HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!

Nancy and I would like to share with you our top personal events of the first decade of the 21ST century. The first two are tied for first as one could not have happened without the other.The remainder are simply big events for us but not in any sort of ranking order.



On 5/09/09 we celebrated our 50TH wedding anniversary.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In this decade we welcomed four new grandchildren to our family.!!!!!!!!!!!!

I turned seventy in 2008 and had a fun year doing seventy things I had never done. #56 Was being the Zoo train engineer for the day thanks to a Father,s day gift from our three children.!!!!!!!!!!!

In April of 2003 I started to work for AB at Grants Farm. One of the highlights of my work was photographing the world famous Clyde dales with kids , parents, and grandparents.

Feb. 7Th 2007 I started as a stadium tour guide for the St Louis Cardinals and I still love every aspect of my work.

The next two photos feature a combined decade event. I attended the all star game in 2009 and a world series game in 2006 both at our new Busch stadium. The real big deal is that I was able to attend an all star game and at least one world series game in all three of our stadiums.

Look mom no eye glasses!!! Since Jan. 2005 I have not had to wear eye glasses. I believe I began wearing glasses in 1959.

THE BIRTH OF OUR BLOG!!!

We feature the first paragraph of our first blog posting.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

On a cool fall Oct. Evening in 1956 I met a young woman name of Nancy and as fate would direct we are still sharing our life together. At the time I was in college and Nancy was a senior in high school. From that fall evening until a warm May 9Th 1959 we had what could be described as a rocky courtship. It was certainly on again and then off again for one reason or another. My blog title states it is a great life and since that warm May evening in 59 it has been. We have had three wonderful children and with help from their spouses they have given us six terrific grand kids. We have a passion to travel but our love for our grand kids always brings us back home.

Our hope is that each and everyone of our readers will have a blessed and prosperous 2010.!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRI!!!!!

It all happened on a Sunday 12/30/? when Nancy woke me up about 6:00 AM. Nancy was due about 1/10/? but we were hoping for a tax deduction. I still continue to thank God for Dr Smith as Sherri presented he and his team with a few challenges that I guess today would be routine.




Christmas time about age four

A girl scout about age ten

One of my all time top fifty photos.we were living in Independence Mo. and there is a story behind Miss Beazly,[ maybe two]

Our backyard in Independence a few days before our return to St Louis

Taken at our front door in the house we still live.

Happy birthday Sherri mom and I hope you have a great day.

We love you

Mom and Dad

CHRISTMAS EVE 2009!!!!!!

It started a long time ago before Nancy and I were married. I grew up with divorced parents thus I had lots of grandparents. The negative side was they had to be visited at Christmas. My memory has always told me that it was January the third before I had the time to actually play with my gifts.

When we were first married we would visit the Tritschler side of the family on Christmas Eve and the McCoy side on Christmas day. With the birth of Terri in 1961 that all changed. Nancy and our family have celebrated Christmas eve at our house along with Christmas day until Sherri took over Christmas day in 2001.

First photo is a group shot but features our oldest granddaughter Kelsey



Second photo is James our youngest grandson


A portion of the group that was there. This Christmas our friend Jason H. joined in our festivities.

Paul and his dad looking at one of Paul's presents.

Kayleigh opening one of her presents.

Donovan had presents to open and he sometimes had help from James.

Todd was there but it was hard taking photos of someone opening cards and counting his loot. Todd will be spending next semester in Italy so money was the gift this year.

We hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and will have a prosperous 2010.!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS
I thought this year we would share some of our Christmas cards from the past.


Our first card is from Christmas 1962 featuring at the time our only daughter Terri. Sherri did join her sister right before 1962 came to an end.








The second card is from 1963 and features Sherri joining big sister Terri along with Santa in the background.
This card is from 1966 our first year in Independence Mo.We had moved to Independence maybe six weeks before the photo was taken.

This photo is from 197o and we are back living in St Louis. Obviously this was not our Christmas card but one of Edward sitting by our tree.

It is interesting to me that after the birth of Edward photo cards of the three kids cannot be found. I guess we ran out of money.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Ed and Nancy

A TROMBONE PLAYER PERFORMS!!!!!

Last Tuesday night found grandma and I at Donovan's first band concert. It was amazing that in August the kids first chose their instruments and began to play. Tonight you could recognize the songs they played. I was a long way from the band but trust me Donovan is there and played.

In the first picture he is in the back row second from right side.







You can barely see his forehead second from right in back row.


He is in back row but really not visible to the camera lens.

Great job Donovan!!!!!

MY FAVORITE OBOE PLAYER!!!!
Last Sunday found Nancy and I at Kelsey's winter band concert. She is the first chair Oboe player and of course my favorite performer.

Kelsey is the one in the middle taking a bow for her solo.

My unofficial count is that Nancy and I have been attending school band concerts for over thirty five years and have enjoyed every one.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA!!!!!!!
Last Saturday morning found Nancy and I with three grand kids at breakfast with Santa at McKnight Rd.



James,Paul,and Kayleigh with Mr and Mrs Claus!!!!1


James,Kayleigh and Paul

The five of us with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Kayleigh with her friend Allisson

Nancy was the story book reader

Uncle Steve at the keyboard

A good time was had by all.

For those who want to listen to an original Christmas song written by "Steve Haupt" and sung by his daughter Becky Kelley. Simply click on the attached Youtube link.
Ed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPViKJRHyZo

CHUCK CELEBRATES A MAGICAL NUMBER BIRTHDAY!!!
Saturday night Nancy and I along with thirty or more other guest helped Chuck celebrate sixty candles.
Later in the evening my seventy one old back wished I would have attended but not bowled two games.
The games were fun,the cake excellent and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUCK!!!!!!

Bowling and eating go together

Birthday boy cutting the cake

Birthday boy wearing his new photo shirt.It is a pictorial highlight of his life. A great idea.



A part of the group

SENIOR PRINCESS PERFORMS!!!
Thursday evening found grandma and I watching Kelsey sing in her school chorus holiday show.

Kelsey is in third row third girl from the left

In the last two pictures she has moved to the right side and is in third row on the end between two red dresses.

This year she added singing in the school chorus to her many varied experiences.

HIGHLIGHTS of 2009!!!!



Celebrating our 50TH wedding anniversary was certainly our top highlight of 2009.





Nancy and I with Aunt Helen my families patriarch.






I met my friend Bob as a freshman at Roosevelt high school.











Rich and Ruth friends for over fifty years. We were in their wedding in 1958 and they were in our wedding in 1959.

Jack has been my friend since 1950.

Jackie in the middle is our senior church friend going back to 1959.

Standing is our friends from the sixties Neil and Glenda.

My Aunt Dudell and her son Loren

We were honored that our granddaughter Kelsey play background music at our celebration. Pictured here with junior princess Kayleigh.

Thank you Nancy for fifty WONDERFUL YEARS!!!