Merry Christmas!!

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the yard,
not a cousin was ready not even Gregory Bernard.

The sodas were flowing and the laughs were contagious,
Uncle Frank was still quite outrageous.

Chris sat begging for the laughs to subside,
because she was getting a stitch in her side.

While Lisa was enjoying a new status with her "cat eyeglasses",
Steve was getting ready to join the masses.

When off to the side Angela heard such a clatter,
Ann said "What in the world is the matter?"

When what to our wondering eyes should appear,
but Bill with all of his camera gear.

He yelled at the top of his lungs,
get your attention.

Up Artie, up Cathy, up Ronnie & Monica;
Up Susan, up Kurt, up Diane and Kenny.

It's time to smile,
it's time to line up tight
and say:
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Happy Birthday Don!

Don, you have an absolutely beautiful family - I hope you and Heather will make it to the next reunion. We had such a great time, but we missed you.
Have a wonderful day!

Bill, come on down - it's your birthday!

Bill was the official photographer for the reunion and did an absolutely GREAT job - THANK YOU Bill!
Hope you, Becky and family have a great day together -

Happy Birthday Chuckie -

Can you believe it, I finally have a picture of Chuckie - thanks Ann!
Oh, Chuck - first I want to thank you immensely for being there for your mom after your dad died. I know she depended on you a lot for many things, so THANK YOU!
And of course, I have a story - -
Chuck, you were just a little tyke and you fell out of the swing set and broke your arm. Your mom was so worried about you but she also had three other smaller boys at home, so you stayed at Grandma's house the first night after you had the cast put on. I tucked you into bed and elevated your arm on a pillow; you were so sweet and never complained or cried about your break. The very next day, Rick proceeded to show Grandma how you fell out of the swing and broke his arm.

Happy Birthday Pam!

Wow, the three amigos - Pam is on the right (and looking great!) Actually there were four born the same year, Cindy on the left, JoEllen in the middle, Pam and Chuckie (not pictured). What a deal to have that many cousins in the same grade and growing up together. Needless to say, there were some great times and also some not so great times.
Pam, I will never forget the time your house was struck by lightening - the bolt came through the bathroom, bounced through the kitchen and went out the living room. Thank God no one was in the path of harm, but for many years Betty had three little bumps (Judy, Pam & Jackie) attached to her leg every time there was a rumble of thunder. I'm sure you have outgrown the fear of lightening by now (maybe).
Happy Birthday Pam!!!

Happy Anniversary Jerry & Chris -

Holy Cow!! You guys have been married 30 years already - where in the world has the time gone!



Hope you have a wonderful day together, and all your family is home to celebrate with you!

Happy Birthday Eric -

Eric, we hope you have a wonderful day.

Enjoy your day with your beautiful family, it is a pleasure having you in our family!

Well, this has been quite a week - we had some cut backs in our company which make me feel terrible. I am in Human Resources and have to help with all the paperwork (thank God I don't have to sit in on the final interview) but I know these people so well. Just before Christmas and many have young families or have illness in their families. I know that we can't let our emotions play a role and we have to do what is right for the company, but . . . I just wanted to die for these people who lost their jobs this week.
So this morning I'm at work and walk through the lobby and this is what I see out of the floor to ceiling windows . . .

It was a complete rainbow reaching from the ground to ground - the colors were so vibrant and beautiful! I couldn't believe the beauty and of course we all know that a rainbow is God's way saying that there is hope! (click on the picture and you can see it full size and full color)

Which reminds me of when I was flying home for the reunion last fall, the leg from Dallas to Des Moines was a smaller plane and I was looking out of the window down at the ground and I saw a complete rainbow from the top! It was the most amazing sight I had ever seen, I would have loved to have gotten a picture of it but was too busy looking at it!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Hey there Hannah, hope you have a wonderful day! Tell Grandma Bernie to buy you something special for a very special girl. What a cute face!!

Birthdays - Birthdays - Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Steve! Hope you and Angela have a great day together along with your brother-in-law, Steve and the rest of the clan.


And the other Steve - happy birthday! These are great pictures of Steve during the reunion, he is looking good and loves showing off that beautiful granddaughter of his.

I remember when Steve was about 6 or 7 and he was sitting on the back step with grandpa laughing and telling him about how dumb the kids were in school. "Grandpa, they didn't even know what a "dolly" on a trailer is!" Can you imagine! Grandpa loved to tell that story to everyone, how great and smart his wonderful grandchild was.



Mary Ann, it's your day as well! Yup, we recognize you behind that sun glasses!

Mary Ann, you were always there for the folks. I think Grandma always had a soft spot in her heart for you since you came from "down home" in West Point. And you being a nurse helped her immensely when she was dealing with grandpa's cancer. Thank you for being there for them when they needed you most!