Jana and Ellie 

Shirley and Ellie 

Ellie 

Here in Missouri we just heard from the 2LL's. Sandi called to update us that Bernie has been transferred to a different hospital. They decided to do a heart cath which Maudie says is a tiny camera they insert to look around his heart. If the cath determines there is some blockage or something they can fix, they will go ahead with the fix. The nurse practioner was with him when I called and the doctor hadn't been in yet. The number in his room is 509-473-3719. His room number is 719 and this number rings to his room. Maudie said he is not in much pain and likes hearing from everyone. Between the two posters we will keep updating when we get news.

Hi Folks! Sandi here with an update on Dad. He had some heart trouble on Friday night and after Mom and three Nitro tablets helped him get past it, he rested over the weekend, (although he said he felt like he'd been hit by a train!). When he went to the hospital for his regular physical therapy session, (he works out on their equipment 2-3 times per week, lifting weights and riding the stationery bike), he decided he'd better have them look him over. They admitted him for more tests.

Fortunately, the week before they had run a routine EKG so they had that most recent baseline to compare with after this weekend event. At first blush the doctors are saying that he suffered a minimal amount of damage to his heart. We'll know more after this next series of tests. Apparently, they run one test three times over a 24 hour period and so that is why they kept him overnight. I talked with Mom this morning and she thought they would send him home today. So, mostly he's bored and would like to hear from folks. His hospital number is (509) 434-7863 if he's still there he'd love phone calls or if he's home he still likes hearing from everyone.

The temperature in Spokane is still have very cold , but not experiencing as severe weather as you folks in Missouri. Hope you are all well and coping with the cold snap. And to think winter isn't even officially here yet! I can't wait for January. For me, more weather means more snow in the mountains! Yipee!

Love you all - I'll keep you posted as I hear more on the Old Guy.
Sandi

We've dug out a lot today but we still need a nice thaw. Shirley got Rose and me some vest coats
after we told her how much we admired the ones the FeLLins wore in Spokane. They came in handy these past few cold days.

Pete checked in this morning. Monday is Janet's birthday and they are going to Palm Springs, Ca. to celebrate it. They're traveling in a Ford Focus that he recently purchased. I think they had to buy it in Arizona because he wasn't welcome back at any dealer in Idaho Falls that he'd been to before. He went with me in 1964 to buy a car and I bet the dealership still remembers him. Janet, you have my sympathy.

Rose is in to carpenter work these days. She is building a work table in her client room in the basement. Actually, she is pretty handy with tools. We were remembering Brick's handy man ventures. When we lived on Rainor Court after we first got married, the soap dish in the bathtub fell out. He got his new drill out and repaired it. When we were in the process of moving out several years later and went to move the dresser in our bedroom, it wouldn't budge. He had drilled through the wall and attached the soap dish to the dresser. You can see what kind of handyman he was. I can't say it speaks well for my housecleaning either.

We are babysitting Bob's great grandchild today. Jana and John are Christmas shopping and then have his company Christmas party tonight. Ellie is 8 months old and at a very cute age. [Scott, my first baby, is 40 years and 4 days old.]

I noticed that I posted three times last time. I'm not sure if I was stuttering or repeating myself. My computer guru, Maddog, wasn't here to help with technicalities.

Hello from snowbound Missouri. We have probably more ice than snow, but the roads are treacherous. Shirley had reservations to visit her family in Louisiana yesterday afternoon but that flight was cancelled. She rescheduled for this morning, got up at 4:30, sat at the airport until 9 and called me and Rose to come back to get her. Her flight was eventually cancelled. Goldman and I were going to Doug and Suzanne's for dinner last night but had to take a raincheck.

I had my eyes examined last week and found that I, too like Rose, have cataracts. Pete also has the beginnings of them. I always thought cataracts were something that affected only old people. Perhaps the rest of my siblings should be checked before they get old.

Rose had a phone message from Bernie the other day to say they got home safely from a wonderful Thanksgiving with Cyndi and family. The FeLLins keep the road hot.

Stephanie just called from Troy. They have a bit more snow and ice than we do. I believe Springfield had it worse. Probably, th wind blew. . . . . Joe, how is it there?

