Merry Christmas, 2024

After reading our last year's events, this year will be considerably shorter and possibly more boring...I guess that's what aging does to you.  

After Christmas last year, brother Bill, Janet, Karla, Toshi, and Mae came down for a day's visit as they nearly always do.  Below are highlights of each month throughout the year  

January ~ filled with basketball games for Cody's last year in high school (from Moscow to as far away as Sand Point).  Finally bought a new car ~ 2024 Toyota RAV 4.  What a challenge it has been learning all the new technology that goes with getting a new car.  Tony exchanged his organ for a piano and has enjoyed playing it a little.

February ~ Jim & Kathie made a trip out this month from Wyoming, which brought Bill & Janet down also.  Ken & Kierra came over from Seattle for Ken's birthday and a night on the town at the Karaoke bar.

March ~ an evening with Dennis for my birthday attending a WSU basketball game was great fun.  As well as the Easter egg hunt in Dennis' yard for Easter

April ~ What an evening to watch my grandson, Cody, get Mr. MHS (Moscow High School) after seeing his talent "making a pizza".  Tony and I celebrated 25 years on the 24th with about 40 of our closest friends and relatives in the area (we even had one couple come from Oregon and one fly over from Seattle).  The same friend that catered our wedding (Cyndi) catered the event.  A nice surprise was a week-end visit from Tina and her husband (the daughter of Tony's UK friends, Bob and Jean).

May ~ Granddaughter, Caily, graduated from WSU (Washington State University) with a BA in Human Development and a minor in Psychology.  Dennis and I took a flying trip to Tennessee for a funeral of Dennis' Aunt Kay (and my former sister-in-law and good friend).  

June ~ Another graduation ~ Cody graduated from high school, with plans to attend the University of Idaho in the fall and join a fraternity.  Both graduations had super celebration parties!!  Phillip brought Abby over for a visit.  I hadn't seen Abby for over ten years.  She has been living in the Philippines.

July ~ Main event was the 60th anniversary of friends, Win & Sue.  And, or course, the golf challenge that Dennis participated in again.

August ~ Tony decided that since he couldn't drive any more that he should get an electric bike.  A friend brought one over for him to try and we now don't have to buy an electric bike.  :-)

September ~ A month long motorhome trip with Bill and Janet.  We saw a lot of places and people, got a new motorhome which to date is proving to be a disaster.  I won't bore you with everything that went wrong, but since November 1st, it has been sitting at Mercedes Benz waiting for the extended insurance policy company to decide if they are going to pay for a new engine. I'll let you know next Christmas how this "saga' worked out.  Below are some highlights and websites of our trip. 

Our first stop was in Wallace, Idaho (always a fun town to walk around in)

Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach, North Dakota (meeting owner and visiting with her)

On-A-Slant Indian Village, Mandan, North Dakota

Antelope Valley Station tour, Beulah, North Dakota

Polaris Experience Center and Facotry Tour, Roseau, Minnesota 

Fireplace of states, Bimidji, Minnesota (home of Paul Bunyon and the Blue Ox)

Ironewood Michigan:  We enjoyed a lot in Ironwood ~ Copper Peak, Stormy Kromer factory tour, the miners mural, and the largest Indian statute ~ Hiawatha,   

Hillestad Pharmaceutical Factory Tour in Woodruff, Wisconsin, and a motorcycle convention that created havoc for motorhome traveling.  😀

Of course, we did a few of Roadside America's suggestions:  World's Largest Penny

The Mustard Museum in Wisconsin, complete with a mustard vending machine

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was a great place to visit ~ Lynelle (our cousin) gave us a great tour including the Library.

The Great American Popcorn Compan (not a tour as we thought, but we got some free popcorn to pop from the owner)

My Garage Museum and Retail Store in Illinois

Whitehaven Mansion Tour, Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah, Kentucky, Wall to Wall Portraits (we met the daughter of the mayor and an Ambassador for the City ~ enjoyed all the information she gave us)

Leiper's Fork Distillery ~ of course, one of Tony's favorite stops

A visit in Tennessee with a cousin (Bill hadn't seen him in 60 years, and probably 18 years for me.

We had to stop at one  Buc-ee's along the way

Memphis ~ The Bass Pro Shop in the pyramid.  Quite a ride on the elevator to the top of the pyramid.

Unclaimed Baggage Store and museum in Scottsboro Alabama (Believe this was Janet's favorite)

A trip to "Daylight Donuts" in Chadron, Nebraska,  because we all owned donut shops at one time.

Last stops were to visits cousins in Nebraska and South Dakota, and the Big Horn County Historical Museum before heading home.

You may or may not click on the links...but believe me, I enjoyed doing this blog to remember all we had seen.  Thanks, Bill & Janet for letting us tag along.

October ~ Great fun with Casey and the great grandkids going "trick or treating" in the downtown Moscow area and later in November to the locomotive park in Lewiston to see all the Christmas lights.

November ~ Bought new flooring for both bathrooms, and Trim Lights around the whole outside of the house.  My oldest granddaughter, Cally, comes from Seattle a lot and this Thanksgiving (Kenny and Kierra came also) we played a lot of cards, had a few fancy coffees and lots of time together.  Unfortunately, as I write this (12/18), she called with news that her "furry person", Koda, just died after 16 years.  So sad. 

December ~ As you can tell...we have been "skiing" a lot (translation "Spending Kids' Inheritance:).  We hope all the Seattle family can come back over for Christmas, but time will tell on that.

I continue to be on the Board of the Senior Center's Friendly Neighbors.  Am slowly trying to move some of the responsibilities to others, but it has been difficult to find volunteers.  Tony still enjoys jigsaw puzzles, but his new interest has gone to YouTube.  He watches constantly to find out "who, what, when, where, and why".  They say we are never too old to learn.

A Phillip Family Reunion is being planned here in Moscow from July 3rd through the 7th, 2025.  This will be my next project to begin right after the New Year.  We expect over 40 relatives.  

Thanks to all of you who visited this year, and to all who keep in touch by phone calls, emails and texts.  At our ages of 81 and 83, friends and family are very important.  Hope you all have a very nice Christmas and a very good year.  

Tony and Sharon  (singo6158@gmail.com) (208-301-2060)