Some pics ....

I promised some pics from Christmas ... so you will find two new albums up on our Picasa site

One from Christmas and one with some of Tika's art.

Let us know if you enjoy them

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to post this yesterday, of course, but if I did I was afraid I would give something away. The picture was one the girls did for Laura as a Christmas gift. Growing up the girls always liked going to see the same Santa so I asked the girls if they would want to go see him one more time and get a picture done for Laura. They were all very enthusiastic and got all dressed up - suspiciously so as Laura was wondering why they looked so nice that night at dinner. I then went out and had a bigger version of the picture made and we framed it and wrapped that as one of Laura's gifts. She loved it - and the tears showed it.

I guess it is a good holiday when there are lots of tears of joy and we had a few occasions of that yesterday. The girls were excited about all their presents, Laura in particular loved the art work she received, originals from Matthew Johnston and Andrea Moore, and I loved the thoughtfulness of the girls and Laura and our families. Laura got a bit sneaky and made one of my presents. We have been keeping corks from wine bottles ever since we knew each other - and yes there are a few corks. So she decided to sneak out of the bag some of the more significant ones from special bottles we had at very memorable times - a sandwich picnic in Switzerland overlooking Lake Zurich, our first New Years Eve dinner that I cooked and many others and made them into a tray. I loved it - it brings back such fond memories.  I will get some of the pictures up on our Picasa site but to give you a flavour - Martika painted this for Laura.

Outside of presents we had a wonderful Christmas holiday. We got to talk to the Bridger's in Sydney twice, the Moore's in Newfoundland and with everyone of the remaining Bell family in Texas we had an opportunity to talk to all of them. The Girls came over for lunch and after we opened presents we headed out to Mala Tang for lunch. It is a Sichuan Hot Pot restaurant. The food and service was great and every one had fun. The girls then had a big dinner with their Mom and their Uncle Keith, Aunt Lynn and cousin Sidney.

We hope all of our friends and families had an equally wonderful holiday - Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah

Love Gary & Laura

Morning Run - Different

So this AM I went out for my morning run a bit later than normal as I am off for the holidays. Two days before Christmas it is 48 degrees - but that was not the different part. The different part was that as I ran by the Community Center a bald eagle flew low overhead. One of those nice things to see on any day but on a sunny, clear day in December - it was great.

Untitled by tricdn at Garmin Connect - Details

Thank you Jim........

I received very sad news today. A very dear friend of our family, a kind man, a father, a caring doctor for 38 yrs is very ill. He will likely pass away very soon. I am thankful that Jim and his family openly embraced ours when I was very young. In the summer we played with his kids while my mom and his wife wrote songs together. He was our first doctor. He delivered both of my nieces, Ashley and Brittni, waiving his fees knowing that Lisa and her husband were young and had many challenges ahead. He also delivered her cancer diagnosis. Cervical cancer. Many of you are unaware, my sister was diagnosed with cervical cancer at only 35. From my perspective looking back, she was devastated and lucky. What a contrast. From my work, I know the severity of her diagnosis. Lucky- he caught it early- not wanting to take any chances he ran additional studies normally not performed. That is Jim. I have no doubt that if it weren't for Jim our lives would be very empty.

Now you know my motivation. My sister Lisa. I think of Jim often and I have always hoped that he would be proud that I grew up and became part of his team. Lisa tells me that he always wanted an update on my work, and yes he was very proud.

I think Leslie said it best, given that he has been so connected to this family we feel such warmth and respect for him. He is such a kind gentle soul and will be greatly missed.

With kindest thoughts and deepest thanks to him for everything he has done for our family. In my heart he saved my sister.

Laura

Excited ...

So I know I am a lucky man ... a wonderful wife, great kids, good genes from my parents .... but I am excited today because I have also been lucky with getting into the Cherry Blossom 10 mile race. I have entered the lottery 3 times and all 3 times I have gotten in. It is usually quite a crowded field and I end up complaining that I cannot get running quick enough because of the crowds but hopefully this year it will be a good chance to do an even better run than last year.

So now I am looking forward to April for more than just some warmer weather :-)

Morning Runs

Some people call me a morning person. I guess in some ways I am. I am not the person that gets up and needs coffee to be able to go - not that there is anything wrong with that (and no I am not saying that just because Laura's first thing when she wakes up is her cup of coffee). I just find myself able to get up and do things - so I guess that makes me a morning person.

One of the things I find that gets my day going well is my morning run. Some days I get up and 3 miles is enough. Now I do not mean enough to get me going I mean I hit 3 miles and I am feeling done - usually I have too much on my mind those days. Some days, like this morning, I get up and I could run forever. I got back to near the house today after running 6 miles, with hills, in mid 20 degree temps, and I felt great. In fact I felt like taking another loop - but I also have real work to do.

But it is funny that some days I am more of a morning person than on other days. Now I will go eat and get my cup of coffee :-)

Laura's Cool Christmas Ornament

Laura has two of these, that she loves.

Christmas Ball

Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas ....

.... and all through this house ..... things are running at a million miles an hour.

It seems like it used to be the holidays were a time to relax ... well ok shopping was not all that relaxing but it was a pleasant pressure and these days with online shopping it has gotten easier. But the last couple of weeks and this one is just stressful ... work, work, work. It can be hard to find time to stop and enjoy things.

But .. this weekend we did. Saturday myself and Laura went out and found a nice Douglas Fir for our Christmas tree - we got it home and got it up. Sunday the girls came over, all of them were here as Tika was home to work on a project, and we decorated our tree. It is funny how much fun that can be. Trying to figure out how to put on the lights and then what ornaments to hang. It honestly is fun as with many years of ornament gathering we have quite a variety and with many come interesting stories and histories.

Needless to say it was an afternoon of laughing and in an odd way relaxing.

I hope over the next couple of weeks we can start to off load the stresses of work and focus on our family and enjoy this wonderful time of year. I know I am looking forward to doing my best at doing that.

Happy Birthday!

So today is my little sister's birthday. We will not divulge the details but we will just leave it at the fact that there is not a significant age difference ;-)

Seriously though it is nice when I get to see her and we can sit down over a coffee or a glass of wine.

Both Laura and I wish her a VERY Happy Birthday!