2012 RECAP

I guess I should have done a recap of 2012 before I started with 2013.  Just to excited to share the new addition with everyone.  In February we learned that Jim's B-I-L John had dementia and Jo had to quit her job to stay at home with him.  We spent a lot of our free time this year in Fredonia trying to help Jo out.  Jake & Heidi had Jacie on March 31st.  She's a cutie!  The Friday before Mother's Day we skyped with Pat, Kat and Elle.  Elle held up a sign that said I'm going to be a big sister.  That was the perfect Mother's Day gift.  I am continuing to work as a property manager here in town.  It can be very frustrating at times dealing with the government and all their paperwork.  The up side is the people.  I love to sit and chat with them. learn about their families, hobbies and the "old days".  Elle come to visit in June for a couple of weeks.  We had lots of things planned, but sadly, she was sick with roseola for a week.  We did go to KU's Natural History Museum.  She wasn't impressed with the bones though.  She wanted to go outside and see the actual dinosaurs.  Her favorite thing there was stuffed animals.  Oh, and the Jayhawks.  Poor child....

We went to the Combat Air Museum to see the airplanes. She was having a great time until a worker started up some power tools and then she was ready to go. She does not like loud noises.

Checking herself out in the mirror!



There was a lot of building and demolition here at home. She loved making Mommy's work (hospital) and the grocery store and then using her hammer to demolish them. Elle & I went to get our toenails painted. We both got orange, Elle's favorite color.  Miss Tosha also braided Elle's hair very pretty.  After we were done Elle sat in the dryer chair with a strange look on her face. Earlier Tosha had told her that air comes out of the hood.  She said she was waiting for the air.  Tosha hooked her up with some nice warm air.  Gramma's toes were not as pretty as Elle's.  Elle had knocked a heavy bar chair over and it landed on my big toenail.  She just kept telling me my toe wasn't pretty.

 

 

 We also got to make some yummy sunshine cookies for Gramma to share with her bunco group and our family.

 

 

Then there was a trip to the Discovery Center with Gramma, Grampa, Grandad and Uncle Mike.  She played doctor, veterinarian, worked the grain, painted, did auto repair and lots more.  Her favorite thing by far was the vacuum tubes.  She spent lots of time loading the puff balls and scarves into the tubes and watching them fly out.

 



After the Discovery Center it was off to the airport to get Daddy. She was so excited to see her Daddy! 

 

 



Elle got to hold her new cousin, Jacie.  Good practice for when her new brother or sister arrives.  After Elle's visit the year was life as usual.  Late in August when we learned we would be getting a grandson in January!  That is exactly what we were hoping for.  I so want Pat to have a boy too.  Later that night Pat called and asked if it would be okay to name him Toby.  We could not have been happier.  Still makes me cry!  The rest of the year paled in comparison to our summer.  We flew to Texas for Elle's birthday in November.  She is just getting so big!  There was a new swing set, chasing, hiding, a party, planting flowers and lots of hugs & kisses.

After our trip to Texas we learned that John had taken a turn for the worse.  On the Saturday before Thanksgiving we hurried to Fredonia and sadly John passed away at home a few hours after our arrival.  His funeral was the day before Thanksgiving and the family was all there to give Jo support.  It's been a long time since so much of the family had been together.  We were only missing Pat, Kat and Elle.  Jo decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house the next day.  December was not a good month for me.  I made it through the anniversary of Dale's death.  I still miss her every day.  Looming in the background was my Aunt Marion and her health.  She had gotten some of my cousins to move her back to Kansas in November.  She wanted to be "home" when she died.  She didn't have to wait long.  Sunday before Christmas, I was at the hospital with my cousins holding her hand as she took her last breath.  It's not something I'm comfortable with, but I did it.  Dad, ironically, was in Colorado with Mom visiting Tonya and family for Christmas.  Her funeral was held on New Year's Eve in the snow.  What a way to end a year!  Well I guess that's it...at least it's what I remember!