We
had a rough year in 2006 with the loss of Steve’s only sister. She
was only 58 when passed away in July. She had survived a brain
aneurysm bursting and was on the way to recovery, only to have
complications in surgery while attempting to fix another brain
aneurysm. Steve and his sister were very close and it is just to
hard to believe she is gone.
There
were a few happy milestones in our family in 2006. We had our 25th
wedding Anniversary on Halloween and Brandon turned 21 a few days
before that. We all went to Vegas to celebrate and finally had a
vacation. Deb and Frank joined us and Brandon enjoyed having Uncle
Frank show him the ropes! We visited the cake shop that was
featured on the Food Network channel as having the best wedding
cake in Vegas! Instead of renewing our vows, we went straight for
the wedding cake!!
Lion
Apparel finally hired me in April as a full time employee. I like
being only 5 minutes from work and I like the job too! Steve is still
at NCR, but works from home quite a bit. Brandon goes to Wright State
and is now a Junior. He made the Dean’s list in 2006!
We want to remodel our kitchen this year, so that should be fun!
Have a great year.
Love,
Ellen, Steve and Brandon
We
have been trying to keep warm up here in Columbus, OH. The
forecasted low is 3 degrees today, with wind chills into the negatives.
On
September 16, 2006, we got a lovely addition to our family by way
of a wonderful daughter-in-law. Doug and Christy (Knox) got married
here in Columbus and went on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Being staunch
Bengal fans and season ticket holders, their honeymoon commenced
the day after they attended the Bengals’ season opener on Sep. 17.
What true blue fans!
They
bought a house in Westerville, a suburb northeast of Columbus.
They and our two grandcats, Murray and Ernest, are settling in quite
nicely. Doug is busy with his sound company, his employment with Frank
Bold and Associates and his band. Christy is busy in her job as a
research associate with Children’s Hospital, having authored
several papers on sports injuries, giving interviews with national
newspapers and traveling to seminars.
Frank
and I found out 2 weeks ago that the owner of the condo we are
currently renting wants to move back into the property, therefore,
our lease will not be renewed when it ends on March 31. So we have been
house hunting. We think we have found a house in Gahanna, a suburb
close to my job at DSCC and close to the airport (which is
important for our quick getaways! ?), so hopefully we’ll be moving
in March.
We
are still finding time to travel to Florida and Vegas. We have a
renter lined up in March for our house in Florida, so we are going
down next week to make sure things are in order. That’s just our excuse
– we’re really going to down to enjoy some sun (something seldom
seen in Columbus) and eat some seafood! I have three years, 10 months
and 9 days until I can retire, at which time we’re hoping to spend
more time in Florida.
It
was a big year for weddings! Our granddaughter, Angela married our
paperboy, Kevin Snyder on August fifth here in Dayton at the Lutheran
Church on Main Street. The maid of honor was Angela’s sister Anna
Trotto and Angela’s cousin Brandon was the best man. Her
bridesmaid’s dresses were lavender and the guys wore basic black.
It was beautiful! The reception was held at the Knights of Columbus
hall in Fairborn after a last minute change of plans. The meal was
delicious too! It was nice to see everyone.
In
September we went to Columbus to attend our grandson Doug’s
wedding to Christie Knox. We stayed overnight at the Hawthorn
hotel. That was the first time we stayed away from home in a very
long time! We had a nice handicap accessible room which made our
stay comfortable Our daughter Deborah, Doug’s mother, bought me a
new outfit for the occasion. The intimate ceremony and the dinner
were held at the same hall. with the ceremony on the stage and the
meal eaten at tables throughout the hall. It was very nice. We held a
shower for Christie here. Edna Nieport who took care of Doug as a
baby, attended the shower taking pictures which we sent to Doug and
Christie.
In
March the entire family celebrated grandpa and my 75th birthdays
at Anticoli restaurant. Deborah made us all a reservation in a private
room and all the kids and grandkids enjoyed the food.
We
took care of Taco, Ellen and Steve’s dog when they took Brandon to
Las Vegas for his 21st birthday. We really enjoyed having him with
us. He is such a good granddog!
Linda has planned an eighteenth birthday dinner party here for Anna.
The
kids had one of the spare bedrooms turned into a laundry room so
that Fred doesn’t have to go up and down stairs to the basement
anymore. It also has a small freezer, a nice pantry and storage. This is
much easier on him since he still has trouble with his knees.
All our love, Fred and Phyllis
{Written by Holly} Michael suggested that I Google him to learn about what he's up to. I found this article from Santa Cruz Magazine about his lovely historic home, and the website of his business, Buy Design.
[Contributed
by sister Alison] Adam is still living in Columbus, but now
resides with his long-time girlfriend Shelley. He has a great job
with Crown Mercedes in Dublin as a service manager and enjoys it
greatly. He has been working there since October and enjoys the
many perks of the job including commission and driving a Mercedes
around occasionally. He still talks about reenlisting in the guard,
but for now, he is content where he is at and seems happy. No wedding
plans yet for the long-time couple, but talk is in the air so we
are hoping for an engagement sometime in the near future. He is
also very much looking forward to having a niece and spoiling her
when the time comes. We are counting on lots of Ohio State attire.
Elizabeth
got out of the Navy in Jan after 4 long years and is going to
school at Sinclair for nursing. Tim was been working at Home Depot
and will be starting school at Sinclair in the Fall, and is up for a
dept head position. Brayden just turned one in April, and is already
running around the place and getting very big.
We
have been really busy since the last newsletter. Alex is now going
to be a Freshman. She is going to band camp next week along with
Natallie. Alex plays the trumpet and Natallie plays the flute and
is a sophomore. A week after they get back, both girls are going on
a mission trip to NYC. Our church's youth group is flying down for
almost a whole week. They will be living in the Bronx and having
many adventures. Once they return every Friday will be spent at
school's football game. Unfortunately for Tim he will miss most of
the games because he works second shift. Once the football season is
over it will be off to the swim meets. I am sure that this coming
school year is going to make the eighth grade seem that it was all
over in a blink of an eye.
One of the hightlights for Alex
and Natallie this past year was Confirmation. Both girls were
confirmed along with 22 other teens. I still play in the church
band, sing in the choir and praise and worship team. I was selected to
be a Music Director for the Darke County Area Emmaus Walk in
November. I am excited and a little nervous since I have never been
a Music Director. Tim and I are working on our church's directory.
Tim took about 96 pictures and I get to edit them. (YEAH!) I had
to learn two computer software programs, then the printer died and
once that was fixed the computer crashed. I had to redo everything.
I am hoping the soon I will be finished.
We did not yet have a family vacation. We plan to attend an Anime
Fest in Dallas on Labor Day weekend. I have had the pleasure of
traveling for work. In December I went to San Antonio. They have a
Riverwalk that was all decked out in lights. It was very festive.
In the Spring I traveled to Baltimore and just a few weeks ago I
went to Washington, DC. Next week I fly out again for San Antonio.
Like I said, we are REALLY busy and getting busier. I started on
Nutrasystems three weeks ago and lost 15 pounds. Maybe next year I
will be sending you pictures of a skinny Annette.
Until next year...........
