RIP: Uncle John Gross

My dad's older brother, John Gross passed away recently.  It's nice to know that we will have another angel to watch over our families.  Uncle John, the age of 83 joins his wife, Joan, and son, Michael.  He leaves behind, his two daughters, Maureen, Rosemary, and son Brian. 

It's not very often that you get to witness a loving connection between two brothers.  But, I have to say this was definitely the case for my pop and his brother, John.  While Uncle John lived in NY, and pop lived in SC, the distance between them didn't seem to alter their relationship.  They did their best in keeping in touch and remaining brothers til the end.  It's unfortunate that distance, and time removes us from family ties.

May you be at peace Uncle John.  Remember, to keep the beer cold for my pop..;)

Love those glasses Grandma!

One more to miss

Happy Thanksgiving from the Colleran Family!

A couple of more days and we'll be seating down to the traditional Holiday Turkey Dinner.  The Colleran family will be spending it with our Therrien friends this year.  David and Jake will be getting up early Thursday morning to go ice fishing for the first time with friends.  I may or may not go on a Turkey Trot in the morning with friends; all depends on the weather for me..:)

Nick is leaving shortly for California and will be back on Saturday afternoon.   We are hoping to go up to the mountains at some point this week as they have been getting alot of snow.  My only hesitation is that the mountains are saying it is 8 degrees or colder..AAAAAH.  It is a little chilly here in Parker but very little snow has been coming our way.

Jake is off this week as well as David so the house is busy and messy.  David a sweatheart as always helped me with some curtains for the kitchen.  We have another trip back to the store to do the big curtain for the sliding door.   We have so many things to do on our honey to do list..:)

I have so many crafts going on it's stressing me out...ugh!  I'm also in the middle of a very messy dinning room while I attempt to make my very first Sock Monkey.  I thought it would be nice to make for Nick's siblings in California.  David says my monkey is starting to look like a 'brother' ha.  I'm sure he can do much better with all the talent he has deep inside him.

Well, back to the dinning room.  May you and yours have a very blessed Thanksgiving!  Don't eat too much.  Love, Gail, David, Nick, & Jake xxoo

No SNOW YET

It's amazing that we haven't had our first storm yet this fall.  The mountains have been getting snow and I'm quite liking that, stay in the mountains!  Copper and Keystone opened their lifts today.  Not sure when we'll get up to the mountains.  Probably not until Thanksgiving week.  Jake has a full week off so we should be able to enjoy a couple of days.  :(  Nicky will be spending the Turkey holiday in CA.  He'll have to wait until his 2 week x-mas break.

The kids really enjoyed Halloween with the weather in the low 50's.  David spent alot of time this year decorating the windows and creating a spooky, haunted porch for the kiddos.  The tradition of chili and chicken tortelli soup didn't quite hit the spot because it wasn't as cold..lol.  As the men took the kids out trick-o-treating, the moms stayed back to handout the candy. 

It was very comical to hear the young middle schoolers say, "you go first, no, you go first."  No one wanted to come through the entry way covered in black tarp.  David at one point actually had to run out to give out the candy because a little girl was crying and wouldn't come to the door.

Nick, now 14, disappointed to not dressing up and being able to trick-o-treat.  He just went with a few friends as the girls dressed up were able to get a few pieces of candy.  I had to tell the high schoolers that I wouldn't be giving them candy next year.  I'm such the Halloween Scrooge.  I think they are old enough to work and buy their own candy.

Jake is the scarey clown.  I love Jack the Pumpkin (David and Nick helped me make).

Happy Birthday Nicky a.ka. Boo

14 years ago this beautiful boy blessed our home.  27 hours of labor and coming in 9 lbs. 3 oz.  Mom and Nick enjoyed a nice breakfast this morning at the Village Inn and then went for a little hike (he basically showed me the run he does at school during P.E. class).  I'm off to make a cheesecake and he is enjoying the day off (fall break this week from school) and daddy is going to make him some linguini and clams tonight for dinner.  In another couple of weeks he starts basketball which I'm really excited for because it will be in doors..:)  And, the new school has an awesome gym!  Nicky pulled it out with 4 A's and 3 B's this 1st quarter; I know he will continue to do well this year.  Happy Birthday Nicholas - I truly hope all your dreams come true.  xxoo Mommy dearest..hee hee

 

Nicky at his 1st year of tackle football. He loves the game and is excited about winning number 5 come this Monday. Brian Dawkin's, safety for the Broncos bought the school all new black pants. His son, Brian also plays on the team. The boys were very excited about getting the pants. I love the red belt as well. Nicky, line backer doing great in 8th grade. Keep it up Nicky!

Jake's Birthday Weekend!

It was a busy weekend this past Labor Day Holiday!. Jake had an unbelievable football game with a score of 24-0. It was a little scarey as before the game their were 3 ambulances on the field carrying off 3 boys ranging from 8 to 12 years of age. Hopefully, they are all ok. Our Jake scored 2 touchdowns and showed a mass improvement from last year's football season. Actually, it was great watching all the boys come together as a strong team and win the game.

Jake invited a few friends from the neighborhood and from his team for a movie/sleepover. David was super dad while I attended to the basic needs of the boys! Water balloons, to football toss, to sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags and then diving into the center of bean bags. Mom being mom had to walk away..:) We tried to get them settled in with a movie but half of them just wanted to shoot toy dart guns. Daddy bear soon had to stomp down the stairs at 1am in the morning to get some silence in the house..lol. I think next year we'll do a party off-site..ha. All in all it was a great evening and we think the boys enjoyed themselves.

Monday was spent having a BBQ with friends and the boys playing a friendly game of poker. We were happy to have my brother visit with us as well. It was quite chilly on Monday so the ladies had to huddle in the house to get caught up on our busy lives. The food was yummy and the evening ended quickly as kiddos/adults left to get ready for the next workday/school day.

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Boys definitely getting big and enjoying the love of football!! 2010 is going to be a great year for both of the boys. Nicky's first year at tackle and already the bruises are mounting up on him. 2 weeks into school and all A's for Nick..:) Jake starts school on Monday; I'm a little worried about workload and handling football but I'm sure it will all work itself out. Jake and I attended our 1st preseason Bronco game. It was a beautiful night and I didn't even need to wear the amazing vintage Bronco sweatshirt David got me before the game. I know it will go to good use here in good old chilly CO. David visiting his pop and mom for a few days in Cali and they all sound very good. Ed has quit the smokes and on his way to recovery. Way to go Grandpa!! Happy early birthday Donna! Have a great year!