Coughing uncontrollably

December 2011

Yep, It's Christmas !

So the family prepares across the nation

And then - Open the presents - Sofia in Culican, Mexico and Theo in Decatur

Open some presents at your risk - Owen in Annapolis

Then prepare for Christmas dinner with family and friends -at home in Satellite Beach.

A wonderful family Christmas - wherever we were

November 2011

Our Southern Grandsons

Theo and Quinn

T and Q together - Little & Big Brother

Our Northern Grandchildren

Scary Granddaughter Sofia

10, Going on 16, Sofia

Grandson Owen - What Cha' Do'n?

First Time He Pulled Up and Stood On His Own !!

October 2011

Road Trip with Uncle Billy -

80th Birthday!

Went to the very haunted Stanley Hotel. Yes - its haunted!

Room 217 - need we say more?

Interesting - the stairway to the bell tower and

proof the hotel was build directly upon the bedrock

and land there prior to construction.

See the tree and roots still found in the basement?

Halloween - Owen enjoys his ride as he goes out to Trick or Treat.

Quinn thinks Daddad is pretty amusing. I return the opinion.

September 2011

OK - First you set up your tree - Jen & Drew in Denver

Then you tell Santa what you want - Quinn in Decatur

Then Santa loads up the van - Santa Billy in Denver

Cheesy Pooffs anyone?

Bad couple of days for poor Quinn. Had to visit the

hospital for a couple days. Upon coming come, as

Theo had strep throat, it was best to protect against

additional infection.

Theo at the dentist. Whoa!

August 2011

OK, we have our fort - now we have to spread chips -

good luck with that Jeff.

Sofia will simply hang around & swing with Owen

July 2011

Theo and his Grandfather Charlie built this fantastic fort / play area / slide in Jeff & Lynne's back yard.

Theo and Quinn are exceptionally fortunate to have a Grandfather like Charlie -

a loving, hard worker.

Owen celebrates the 4th!

June 2011

Jackie had her other hip replaced June 15. These pictures were taken June 24 -

just 9 days later. She's remarkable.

On the left, Jackie is being coached by her PT, Charlie Hoffhine . On the right, she motors right along.

He is the consummate pro: personable, caring, considerate, and best of all, thoroughly knowledgeable. although Jackie sometimes calls him a torturer, she owes much of her progress to his tender care. We heard of him and his company via a recommendations by earlier patients - word of mouth.

We hardily recommend his company, Family home Health Service.

Some of the beautiful flowers sent to Jackie. Missing is the Edible Bouquet which was quickly eaten. It was as delicious as the flowers were, and remain to this day, beautiful.

May 2011

First - Let's welcome our niece Jessica Karia's new baby girl,

Siri Karia, 8 lbs. and 20 inches. Both are beautiful!

Jackie spent three weeks, more or less, with Owen, Sofia, Esti and Mike.

During the stay, they visited Boonsboro and our old friends were introduced to Owen

Nancy & Owen Linda & Owen Emma Jean & Owen

Tired ol' Owen rides home

Where Nana Jackie takes care of dinner

In addition to all this May excitement,

we had the pleasure of a visit from our

"Traveling Companions"

Pam and Charles Bullock - here walking

the National Seashore at Canaveral

And we saw the last flight of Endeavor

A fond farewell

April 2011

First - Welcome the prospective newest male Gillespie;

Lynne & Jeff's "Squirmy" due August

While Owen grows - 1 month old

First of many - very many - car rides

Lamentablemente, la abuela Carmen tiene que volver a casa.

Ella echaremos mucho de menos no sólo por Esti y Owen, pero todos nosotros.

En Sofía, mi nieta favorita convertido en más y más bella.

And Theo, explorer and "swamp man" does what he does best-

finds the nearest water and gets wet!

March 2011

Born 12:24 on March 9, Earl Owen came into the world at 9 lbs 3 oz, 20.5 inches to the proud parents of Esti and Mike Gillespie.

Welcoming an new member of the Gillespie / Uribe family was an exhilarating event and one of those never to be forgotten pieces of everyone's life - especially all the grandparents! We wish Francisco could have been here, but he will get his chance to hold Owen soon.

The fact that at least one Great Grandparent was able to see at lest two of the new additions to the Gillespie family made us all think how Sally, as well as Ruffy, Earl and Virginia would have loved to have been here with Owen.

So please pardon the following section - true is isn't really March 2011 - but it is apropos.

A Grandparent's Perspective & Retrospective

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~ Joy Hargrove