We were happy to celebrate Caden's 3rd birthday in Walla Walla, WA  on Jan 9, 2012.  He loves the kids TV program Handy Manny and wanted a cake like that.  So all the tools and toolbox are edible.  A very talented friend of Carey's makes unique cakes.  Of course, Caden was not eating things like cake at that time.  Happy to report that his g-tube was removed in June.  By October, he all of a sudden wanted to eat what others were eating and was willing to feed himself!  What a wonderful blessing.  He has done very well in preschool since September.   But now he still has some serious heart issues and is scheduled for heart surgery at Stanford in April.  We need lots more prayers on his behalf. 

We spent a lot of time this year on trips to see friends and family.   In March we needed to use a timeshare week and did that in Las Vegas.  On the way we visited friends and while there we got together with my college roommate and former neighbors and college friends who were passing through.  Then we always try to see a lot of friends whenever we are in California and we did that during the next week of March while we were there to do the Los Angeles Marathon again for the 27th straight year.  Still 185 of us who have done every LA Marathon since it started in 1986.  So we are planning to go there for the 28th marathon which is on March 17, 2013.  We also went to "The Doctors" TV show in Hollywood a few days before the marathon.  It was fun to be in the audience.

Right after the marathon, we headed to central Calif. to visit more friends on our way to Portland to help out with taking our granddaughter Charli Jo to all of her appointments, school, music lessons, etc. during the last month of tax season, so that Shelly can spend more time working for her clients, etc.   We took Charli Jo home with us for a few days during her spring break.  Then back to Portland until April 18.

April 23-29 we flew back east and visited more friends in Illinois and my sister in Ohio and many other dear ones in Michigan.  We went to my 55th alumni reunion in Battle Creek from high school.  It was fun to see all who came plus people from other classes too.

Later in September we spent about a month visiting friends and family in many states including Montana where Charles did a full marathon and I did a half marathon, then on to WY, SD, IA, IL, IN, KY,TN, OH, MI, WI, MN, ND, MT and home to Idaho.  Also did a marathon and half marathon in Fox River Valley, IL.  Our ultimate reason for this trip was our 50th alumni reunion from college at Andrews University in Michigan.  Had a good turnout for that .  Especially enjoyed seeing so many friends and relatives everyplace we went.  Since then, some we visited have passed away, so glad we got to see them.  And many many thanks to all of you who hosted us along the way.  The list is too long to write in this blog.  But we really appreciated all that you did for us.  We drove over 6400 miles and got home on Oct 3 which was just in time to go to Walla Walla and babysit for the next couple of weeks.