LOMA LINDA, NOVEMBER 2009

This fall the CHIP Summit was in Loma Linda. An additional good excuse to get down there to see the grandkids. They just keep growing. We have much to be thankful for.

Keddrick with Uncle Des.

A family we love. Aaron (holding Keddrick) and Zsa (holding Kinnon)

Grandma shares a story with Keddrick, while Bam Bam claims the lap position.

Kinnon, pretty jazzed with the new books Grandma brought him.

Keddrick, trying to rearrange Grandpa's face.

Keddrick makes a lot of noise, but we don't understand him too well, yet.

Kinnon enjoys the playground equipment.

Keddrick in his "entertainment center".

Kinnon gets a story from Grandpa.

A snuggle with Grandma.

Hard to keep the squirmers still for a family picture.

Keddrick's a great smiler !

Kinnon checking out the equipment at Hulda Crooks Park

Kinnon with daddy

Keddrick with Grandma

Zsa Zsa and her boys

CAPE ARAGO, SOUTHERN OREGON COAST

It was a windy afternoon at Shore Acres, a park on the Cape Arago coast of Southern Oregon. Lots of spectacular waves breaking. Cloudy, but fortunately not raining. Beautiful!

NEW ARRIVAL

Keddrick Thukuthaku Saunders was born to Aaron and Zsa on April 21, 2009. Here he is just hours old with a remarkably fresh-looking mom.

Profile shot, with hat.

Showing a beautiful head of hair. Here's looking at you.

Checking the fingers to make sure they're all there.

Yep, the fingers are OK

Getting some snuggles in with daddy.

The beginning of a yawn. Something Keddrick is very good at.

Practicing that innocent look.

Close-up of Keddrick with hat-induced wink.

Zsa and Keddrick just prior to being discharged home from the hospital.

Getting acquainted with Uncle John (Zsa's brother), and showing us where the nose came from.

Meeting big brother, Kinnon. Didn't take long for Kinnon to learn the word, "brother".

Zsa Zsa's boys. Aaron holding Kinnon and Keddrick. The "y-chromosome club" in that Saunders house on April 22, 2009. Blessings abound.

Warmth and Beauty

The excuse was the Mayo Clinic Interactive Surgery Symposium 2009. A good reason to drag my wife to the Big Island of Hawai'i for a little over a week. The meetings were 4.5 hours each day, Sunday through Friday. The rest of the time was good for relaxation and exploration. The weather was pleasant, and the island has a lot of beauty to offer in its five different climate zones.

The beach at Pololu, on the north coast.

Gorgeous colors.

The one on the right is a bat lilly.

A kind of orchid we hadn't seen before

These looked more like the orchids we remembered.

Still happy after almost 28 years of honeymoon.

Umauma falls, on the east side, north of Hilo.

SEASON OF CELEBRATION

Yup, this picture got out of place. I couldn't figure out how to get it back to where it was supposed to be, and I like it too much to just delete it -- so consider it a Happy New Year from G'Gpa Force and Kinnon (and all the rest of us).

Another Christmas season has gotten by us. It was a great time for family and friends to come together (sometimes traveling on icy roads), eat lots, play games, and seriously alter the natural sleep/wake cycles. We are grateful for the gift of God that was behind all this, for the abundance that we share together, for safety in travels, and just for the time spent together -- more precious now that we are scattered most of the time to various places of school and work.

Kathy, Sara, and Andrew with a collection of Force family members (Thomas, Michael, Ed Green, Robert and Cliff) at the funeral of Dora Force (Cliff's sister-in-law)

Seth and Rachel, formally attired for the ASB Christmas banquet, which Rachel got home from Tennesee in time for to be Seth's date (convenient planning, eh?)

Seth, practicing to be Santa Claus on Christmas morning. The belly just doesn't quite do it.

Andrew wields the sword of Aragorn, the latest addition to his collection of blades. Nice gift from baby brother, Seth.

Seth, displaying some of his gifts.

Sara, with her Narnia pop-up book.

Sammy is skeptical about whether the old man can handle the exercise bar.

Andrew demonstrates how it is done by the athletically qualified

Seth, Sara, and Andrew showing off.

Heading out for a walk on the beach on a brisk day.

Sammy leads the way across the rocks. Sara looks for a different route.

Sara looking toasty warm on the windy cold beach

Kinnon is learning to walk. Taking a few steps to Auntie Sara.

Back Row: Greg, Kathy, Aileen, Vicki

Front Row: Seth, Sammy, Aaron, Kinnon, Zsa, Sara, Andrew

Me with my mommy and sister

Establishing communication with the next grandchild.

Auntie Sara helping Kinnon learn how to use his Christmas Duplo blocks

Kinnon getting the hang of it (maybe)

The basic four siblings: Aaron, Sara, Andrew, and Seth

Zsa and Kinnon and (?) in with the four.

Rachel and Seth, in casual mode this time

Aaron gets Kinnon to smile (cheesily) for th camera.

New Year's Eve: Haystacks at G'ma and G'pa Force's house

Zsa tries to get Kinnon to smile for the camera.

G'Gma Force bringing peace and happiness to Kinnon's inward parts

Rommel and Luna getting things a bit rowdy

The Skau family: Randy, Keri, David, Melinda. Getting together with us almost like old times in Nigeria.

Sure enjoyed having the Skau family here for a few days.