Nowhere to go

I think Lonny had been here about 10 days when we were snowed in for a week. Every night it would snow and school would be canceled again. Emily was not arguing about sleeping in. With no homework she could have gone another couple of weeks with that monotony.

I think Lonny left the house everyday. He took Emily to piano lessons on some treacherous mountain peak. He took Emily to the dentist. He got the oil in the car changed. He picked up essentials, like donuts, when we ran out. That four wheel drive was worth every cent in those blizzard conditions. Look, the snow is almost to the top of Emily's flip flops. Some people have expressed concern about Lonny spending the day at home. But he is not afraid to leave.

Groundhogs were not alone spotting their shadow in February. And you know what that means....the sun is out. (And by the way that tree trunk looks much more substantial with Jenny, Jon, Kirsten, Colton, Eric and Emily sitting on top.) We had sunny days for walks to Cap Sante Park and the marina. Lonny may have come home with this boat if he had the checkbook.

This is the memorial for those lost at sea from Anacortes. (Emily refers to those from Anacortes as Annacordians.) Sadly there is ample room for more names. I became interested in this subject when I discovered the family whose home we purchased is a prominent fishing family with a commercial fishing boat disaster in their history. In fact the worst fishing boat disaster in US history up until that point. I read the book.

Lonny and I also hiked on Whidbey Island right straight across from the house. Mt. Baker is in this photo but covered in snow and too faint to see, but it is right there in the middle. You will probably just have to take my word for it.

And there is our house. Right there.

And Deception Pass Bridge. That is how far it is from the house.

So do not fret about Lon E. being retired. Life is good.

Uh huh, yeah, that is Emily's photo, third from right, over the main office doorway of the high school. She didn't know she was student of the month for careers and business until someone pointed out the 8x10 glossy of herself. She has been trying to create a diversion ever since, attempting to distract her fellow classmates from noticing, when walking through the front door of the school.

I had to pick her up from school early last week and while loitering in the hallway, could not resist taking the picture.

And in further news, she now has completed the requirements to be recognized as a Microsoft Office Specialist for Office Excel. She has the certificate, just waiting for the congratulatory call from Bill.

Do they offer the Microsoft Office class anywhere but WA?

Rise and Shout

The cougars were out. We were fortunate to see BYU play a few times in our neck of the woods over the last several years. Lonny and Jonathan went to the Armed Forces Bowl with family friends from Tulsa. Here's Catherine and her friend with Cosmo.

And Mary Kate and Cosmo.

BYU barely pulled out the win over Tulsa. Lonny was texting me during the game about how horrible it was. Only the final score matters so all's well that ends well. Lonny thought the military honors were impressive. Jets flew overhead and a military sky diving team dropped into the stadium. Each branch of the military was honored, medals were awarded and people were sworn into military service during halftime. I don't think they were taking volunteers at that point but maybe they got a few recruits after the game.

Lonny, Jon and an old friend that we miss very much since moving to WA.

So, this is Christmas

Every year I want to be obvious about what we are celebrating. I would love to have December 1st arrive with the decorating, shopping, wrapping, sending, and card writing completed. This year was different. The moving, unpacking, traveling, house selling, retiring and distance from Lonny curtailed some early holiday preparations.

We only had three weeks between our return from Thanksgiving until our departure for Christmas. Twenty one days of dance recital, The Nutcracker, Choir concert, a new calling, visiting, shopping, card making, baking, partying, cleaning, packing and Emily insisted we decorate for Christmas.

It definitely was more festive with the tree, although it stood guard over only 2 presents. The presents were under Jen and Jon's tree.

We had the traditional Christmas Eve where I am always reminded of the blood, sweat and tears that made this piano performance possible.

This year Kirsten played too. Her mom is her teacher. Emily played a guitar solo but you will have to take my word for it, no photo.

Then came matching pajamas.

For the kids too.

Colton is in this picture, it's not that Max has four feet.

Now you see him,

and then Max is done.

Emily took over,

then Colton was done.

And just so typical for Christmas morning, Santa had already come and gone. We missed him, so we went to Church. The presents waited for our return.

Max and his zoo. And his mullet.

This is some serious business.

Colton and his train attire and his train track.

Emily got a present or six as well. We didn't get to see Geoff and Alayna much since we had them for Thanksgiving and we have to share.

We sure did miss them. They were so close. At least with the other boys a visit was out of the question.

I hope you dance.

The holidays wore some people out.

But not this big guy.

We loved our Christmas with these people. It was nifty.

I think I will address the 2012 cards now.

Time Flies

This scene may look eerily similar to the ice skating photo.

The tall gray building on the left (behind the crane) was Lonny's workplace for the past 16 years. It was boring looking inside and out. It may look familiar though because it was just a smaller version of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The same architect designed both.

Lonny's birthday meant more this year than just that he was one year closer to the age of a tree. Once we realized he could and should and would retire at age 55 it meant leaving work and leaving Tulsa. Emily had her heart set on being a Jenks lifer. Kiddos that attend Jenks Schools from kindergarten through graduation are honored as Jenks lifers. I think Lonny and I always knew we would not stay if he was not working. So Emily is not a Jenks lifer. We are telling her now she will graduate from Lima High but that is another story for another day.

So Colton had cake

and Lonny retired.

A former employee of the Magellan Midstream Partners.

The door to Lonny's office from the lobby.

By now his name has likely been removed.

The books with his name that he did not take.

Lonny showing off his view. This is the view of his office that was the on the front page of the business section of the Tulsa World a few years back. The article was about how the building staff turned on or off certain lights to make a picture using the lit windows at night. There use to be a photo of Deception Pass Bridge on that wall between the windows and I recognized the picture in the newspaper as Lonny's office. And then I thought what the heck, why is Lonny's office in the paper? I don't know why they chose his office to photograph. It was kind of messy at the time.

So no more Tulsa skyline out the window looking southwest

or south

or down to the plaza being renovated.

And no more sitting around the table, talking business, eating peanut butter and jelly. Actually that never happened, I am sure.

Lonny tried to slip quietly out of town without any fanfare but there was one last dinner at the Summit Club. They gave Lonny some oars for his kayak. The legal department partied as well and gave him a scooter covered in yellow caution tape.

Proof that one person's trash is another's treasure.

And a retirement wardrobe of shoes,

shirt (in the loosest sense of the word),

and shorts. Lonny would not consider trying it on. I think it was a wise decision.