Family

Leaving (for) Las Vegas!

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Leaving Las Vegas was the name of a pretty good movie.  Leaving for Las Vegas is the new title to this movie called life. Time for another new chapter in the book of life.  My life began in LA, and then went to Denver for 9 years, and now it's time to get closer to LA without actually living in LA.  It's just too expensive, and too much traffic.  That’s the reason that we left Los Angeles in the first place. But then again, Las Vegas has traffic, but its not like we're moving to the strip! 

So what brings us closer to LA and not actually living in LA?  

This little guy!

My daughter Jennifer was pregnant with Ryan and said “you have about 2 1/2 years to move back here as he’ll need his papa and nana around more often”. I went out to CA every month the first year he was born. I had to work and travel so much for work, that I accrued a lot of comp/time off, so I flew out about every month to see them. Janis had just started working for the state, so she didn’t have a lot of vacation/time off. At the beginning it was ok (not really) but later on in the year, Janis would just take leave without pay, as seeing Ryan was more important than the money lost.

Low and behold, Jennifer told us she was pregnant with our next grandson, and we decided we would have to move closer sooner than expected. We decided in May 2016 that we needed to move and quick.

Our neighbors from down the street bought the house (30 day escrow) so we had to pack up a 5000 sq ft house in 30 days (while working) and go out to Las Vegas to look for homes (1 weekend).

We flew to Vegas, looked at about 10 developments, asking for a house that was move in ready in 30 dqys with a 30 day escrow. We found 3 possibles, and on Sunday Jennifer and Neil came out to see the 3 possibilities. We needed to be 1) close to the strip, as they gamble (as do we), and closer to the south end of the valley, so we are are close to I-15 and driving out to see them.

We ended finding a home in Rhodes Ranch, which has a golf course, a built in water park, a HUGE lagoon like pool, and a rec room with basketball courts, pool tables, weight rooms, etc.

We sold our house in Commerce City and had to move within 30 days! That was fun!

 

Travis First Communion - May 8, 2016

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Travis had his first communion mass today, TL’s parents were able to come to it, which was nice. There wasn’t ability to take photos inside the cathedral, so only got photos at the reception.

It was tough to get down there to take photos, since we were in the process of moving and packing up etc., but I’m glad we were able to see this and them before we move away in a month (ish).

Happy 90th birthday Phil

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Janis’ dad Phil Kontoff turned 90 years old today. Happy birthday Phil! (with Roberta Kontoff

Welcome Ryan Ichiro

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7 lb, 1 oz, 19 1/2” long. Born at 11:32 a.m. yesterday. We flew out flew on the 21st and were up all night waiting for it to happen. Being less than.a month out from spine surgery, I was pretty sore.

Easter 2010 Apr 3 2010

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Jason, Tera Lyn & Travis went to see grandma at her assisted living facility for Easter. Travis had a good time at the Easter Egg hunt, and spending time with great grandma.

Mom passed away 5 weeks later

A great day - January 20, 2009

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A new president elected, nice weather for the inauguration, and it was beautiful here, a balmy 65 degrees out here, so we went up to the Rocky Mtns to see what we could see - 

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A bighorn sheep grazing in the grass -

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a Magpie singing for us

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about 15 or 20 bull elk hanging out -and a few wanting to fight

On the drive I told my 86 year old mom that it was reported that out of 8 years in office George Bush spent 3 full years either at Camp David or on his ranch in Crawford Texas on 'vacation'.  She replied "Good, imagine what more he could have done if he was working all that time"  Gotta love her! Here's a picture taken last year in Redondo Beach.

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Bobby and Phil out here for awhile

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Bobby and Phil are out here for awhile while Susan gets her house situated in Aguanga. Until the house closes and Phil and Bobby move in, they will be living with us. We did some trips out to Estes Park and to Lake Dillon with my mom. Some of the photos while they were here.

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Phil and Bobby were eating at the breakfast nook and saw a fox come in. Bobby said oh look, a fox, and all of a sudden it grabbed up a rabbit and ran between the houses to where it lives across the street. It came back a bit later to again chase the rabbits. I got a photo of them and luckily was able to scare away the fox from getting another entree for her family.

Travis @ 4mo old

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Sunday I had a session with Travis @ 4 months.  He is getting so big and such a personality now!!  Amazing how he went from this, @ 1 day old,

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 to this @ 2 1/2 months old

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to this guy @ 4 months old!

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If you are having a baby and want to get 5 sessions @ birth, 2 1/2 months, 4 months, 8 months and a year, and get a free Italian made, fine art coffee table book for free, please email me to find out how!

He's getting so big and getting cuter every time I see him!   I can't wait to take pictures of him again! 

Welcome to the Family Sadie and Abbey

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Meet the new additions to the family!   We adopted two sisters from Mississippi who were in a shelter and were going to be put down.  Sadie and Abby.  

It's funny cause Abby is my daughter Jennifer's cat's name too..  We got them @ Petsmart today, and they are so cute.  They could have been adopted separately, but that would have been awful as they are so close, you can just tell in the little time we spent with them at the store.

Sadie is the calico one, Abby is the grey tabby looking one.   Sadie is very shy and Abby seems to fear abandonment as when we leave the room she follows us.

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R.I.P Uncle Jim

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My Uncle Jim passed away today in Boston Mass..  He will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.  He was a great person and wonderful father and grandfather and Uncle.  And a friend to everyone who knew him, as no one had anything bad to say about Jim Perry.

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 I took my mom out to Boston for the funeral, and we got to spend some time with Marguerite.  Marguerite is the oldest sister and oldest sibling, and is in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimers.   She was so happy to see us and recognized my mom right off, which was wonderful (for both of them).

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