Hello from snowbound Missouri. We have probably more ice than snow, but the roads are treacherous. Shirley had reservations to visit her family in Louisiana yesterday afternoon but that flight was cancelled. She rescheduled for this morning, got up at 4:30, sat at the airport until 9 and called me and Rose to come back to get her. Her flight was eventually cancelled. Goldman and I were going to Doug and Suzanne's for dinner last night but had to take a raincheck.

I had my eyes examined last week and found that I, too like Rose, have cataracts. Pete also has the beginnings of them. I always thought cataracts were something that affected only old people. Perhaps the rest of my siblings should be checked before they get old.

Rose had a phone message from Bernie the other day to say they got home safely from a wonderful Thanksgiving with Cyndi and family. The FeLLins keep the road hot.

Stephanie just called from Troy. They have a bit more snow and ice than we do. I believe Springfield had it worse. Probably, th wind blew. . . . . Joe, how is it there?

Hello from snowbound Missouri. We have probably more ice than snow, but the roads are treacherous. Shirley had reservations to visit her family in Louisiana yesterday afternoon but that flight was cancelled. She rescheduled for this morning, got up at 4:30, sat at the airport until 9 and called me and Rose to come back to get her. Her flight was eventually cancelled. Goldman and I were going to Doug and Suzanne's for dinner last night but had to take a raincheck.

I had my eyes examined last week and found that I, too like Rose, have cataracts. Pete also has the beginnings of them. I always thought cataracts were something that affected only old people. Perhaps the rest of my siblings should be checked before they get old.

Rose had a phone message from Bernie the other day to say they got home safely from a wonderful Thanksgiving with Cyndi and family. The FeLLins keep the road hot.

Stephanie just called from Troy. They have a bit more snow and ice than we do. I believe Springfield had it worse. Probably, th wind blew. . . . . Joe, how is it there?

Hi folks! I'm sitting in my home office in Portland watching the snow flurries! It has been so beautiful - we rarely get snow here - but it's also been uneventful since it's not sticking in the lower elevations where I am. We are expecting freezing rain overnight on Wednesday so I'll be staying at the DoubleTree when I get off work in the morning so I don't have to negotiate ice. Should be a great adventure!

We had a nice Thanksgiving here - hope all of you enjoyed being together. I loved hearing about the long distance baby shower Sabrina had - what a clever way to shrink the miles between the family members. I'm jealous of Sabrina getting to be a grandma - I can't wait until my son gets married and starts a family, (Hint Hint Ty!).

Our family was all over the place this year. Mom and Dad were in Olympia with Cyndi and her family. Tyson, (my son who just celebrated his 25th birthday! Wow, do I feel old!), along with my brother Steve and girlfriend Debbie, were also there. Anna with fiance' Dan in Chicago and Mike in Virginia with son Jordan. Kaye enjoyed dinner with her family in Phoenix; Glenn and I both worked so we went out for sushi in the evening. (How traditional is that? Have YOU ever tried eatting turkey with chopsticks? Glenn did. It was hilarious!) Doug and Celile spent the day with Cecile's family - we get them for Christmas - Yahoo! And Tammy headed to Cresent City, CA with Dick and his family. The only family left in Spokane was Shirley's husband Gary and their 3 children and families. I think that accounts for everyone!

I went up to Cyndi's after I got off work Friday night and saw Mom and Dad before they headed home to Spokane on Saturday morning. They made it just barely ahead of the big snow storm we've been experiencing here in the northwest! Dad said the snow was beginning to fall as they pulled into Spokane Saturday evening and I don't think it's stopped yet! Mom is such a good driver, I don't know why I worry...I guess it's my job as their daughter, right?

Cyndi and I spent the weekend baking cookies and playing Draw Four until we were comotose on Saturday night. ( I had had a long day Friday. I got up at 3:30 a.m. to get to the Black Friday sales before I went to work. It was fun, but I was a bit rummy by the time midnight rolled around.) We had so much fun baking cookies, we made more on Sunday. Each year for the past 15 or so years our sister-in-law Celile hosts a cookie exchange the first Saturday in December at 2:00 to kick off the Christmas season. Their house is beautifully decorated including the yard and trees out front. No invitations go out - it's a standing holiday tradition! We drink wine and Ceclie does a white elephant gift exchange, we catch-up with each other and come away with a variety of Christmas cookies to give away as presents.

