2006
Copyright © James W. Blilie, 2010: All rights reserved
Phyllis and Jim's family photos - Main Page
Phyllis and Jim's family photos 2006
We went in early December 2005 to Phyllis’s Mom’s 70th birthday party in Shawano (see picture). Later in December we went to Northwest Florida to enjoy some winter sunshine and warmth and to visit with Jim’s aunt Ann, uncle Walt and cousins. After the first of the year, we took the plunge and ordered a cedar hot tub from Snorkel Stoves and Jim assembled and plumbed it. After a few travails with the propane heater, we got it running and have been enjoying it very much since then.
In June, we spent two wonderful weeks in White Salmon. We had perfect weather (if a bit hot) and we accomplished many projects and we hiked much more than we have in the past. Jamie hiked over 2 miles several times—not bad for 27-month old boy! On our return, we began another home project: we put a black chain-link fence around our back yard. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the contractor to finish the work in December! The fence transformed our back yard and we have been enjoying letting Jamie have the run of the yard.
In August, we went to Glacier National Park for a week. We hiked almost every day and stayed in a nice little cabin in West Glacier. Phyllis had been trying to get to Glacier Park for many years (long story) and she finally made it. Both Joe and Jamie made it to their first foreign country when we made a day-trip to Water Lakes National Park in Alberta. On our hike to Avalanche Lake, Jamie hiked in the whole way (2.3 miles, up about 600 feet) passing quite a number of (embarrassed) adults on the way! Joe is hiking Phyllis and Jim into the ground these days!
August also brought a trip to New Richmond, WI for our niece, Shelley’s wedding. In September, we went to Shawano for our niece Cherra’s wedding. It also brought Joe’s first year of high school (!) and the start of Phyllis’s work year. We also finally arranged for a family portrait of the Blilie’s (see below.) It was a busy summer and we barely had any time in town. Phyllis and Jim just celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary. Where did those four years go? Looking at Jamie (now 37-1/2 inches tall at 33 months) and Joe (now much taller than his Mom) and I guess we can see it!
Phyllis is now teaching second grade (in the past her school always had mixed grades.) Next year, she will have a new group of first graders that she will then have for two years. She prefers this arrangement. Phyllis has a student teacher this fall who is an excellent student teacher and a lot of help for her. Phyllis finally made it to Glacier National Park which was important to her. She also enjoyed driving the Camry, which has air conditioning. Phyllis painted the front of our house, which badly needed it. The intent was to paint the entire house; but we were in town so little and didn’t get the right weather, that we only got the front painted.
Jim continues to enjoy his job at Guidant very much. Actually, it’s now Boston Scientific CRM (cardiac rhythm management) as the merger was completed in the Spring. He has many different kinds of work and feels that he is really contributing now. He has a good prospect for a bonus this year. Jim’s guitar work took a big step in the fall when Paramount Guitars in Watertown WI bought one guitar and ordered several others. These are good sales and having a dealer adds to his legitimacy as a builder. Jim brewed beer for the first time since 1998 and he brewed a Belgian ale and Scottish ale, both of which were well-received. Jim hurt his back badly in October, with a bulged disc at L4-L5 and nerve pain so bad he was in bed for 3 weeks. An epidural cortisone injection and physical therapy have gotten him back on his feet and into life.
Joe made the A Honor Roll at Chippewa Middle School in the Spring. Joe is now a freshman at Mounds View High School, the same school Jim graduated from. Joe is also learning to drive after passing his written test on the first try. He has had two behind-the-wheel sessions so far and is doing well. Joe is getting good at driving. We really only need to add highway driving and night driving and then give him a lot more practice.
Jamie started at the New Horizons daycare center which is on the Guidant (now Boston Scientific CRM) site. It’s right on Jim’s way into work and couldn’t be more convenient. Even better, Jamie loves it. When we toured the facility in the summer, we could hardly get Jamie to leave and for weeks afterwards, he would tell us that he wanted to “go to new daycare and play with the girls!” In spite of the picture you see on the previous page, Jamie has retired his pacifier. One more step on the way from babyhood to boyhood. Jamie is taking “Small People’s Music” at daycare and he loves it; he talks about it often. He also gets his hair cut at daycare, by an on-site kids hair cutting service. This is also very convenient. Jamie is quickly learning language and so much else. It is fun to hear him now making conversations with us, not just asking for things or answering questions. One day, Jamie sat down next to Phyllis and recited off a book of about 20 pages (a book about trucks of course!)
Phyllis and Jim's family photos - Main Page
Phyllis and Jim's family photos 2006
Last updated: 13-Jan-2010