SNOW

Kaityn took this photo of the tree in front of our house around 7 this morning. She was very excited that school had been cancelled today due to the snow.

We have about 3 inches of snow and it was still falling a few minutes ago.

Tim made it down South Hill this morning slipping and sliding. The car in front of him made a 180 degree spin and the driver freaked out. Thankfully Tim had enough distance between them and wasn't affected.

Since my boss thinks I'm a loser for not being in the office, I'm going to brave my way down the hill here in a few minutes. I just wanted to wait it out until it got light and most of the idiots were off the road. Wish me luck!

A Tearful Goodbye

Today was the estate sale at my Dad's house. I hired an estate management company to run the entire process. I knew I didn't want to watch it happening, but I had to go there today for an hour or so to sign over the titles to both of my Dad's vehicles. It was pretty shocking to see a bunch of strangers (the street was lined with vehicles on both sides) looking through and taking all of the stuff that my Dad and step-mother had collected over the years, the clothes they wore, and the couches they sat on.
The estate person uncovered items I didn't even know existed and didn't remember from my childhood. It was really sad to see it all walk away. It sort of felt like losing my Dad all over again, but I know it was just "stuff".
I was lucky enough to intercept about 200 old photo slides from the 1970s and am having some of them converted into actual photo prints. There were pictures of my Dad at his various job sites, a trip to Disneylad we took in 1975, old Christmas photos, and who knows what else I will find when I go through all of them. I'm glad I got these memories before they were sold to a stranger!
I will share a story that brought a tear to my eyes today. (It was the first of many that have flowed since!).
My Dad's next door neighbor for 30 years, an sweet old man named Mr. Johnson, moved to Florida several years ago. His nephew, in his early 30s, now lives in the house to keep an eye on things. Today when I was at the house, he was there and looking through some things in the kitchen. I saw him buy a pie plate for 50 cents. When I asked him if he was going to make pie, he gave me a brief and somewhat shy smile, with a tear in his eye and said, "no, your mom used to make me pie". That did it, the tears came. It even brought a tear to the eye of the lady running the estate sale. This young man wanted to buy a pie plate to remind him of the sweet lady who used to live next door that would make him pie. Priceless!
The actual house is up for sale and it will soon (I hope) be all over. Although I miss my Dad every day, I will be thankful when this whole process is over and the estate is settled.

I'm Done!

Today I passed my last supervisory securities exam. I am now a fully-registered general securities principle. Who would have thought that possible a year ago?
The flowers on the right arrived at my office today from my Mom and the flowers on the left were brought to my "magarita party" this afternoon from the management team at the office. I had a little celebration party to commemorate this amazing feat and relax a little.
Thank you Dani, Tracy, Aimee, Kim and Jim for joining me (and Jim for paying) and helping me celebrate my success. Your support has been an amazing gift and I don't think I could have made it without each of you.
To dear, sweet, running-out-of patience, Tim: thank you for putting up with the stressed out crazy and insane person that you've had to live with this last year. I hope to get back to "normal" again soon and you will finally get your wife back!

Wedding of the Year!

Miss Kaitlyn did it again! The smart little thing remembered to bring her camera to the wedding of the year last weekend.

Miss Shelley Mauss is now Mrs. Jonathan Sprouffske!

Shelley and Jonathan were married on Saturday afternoon at St. Charles with a reception following at Union Station in downtown Tacoma. It was a very small affair with only about 450 guests in attendance! Plumeria flowers flown in from Hawaii that arrived just that morning were adorning the tables, and even our heads by the end of the evening.

Here are some photos from the reception...

Sir Timmy and the Bride (with beer in hand - how typical!)
Sir Timmy and Katie Sue
Mother and Daughter
Kris & Aimee

Kaitlyn to the Rescue!

Leave it to Miss Kaitlyn to have her camera! I completely forgot she had me take a picture on her camera on Christmas day. I do have a Christmas photo!!!!!