It has mostly been for women - moms, sisters and girlfriends. I bring my good friend Cheryl - we've been friends now for 30 years. She has been like a sister to me here in Portland. We met when we both 18 after we had "ran away from home" as we call it and met at J.C. Penny's. (Cheryl was Draperies and I was Bed and Bath.) We raised our boys together and now we are getting to be little old ladies together. In the past, we've stopped in Olympia on our way and picked up Tammy and Cyndi, but this year will be different. Tammy has a school conflict, (although Dick still wants to come), and I have to work the night before and so Cheryl and I will be coming up later so I can get a little sleep before hitting the road. If the husbands and sons want to show up, Doug usually entertains them. Thank you Cecile and Doug for making this event a family tradition. We love it!

After the guests go home in the evening, the sisters, (sister-in-laws and serogate sisters), along with Denise, Cecile's mom, all go Christmas shopping until we drop! We spend the night and head home on Sunday after church. I can't wait! Mom usually sends cookies by proxy - Cyndi and I made enough cookies for the entire event this past weekend. I'll forward picutres when I get home.

BTW - Responding to Aunt Sue's question about Aunt Camp: You most certainly are welcome to join us this next year! I will even present you with an honorary megaphone and whistle! We'd LOVE to have you! I'll let you know our plans as it gets closer...

Hope this note finds you all well and getting into the Christmas spirit. Watch for those Christmas cards in the mail and brush up on your caroles. We'll be thinking of you all as the season is upon us and so wish we were closer. Thank you Aunt Sue and Aunt Rose for keeping us connected via this blog - it means so much to the 2L branch of the family to more apart of your lives.

Holiday Blessings!
Let it snow!
Sandi

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone. We have been hoping the weather out west didn't hamper anyone's travels for the FeLLin celebration. I flew to Louisville on the Monday before and rode back to St. Louis with Scott and Brayden. I had a wonderful time with the grandchildren who are very solitious to their old granny. I'm very outdated about TV - like Sponge Bob Squarepants, PS2, Spiderman, etc. Whatever happened to Romper Room and Sesame Street? I used to know all the characters and songs.

We had Scott, Brayden, Chris, Shelly, Mark, Andrew, Shirley's nephew Michael and his fiance Leslie, Rose, Shirley and me for dinner. Mother used to say that Rose should spend as much time learning to cook as she spent learning calculus. I'm happy to report that these days she does. She's discovered which one is of use in the long run, something Margaret Ann and I learned 50 years ago.

This is an historic occasion. Scott turns 40 on Wednesday. He, Mark Goldman, and Mike Lynch, all three long-term friends since before Kindergarten, celebrated their 40's at a party on Friday. Pete wanted to know if anyone had to call the cops, but these young men approaching middle age have calmed down a lot. Of course, the three old ladies were not invited, but were called upon to babysit Brayden--a whole lot more fun for them. One of our thanks at Thanksgiving was that we were not invited.

We missed Jalen this year. He stayed in Louisville to be with his mother and grandmothers. We are very much looking forward to seeing him for an extended time during the Christmas school break.

The Abbott Clan had their big family Thanksgiving get-together at Sabrina's. Today Sabrina had a shower for her step-daughter, Lauren, who is expecting a son on December 16. Lauren and husband Josh are in North Carolina where Josh is with the Army. Because of the imminent delivery, the shower was a long-distance one which Sabrina video-taped to send to the expectant parents. All of us at the shower called Sabrina, "Granny Smith," which she didn't particularly care for, made her "feel like an apple."

After we read Sandi's entry about Aunt Camp, we naturally had a question: Can Old Aunts attend Aunt Camp? It sounds like a wonderful tradition. My kids had the advantage of something similar when they went to "Aunt Janet and Uncle Pete" Camp as boys. They still talk about what they learned--some of it not good came from Pete but only gospel truth came out of Aunt Janet's mouth.

