presents, name card holders.

AND...

Dinner with the Georges,Wednesday night with the annual hanging spoon tradition.

Jane and Tom

 Yes Rosie! She's got it.

 Emily, Sally, Jessica and Mike all together

 I've got the spoon and the fork this year

 Emily and Sally

 Jessica and Sally

 Linda, Sally, Rosie, Jane, Jessica, and Emily

 Tom, Rose, Jane, Sally and Emily

And finally ...

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
and

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

To John on his Birthday

Dear John,
Happy 31st birthday. Yesterday reminded me of the Christmas you were born. The sun was shining and it was cold. We celebrated with family which, of course I didn't get to do on December 25, 1980, because I was at Toledo Hospital. Your aunts and uncles were at Grandparent Stanfords house waiting for an update on your arrival, which of course they didn't get because you weren't delivered until well after midnight.

We thought of you often yesterday as Uncle John Stanford and Annal joined us in celebration. The highlight was having everyone together for dinner. Jessica got back from study abroad in Italy on Friday after being gone for 4 months and Micheal drove up from Bowling Green. AJ and your wonderful wife Jesi were here as well as the Chandlers.

 We got a new electric train for AJ. Two years ago he fell in love with Dad and Uncle Johns old broken Lionel train and I had to put it away for Christmas. I told him Santa took it with him to see if he could repair it and get it working. Often this past year AJ has inquired about the old train looking forward to seeing how Santa handled the repairs. He was delighted with the new result and since it is still the same gauge rail we can use many of the old cars.

As always John, we miss having you around. You and Annal would have had many more great times together. You would delight in seeing your son develop into the young man he is becoming. You would be proud of the job Jesi is doing with AJ, as well as in life without you. Today will be a long one for me but then I will jump back on the train of life and remember with a smile my first born.
Happy Birthday John.
Love Mom

Christmas Quote for today

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."

Wisdom quote for Christmas

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

This is the direct quote but I am sure it should read most bitter rather than bitterest? Is that even a word?

Christmas Thought #2

“When faced with a tough choice, pause for a moment and think what your Mother would say about your decision”

Sunday Night One week til Christmas 7 thoughts

Great weekend with friends and Christmas parties, but the countdown to Christmas has begun. Can't wait til Friday when Jessica arrives from Italy. What a great week it will be.

"Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. "

A Bugz Christmas

By the kindergarten and first grade of Glendale Feilbach School, with the help of lots of teachers and moms and dads.

Starring AJ Stanford as a glo worm.

Looking for audience fans before the production begins.

The singing parts

The speaking part (executed perfectly)

The whole look after the show.

More of the cast...

and finally with #1 fan

Rain Again

I am getting quite tired of this continous rain. It feels like it has rained for 40 days and perhaps we should be building our arks. The ground is saturated and there are puddles all over. I am also beginning to think I would prefer that it be snow. At least when it snows it is usually pretty to look at. Today I am working on a glow worm costume for AJ, for his school Christmas program. The program is December 14.

Mike making the news

I think I have mentioned that Mike has become an active member in the Bowling Green Aktion Club which is an organization of the Kiwanis. For the Christmas parade in Bowling Green this year the Aktion club decided to collect food along the parade route and donate it to the local food bank. Mike appeared on the local news with his Aktion club as well as being quoted in print. The first article is from the Perrysburg Messenger Journal and the second article is from the Bowling Green Sentinel. Nice job Stanford.

If you click on the picture it should make it big enough to read the articles.