Happy Birthday Kids

Happy Birthday

and

A Very Happy

New Year

to all

January 1, 19??

Robert W. Cutler

Robert W. Cutler

There are people we meet through out our lives that teach us that class isn't always a social standing, but a way of life and that is Bob Cutler. A true gentleman in all siturations. I only knew the Cutlers for a short time, but I am a better person for having known them.

Bob joined Jean on Christmas Eve. He left us at about 11:50 PM; Jeff said

he probably had a little last minuet shopping to do before joining his beloved Jean. The only thing that kept them apart on Christmas over the past 70 some years was World War II.

Bob and Jean taught us that there is never ending love, kindness, devotion and integrity throughout our lives and no matter what the circumstance. So God Bless the Cutlers, Jean and Bob and keep them by Your side. They shall live forever in our hearts and memories.

Merry Christmas

It certainly is a White Christmas.

Can anyone tell me who the little snow angel is?

What a winning smile, that should be the give away.

This photo is from 1960.

What a bunch of cuties.

What great memories.

Love the hair.

Not real sure what year this is, 64?

Jack, Bob, Bill and baby Jeff 1955

And the Cutler family had the same sort of tree trimmings.

Isn't that cool.

Jack - Bill - Jean - Bob and Jeff 1958

The snow is starting to fall again and is increasing in accumulation. It isn't quite as bad as the forecasters were alerting us to, but I feel better knowing that everyone is safe and sound. There will be other times for us all to be together again. Jeff is going to have surgery on Wednesday, so we may be looking for a little outside company in January.

Robin and Nora left DC just in time to miss the big East Coast Storm from last week. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the roads will be in good shape for the drive back to DC on Saturday.

I don't want to spend all of Christmas Eve on the computer. So Merry Christmas....

Christmas in Sheboygan

What a great time we had during my last visit home. I saw Char Thursday night after taking the long way there. Guess I learned my lesson not to depend on machines. (And for the record, Milwaukee rush hour isn't as bad as Minneapolis.) Doris had a tree that she said Char could use and even brought it over. We gave her a hand setting it up and then watched and helped wrap presents for her co-workers as she hung the lights and placed the garland. It's very pretty tree.

Doris had Friday off so we hung out for awhile in the morning then visited with Kate, David and Vicky. Kate invited us for pizza and we watched what seemed to be hundreds of birds come and go to the heated bird bath and feeders outside the patio door.

I believe this is a red bellied woodpecker.

Male Cardinal

Doris and I continued on to Mothers where I got the close up of a Cardinal right outside the kitchen window. We had dinner with Mom and finally started to fulfill a promise I made to help out with a little cleaning. We sort of got a little later start than I had intended, so I'll have to pick up where I left off after the first of the year.

On Saturday afternoon Lori, Vicky, Doris and I met up at Grandma's house and headed out to a wonderful day together wondering shops and seeing Saint Nick. I was so excited, I felt like a little child. Thanks girls for putting up with my silliness. I am feeling a family tradition coming on and if we have a little better planning we will hopefully have a few more ladies join us next year.

And I got to hug St. Nick.

Snow Day

Just in case you have been hiding in a cave and haven't looked out in awhile, we got some snow over the last 24 hours. I am delaying my visit to Eastern Wisconsin until tomorrow; the roads should be cleared off by then. I'm not so bothered by the snow, but the extreme cold and strong winds are the crap.

Goldie loves the snow. She puts her head down and plows through the drifts till there is a pile of snow on her nose. She isn't as frisky as past years; but she still seems to enjoy playing in the fluffy stuff.

This week I spent two afternoons hanging with Ridley. There is something so special when a little person climbs up in ones lap and falls asleep in your arms.

Nana and Ridley

Tree Trimming

Jeff placing his favorite firefighter ornament.

Last week we put the tree up and gave the branches a day to come down before putting on the lights. I had to cut branches out of the tree because it was so thick there wasn't enough space to put the ornaments. Vickie and Ridley joined in on the decorating fun. I always enjoy going through the boxes; finding special ornaments that bring back great memories. We were hoping that Char would have been able to give us a hand, but she needed to head back to Sheboygan to get ready for the busy week ahead.

Ridley and Vickie

Ridley says it is a job well done. And the beef roast was very good.

Everyone is excited for Robin and Nora's Holiday visit in a couple weeks. There's a lot for them to do in a short time, but it's going to be great having them around. This is another thing that make the Holiday Season so special; it seems to be the time when we get together with the ones we love. It's the time of the year we are encouraged to appreciate the good thing we are blessed with and the people we are loved by.

Grandpa was in need of some special 'Ridley' time, so Vickie asked his to keep an eye on the little guy while she took care of some business. They snuggled on the couch for a short time and enjoyed old rock bands and cheesy poofs. Jeff has come close to finishing the Fire Truck toy box. It really is amazing; and big. It is so fun to watch the little guy smile through the stages of construction. And Ridley thinks it's cool too. He has done a great job, and he hasn't cut off any fingers!

I'm still planing to take a road trip to Eastern Wisconsin to see my family, but I think it will be later in the week to avoid the fore casted snow storm for Eastern Wisconsin and Minnesota on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will just slow me down by one day, but I still want to spend a few days there. I will be sending out notes soon to let everyone know about whats going on with the road trip.

Congratulations to Char and yet another big change in her life, her new job with Kohl's. Sounds like a good opportunity; I hope it's all you hope it will be. It won't be long till you're moving into the corner office.

Well, button down the hatches all you folk in the Midwest, and stay warm.

AML