A short Brayden story. (Please indulge me.) Aunt Rose took Brayden with her to the storage area of the basement. He looked around in great wonder, then said, "WHO messed this place up?" Rose answered, "Aunt Shirley, Granny, and I." To that, Brayden said, "Was that when Granny had good hands?"

Brayden also told me that we couldn't ride dirt bikes because, "You have bad hands, and Aunt Shirley and Aunt Rose are too old."

As you can tell, Dear Readers, life is fairly quiet here. Would our editors jump in and add items from Greenwood, Turnbo, and all points west.

Hi folks! Sandi 2L here with another installment of my summer recap from the northwest. I wanted to write and post some pictures about my favorite activity in the summer - Aunt Camp! It all started about 3 years ago when sister Cyndi went back to work full time with State Farm. Kyle and Jake were used to Mom being home for them in the summer, but this summer began a new era for the Langstons. Kyle had taken a position at their local Boy Scout's camp as a counselor and so Jake, (then 10 years old) was left home for the summer by himself. Cyndi and Dave enrolled him in every camp they could find to keep him busy and having a fun summer - basketball camp, church camp, band camp, Boy Scout's camp...I offered to have Jake and a buddy for a week and the first installment of Aunt Camp was launched. We've been enjoying our vacation together every summer since! (Last year Jake and Kyle invented the Winter Installment of Aunt Camp! I'm trying to keep up!) I try to pick a theme and give them an agenda and all the things that a real camp would offer. We have so much fun! Now, these three years later - we've built some traditions.

Kyle joined Jake this summer and we started out at the beach. The beautiful Oregon coast is just an hour and a half west of Portland. We rent a very small house at the beach with Cyndi and Dave and Uncle Doug and Aunt Cecile and we all pile in. It's nothing fancy, but is right on the beach and a friend rents it cheap, so after several years, it's become our beachhouse, too!
We ate seafood, played on the beach, watched movies and played games. This year I organized an Amazing Race that was my favorite thing to do. The Red team was Cyndi, Cecile and Kyle and the Yellow team was Doug, Dave and Jake. We used digital cameras, cell phones and the internet to pull it off. The winning team had to buy ice cream at the Tillamook Ice Creamery at the end where we laughed and went over our pictures. How am I going to top that one for next year?!

Finding the next clue after hiking to a waterfall. The Red Team with Cecile, Cyndi and Kyle.

The two boys and I left the beach and went to the raceway where the Langston boys got their Driver's Licenses! Look out everyone!

Kyle getting ready for his next race!

Jake having way too much fun!

Next we headed east to the mountain. Portland is about an hour away from Mt. Hood. In the winter we ski and snowboard down the slopes. In the summer one resort uses the ski lift to bring folks to the top of the mountain where you can hike, mountain bike on the 40 miles of trails, or - like we did - take the Alpine slide. You ride the chair to the top with your "sled", hop on the track and using the brake, of course, fly down the side of the mountain on the track. Needless to say it was a hit. Klye though, being over six feet tall, leaned the wrong way at one turn and flew out of his sled getting a little road rash. Jake, never took a break until Auntie made him stop for a picnic lunch. Steve's son Matthew joined us, but was afraid of the big slide, so we did another one for smaller campers.

Riding the chair to the top with the peak of Mt. Hood in the background. Who's afraid of heights? Not these dare devils.

Can you see Jake coming down the slide to get a sense of how big it is! What a blast!

Here's Matty flying down his slide. Next year we're all going on the big one with Kyle and Jake!

The week flew by and ended with Uncle Steve and his three boys, Cyndi and Dave with their "campers" and me meeting for pizzia at our favorite joint called Flying Pie Pizzeria where they have great pizza and entertain you by throwing the dough. I had to dash off to work a graveyard shift and the week came to a close. Another successful year!

I'm already planning next year. Kyle and Jake are going to help me brainstorm this Christmas vacation. We hope to get up to Mt. Hood for some snowboarding during their Christmas break from school. This next year we plan to add a more nephews. (So many boys in this family...) Let's see...Kyle (age 17) and my brother Mike's oldest boy Jordan (16) will be the camp counselors to Jake and Mike's stepson Quinton (both age 13); Steve's youngest son Matthew, Mike's other stepson Leland and our niece Carrie's (Shirley's daughter) son Austin, (all age 11) as camp attendees. (Whew! Did you keep up with that?) I will be the Camp Director of course, complete with megaphone and whistle! I can't wait!! Let me know if anyone from St. Louis wants to join in - there is always room enough for more!

