Merry Christmas to all!!!

Hi there Everyone,

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We were so lucky to have so many of our family join us for dinner on Christmas eve. We were joined by Brandee and Kevin McCann, Marge O'neil (Kevins Mom), Daniel (Kevins Daughter), and by Sandy and Bill Ealy. We had plenty of food for everyone.
We were especially lucky that Katie and Russ were able to make the trip from Elk Grove to join us. They spent the night here, so we could empty our stockings together on Christmas morning. Thanks guys! You are the greatest!

We hope that for each and every one of you that read this, that you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season.

A week from now, Carol and I will find our selves joining Karen and Mike in Redbluff California for new years eve! Take care all!

Love Eric, Carol, Katie, Russ, Roxy, Lilly, Tyson, Spot, Angle and Cat Man

It's winter time!

Well, my favorite time of year has arrived, Winter time! Though it is not officially winter yet, it sure feels like it has arrived here in Amador County!!! The lows are down into the 20's at night here and we have gotten a good amount of snow for the 2300 foot level!

We are starting into the holiday season. With Thanksgiving a memory, we are now into the Christmas party time of the year. The Volcano Christmas part was held on the 6th of December and Katie is getting to attend her first 'Company' Christmas party this next weekend on the 20th. Carol and Katie went and had lunch yesterday on Katies day off. It sounds like Katie and Russ have done a great job of getting their new place set up. As is the case with any new home, the visitors are coming with great frequency. Last weekend, it was some of Russ's friends and his mom that came to visit. Katies dad is going for a visit this weekend. I'm hoping, Carol and I will get a chance to visit them and take them out to dinner soon.

Roxy amazingly enough is still with us. Though she was diagnosed back in the summer with an in-operable tumor at the base of her stomach, she is still going strong. She has her good days and her bad, but at this point she still instigates play and seems to be having a decent quality of life.

We finally have an implementation date on the Telesphere 6.0 software. This date was mandated by a combination of the Volcano Strategic Planning Committee as well as by the fact that Telesphere wants to start billing us for supporting my testing of their software. I know in my gut that the software is not fully tested and there are some parts of the software that are not in working order, but I'm not the one calling the shots on this project, so I just have to hope for the best. Wish me luck!

Happy Camping! - Eric-

Happy 19th Birthday Katie

Hi there Everyone,

Today is Katies 19th Birthday and she has grown up so fast into a wonderful young lady. And so much has happened recently in her life. She has started a new job at an Optometrist in Elk Grove and she and her boyfriend Russ have moved out into their own place in South Sacramento in an area they call 'The Pocket'. They have a nice little upstairs one-bedroom apartment that is a perfect starter for them. It has been a very busy weekend for our entire family.

It actually started last Thursday with taking about three pickup-truck loads down to the new apartment with the help of Russ's dad, Ralph who actually took two of the loads. We then followed up with a fourth load on Saturday delivering Grandpa Calvins TV and a few other needed furniture items. Sunday, we celebrated Katies birthday at the Sutter Creek Palace where Katie got some Fillet Minion. Her birthday cake was actually her favorite Banana Cream Pie made by Margaret Anderson at the local eatery, 'Sierra House'. Don't blame Margaret for the appearance of the pie in the picture, we had already had candles in the pie and such.

Carol and I are both so proud of Katie and what she has accomplished this year. She got her Highschool diploma, moved out on her own, ahhhh, it has been a busy one for her. We love you Katie, we are very glad we get to be part of your life!

Happy Birthday, Love Mom and Eric

Happy 60th Birthday my dear sister Karen

Hi there everyone,

Please join me in wishing my sister Karen Wraight a very happy and healthy 60th birthday. Karen has been a wonderful sister to me. She has been one of those people in my life that I have always thought about when it came to making decisions in my life like... "What would Karen do...". She and her husband Mike have always been there for me when times were tough and they have helped me to shape my life in only the most positive of ways.

I am so thankful for the sister that I have in my life. There are so many things about her that I love. She has such compasion for people, but she has a certain frankness as well. She has always been the shoulder to cry on, but when there is something I need to 'own' as far as responsibility is concerned, she's always let me know. And you know what, I'm good with that.

I so wish that Carol and I could have been in Oregon to join Karen for her 60th birthday this year, but with Katie moving, it just isn't in the cards. I'm really bummed, 'cause I remember looking at the calendar a year ago, thinking, 'Oh boy, her birthday is on a weekend next year...' but sometimes life has other plans.

Happy birthday sis. I love you so much. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and we can't wait to see you in January.

Take care and remember we love you so very much! Eric, Carol, Katie and Russ too!