Our kids sent this picture of them getting together during Easter. Where Brooke and Alyssa are I can only guess that at least one of them is behind the camera. We did receive some other pictures of everyone enjoying the warm weather and swimming. Way to rub it in, Our part of the country hasn't heard it's Spring yet, it has been snowing off and on today. Our fruit trees are in bloom, the tulips and daffodils are in bloom, and the grass is starting to to turn green again. I weeded one of our flower beds the only way I prefer and that's with fire, at least I didn't have to get on my hands and knees.

I thought I'd be less tired after accepting a promotion and switching to straight days. I seem to be working longer hours and getting less done. Work has had to hire several new employees due to people leaving because of illness, retirement or promotions. This means that I have even more work to perform because I'm the trainer in our office. We have our newest employee showing up in about two weeks. We market energy for a company here in the West who has a new coal plant coming on-line next week which has been occupying a lot of my time because we have to insure operating procedures and accounting practices are in place and working. This includes all the computer software programing that needs to take place. I'm leaving town this week for Redwood, California for a conference and software demonstration. Laurie wonders where I'm at most days because she used to set her clock when I left for work and came home, now she never knows when I'm working or will be home. Now that I'm management I receive phone calls at all hours whenever there is a problem at work and sometimes I have to drive in to the office to help solve an issue. Hopefully things will start to slow down.

Laurie has been filling better since here IV port has been replaced. The old one was getting infected and we tried antibiotics but the infection didn't seem to go away so the doctor removed it and put in a pic-line for a few weeks before surgically implanting a new port. Now Laurie has the problem with not wanting to leave her bedroom. She's developed a phobia of going anywhere, even outside in our own yard. We are heading to Utah in June for an appointment in Salt Lake City at University Hospital for Laurie. We hope they can help us somehow. We'll be there for about a week and hope to spend time with Andrew & Alyssa and other family.

Fred Junior Wilson
Born: February 2, 1929 Miami, Gila, Arizona
Death: January 22, 2011 Haxtun, Colorado

Fred and his family owned the Jimana Inn in the bottom of the Salt River Canyon in Arizona. The family lived about 12 miles south at Seneca Creek where Fred Robert Wilson cooked at the restaurant. The family owned and operated the Inn and the kids helped with the gardening and taking care of the animals. They loved to hunt and fish and sometimes this could get them into trouble. They grew up with the indians and sometimes thought they were so hunting out of season didn't mean much to them and the local authorities kept threatening the boys on their poaching. They loved to ride horses and search for arrow heads with their mother. Fred loved the rodeo and rode broncs until one had stomped on him and sent him to the hospital.

The first born son of Fred R. Wilson (1906-1974) and Mable Lambert (1909-present) (older sister Billie Louise in front)
Fred was the 2nd child of four, Billie Louise 13 Mar 1927, Fred Jr., Norman Edward 10 Feb 1932, and George Lambert 12 Jan 1943.

Norman, Fred Jr. and Billie Louise

Norman and Fred Jr. with friends

back: George, father Fred R., mother Mable
front: Bob and Dave Pearson

Fred attended the Mew Mexico Military Academy. There are rumors on why he joined the academy, some say it was a choice given him by local authorities. He enjoyed it and excelled in his studies.

Fred with friends from the Academy

Fred Jr. joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. He had plenty of stories to tell of the ports they would stop at and had several tattoos on his body to back these stories up. He had the ship he served on on his chest and a woman on his arm and a snake which wrapped his other arm. I don't remember the significance of why these items were chosen. His younger brother Norman joined the Navy and was able to serve on the same ship as Fred.

Fred Jr. holding Paul (?), Fred R., Mable, George

Norman, George, Mable, Fred Jr.

Fred worked several jobs during his life. He owned a car dealership in California and while there told us stories on how he was a mechanic for the movie Herbie the Love Bug and how he worked the race circuit with Mario Andrete and AJ Foyt. He later moved to New Mexico and worked at the Black Mesa coal mine as a mechanic where he had an accident and lost his right hand. He had to learn how to shoot his guns all over again but said the hook he designed made his bow hunting better.

Entrance to the Tempe Double Butte Cemetery, Tempe, Arizona where Fred is buried.

The Wilson Family Marker in the plot where Fred Jr. was laid to rest

Clarissa and Paul Wilson
Fred is survived by his mother, two children and five grand children

Wayne, Renate and Paul Wilson (Robert not shown)

Rebecca, Clarissa, Ryan, and Kelsey

George, Clarissa, Mable, Norman, Paul

We traveled to St. George, Utah this year for the holidays to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. Who knew that Utah was going to be hit by several storms and that we would be enjoying a white Christmas in St. George. It was so cold that the water pipes in Trisha's apartment froze, luckily they didn't break. We went out to eat at Golden Coral for lunch with the family and then headed over to Rick and Kathleen's house for desert and opened some gifts. We celebrated Christmas with Emmett and Jackie and then had a "fa ra ra ra ra " lunch at a Chinese buffet. It was nice to sit around and talk with family and enjoy our kids and grandson. So much so that I didn't take a lot of pictures.

Looking north of St. George after the snowstorm

Uncle Riley just loves Peyton

Peyton loves Santa

I went for a hike early in the morning while everyone
was still sleeping and thought the Temple looked nice
from this viewpoint.

Laurie really liked that I got the American flag in this one

Laurie felt sick after lunch and Brooke had to go to work

Rob & April's whole family traveled this year. Everyone drove back to Las Vegas after the gathering. Rob & April came back to see True Grit with us and then said their good byes. Rob and April are leaving for United Emirates to help put a flight training school for the Arabs for three years. Good luck with this new adventure!

Peyton came to visit at our hotel

Andrew, Alyssa and Kale
Andrew had to work and the family was not able to drive down but we love them anyways

Kale wants to know where the presents are