Well, I hope I didn't bore you with our family photos. I love the Pacific Northwest!

Look forward to the next installment of hiking the Columbia Gorge, poking around in Seattle and mopedding over San Juan Island with our Arizona visitors, Nate (Kaye's oldest) and his sweet and lovely bride, Danielle, this last September!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving being together with family and making memories!

Signing off for now,

Sandi

Rose has another checkup on her eyes tomorrow. It will take sometime before she can tell how much the surgeries improved her eyesight to have her prescription glasses updated. Meanwhile, it's scary to ride with her at night.

We had a newsy email from Tmmy FeLLin in Olympia. The heavy rains and floofing have only caused them endless traffic. power outages, clogged drains, and bad hair days. Anna just returned from masseuse school in Florida and a visit with her fiance in Virginia. Bernie had been under the weather but was on the mend. Cyndi and family in Olympia are hosting family for Thanksgiving. Their Christmas will be at Sandi's in Portland. Bernie and Maudie plan to attend both.

Pete and Janet are settled in back in Arizona. They took the truck pulling their redneck guest house, the trailer back down there. Simone, Pete's GPS, got him on a one way street going the wrong way in traffic in Las Vegas enroute to Circus Circus. He said she thought they were in Reno.
Shirley got back from Chicago on Monday and Rose returned yesterday. I stayed in St. Louis over the weekend and Goldman and Maddog were my faithful helpers. Chris and Shelly spent the weekend at the lake house. Shelly had a teachers' conference at the Lodge.

I'm going to fly to Louisville next Monday and then ride back for Thanksgiving with Scott and family. Scott, Goldman and Mike Lynch [Maddog's brother] all turn 40 this month. They've been friends since kindergarten. Their friends are throeing a big party the evening after Thanksgiving. Rose, Shirley and I get to watch Brayden.

The election results were favorable to us. Stem cell research amendment was one item we were campaigning for here in Missouri and it passed to our delight. Rose was up very late that Tuesday and back up at dawn on Wednesday. She and Stephanie [Margaret's daughter] were on and off the phone all evening. I'll have to finish this later.

I wanted to update the blog about Rose's eye surgery on the other eye. The surgery was done on Monday and checkup done today. This makes completion of the second eye and a great improvement on her eyesight. After about a month the eye surgeon will check her vision and see if she needs any lasik surgical improvement. She may not have to wear glasses after 55 years of doing so.

I spent the weekend at the lake for a girls' weekend. This was their shopping weekend. When they weren't shopping they - and me - were eating. A good time was had by all.

Pete and Janet left for Arizona this morning after they voted. Rose, Shirley and I voted absentee last week. VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN.

Margaret and Norm were home this weekend after having put their camper in winter storage. Margaret said it was too quiet at the house. They like the campground better.

Jalen was named student of the month in September. I'm not sure what that means but he was nonchalant about it. Brayden calls me about every two days to update me on Louisville happenings.

Like I said - VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN

There is an interesting comment under the "Happy Birthday, Aunt Rose" entry of October 23, 2006. Even though the comments icon indicates "0" comments, there is one. Catrina, youngest daughter of Margaret and Norman, has a news-worthy blog of her own. Check it out: http://catrinasthoughts.blogspot.com/

On Tuesday evening, Rose, Shirley and I went to a 5 star restaurant near the Mississippi in downtown St. Louis to celebrate Rose's birthday. Three attendants helped us out of the car and parked it for us while two others ushered us in the door. They seated us and a crew of various help began pampering us. We had waiters, water boys, bread boys, wine pourers, salad tossers, salad servers, meat carvers, dessert servers, and one whose only task seemed to be to refold our napkin if we left to go to the restroom. Thrn another one put a fresh napkin in our lap when we returned to the table. The valet parkers brought the car and saw it was difficult for me to get in so brought a step for me. We were near the Mississippi, but a long way from Turnbo.

We had old girls' weekend at the lake last weekend. Leslie, Liz, and a new friend, Trish, attended. I was under the weather so Chris and Goldman came Sunday to drive me home. Just a bug of some kind. I was fine by Tuesday.

Jana, Ellie, and Liz Keay who has been friends with Rose for over 40 years and is in town from Colorado came for dinner last night. Ellie can crawl now - but gets frustrated because she can only go backwards. She's beautifil like her mother.

Sandi Fellin, our new west coast editor called on Wed. We chided her about spelling her name wrong. For those of you who don't know, the rest of Mom's kids - and Mom and Dad - spell our name FELIN with one L. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought it was because the doctor made a mistake on Bernie's birth certificate and he just left it that way. With my amnesia, sometimes when I hear a rumor, I find out I started it myself.

Greetings from the west coast! Sandi 2L here with a little news from our neck-of-the-woods. I have been remiss at adding to the blog at Aunt Sue and Aunt Rose's invitation and am delighted to actually have some time to contribute. I hope my entry here will be interesting as I try to recap some of the recent highlights with our branch of the family.

We have had such a fun and busy summer with lots of family events. In April Tammy hosted a deck party at her home in Olympia which was a guise for a surprise birthday party for brother Mike. I understand he wasn't really surprised, but we all had fun thinking we were keeping it all a secret. Any excuse to get together for our family is usually well attended! Thanks Tammy for rolling out the red carpet once again!

Mom and Dad with Steve and his boys, Dan, Aaron and Matt.














Cyndi and Sandi with their Dad at Tammy's home in Olympia.

















Mike with two of his three sons - Leland and Quinton.

The next big event for me was going to St. Louis with Cyndi to meet Mom and Dad and the rest of the clan to celebrate Grammie's 100th birthday. There is so much to say here. We had a blast. Aunt Margret and Uncle Norm generously gave us their RV to stay in so we could hang out with Mom and Dad. We had so much fun meeting family and getting reaccquainted. Everyone pampered us so much we felt spoiled. One of Cyndi and my favorite memories was going out to lunch on Monday after the big weekend with Mom and Dad, Aunt Rose and Aunt Sue. I loved hearing my dad tell his sisters stories of growing up and filling in some of the blanks for them of their childhood from their big brother. I so enjoyed being a fly on the wall and watching the siblings reminisce. I treasure this memory and am so thankful for being included. Thanks to all who made our time there so enjoyable.

Next came 4th of July with Carrie (Peggy/Shirley's oldest daughter) and her family visiting Portland and the Oregon Coast for their second annual trip. Austin, who is now 10 and my "twin" since he was born on my birthday told me his dream vacation if he only had 3 days to go somewhere would be to Aunt Sandi's house! Carrie - take that boy on a vacation! He clearly hasn't been many places in his life if my house is a dream vacation! I loved it!















Carrie and Katie!

We had a campout at the farm in Spokane with a weekend on the lake with Mike's boat in July.
The 3rd Annual Aunt Camp adventure in August.
We celebrated Steve's 50th birthday on Labor day.
In mid-September we enjoyed a great visit with Nate and Danielle (Kaye's oldest son and his wife). We traveled from Portland to Olympia to Seattle and then to the San Juan islands where we traveled around the beautiful island of San Juan via mopeds!
Most recently Mom and Dad's 55th wedding anniversary party.

I will post more later with these pictures. Enjoy!
Sandi

Lynn
Nathan and Kym
Dave
Stef and Dan
Sam and Aunt Rose
Nathan
Stef and Margaret
Ding
Stef and Norman
Stef, Dan, Barry and Debbra
Stef, Dan, Shelly and Ding

 

 

 

 

Dave and Sabrina
















The Cake


"The SPEECH"


The Abbott Clan - Standing L to R: Norman, Stef, Randy, Catrina. Seated: Sabrina and Margaret

Stef and Dan
Margaret and Norman (who, subsequently, will be celebrating 50 years of marriage next August 21st.)
Aunt Rose, Shelly and Ding
Stef and Dan with a coin set from 1981 - the year of their marriage
Shirley and Aunt Rose