This week we didn't do a whole lot. But here are some highlights:

1. I pointed to his photo with him and mom and he said, "that's me!", when I pointed to mom, he said, "that's my wife, that's your mom!" It was cute.
2. we went to the senior center and he was on the bike for about 20 minutes straight! And then he got on a couple of rowing machines and was on those for another 15 mins. It helped that there was an interesting cooking show on tv. He really likes exercising.
3. we watched a dog show on tv twice. He really liked it.
4. today we went to Costco and he was really concerned about how much we were buying. He wasn't in a good mood so he wouldn't try any samples. Later we went to Cactus and Tropicals and he picked out 3 flowering plants. He did really great there and walked quite a bit. Then we went to World Market. I though he'd get a kick out of all that stuff. And he seemed interested. He looked closely at a lot of things. At last we went to the Tofu restaurant and he laughed at the sign, "just tofu". He was trying to figure it out. I forgot I had to pick up my rental car and needed to get home soon, so I packed all the food up and made him leave :( He said, we're going home already? He still had food in his mouth. Oops. Oh well, we were out for about 4 hours. Yesterday, he was really really tired. Thursday was the last day of hospice and the nurse gave him a flu shot. We didn't know it'd end so quickly so we didn't get to say good bye to Elise.
5. Tonight, he talked a LOT! But he was upset about Trevor, Carl and Ryan. I couldn't understand everything he was saying, but he had a lot of energy and was talking to them very loudly. He kept saying he wanted permission from their parents to come here (he's always worried about insurance if something happens). And he wanted a signature. and he told Ryan to watch over Trevor or something... He wants others to ask for permission to stay in his home... seems logical! Ryan showed him some new Christmas lights that he plans to put up. Dad was happy and liked the new ones. He kept saying take those one's down and replace them with these.

Yesterday, dad, Fran, Tom and I went to St. Paul's Episcopal church to attend Lessons and Carols. The choir sang Advent songs and there were readings and hymns. Dad did great! While Tom and Fran dozed (the songs are pretty religious) dad watched everything and even stood up (once) when we were supposed to. I wondered what he thought. Afterwards we had dinner at the church and he just sat there and ate a lot of food. There were 8 of us per table. I accidentally left the cheese spread in front of him and he dug into it with his spoon. Luckily it was toward the end of dinner.

When we got home, Matt was there visiting Ryan. Dad was happy to see him and made him a high ball. We sat around the table drinking. Dad seemed really happy and was talkative. He told the guys that he "went to another church." "I went to church!"..."Catholic"..."I'm a good man"! I think he was joking. He told Ryan to go to church.

Today, we went for a big drive up and over the ridge at point of the mountain and came out somewhere in Orem. Afterwards we went to the mall for lunch. He really liked the teriyaki chicken bowl and ate a lot. Then we walked around the mall window shopping. He picked out another stuffed animal-a lion with huge eyes. I think he liked it! After being out for 5 hours, I thought he would want to go home, but he hesitated when I asked if he wanted to leave and waved his hand toward the hallway in the mall.

Jody and Dennis, Have a great time!

I'm glad to be here for such a long time in winter. This spring it'll be 5 years since Dennis helped my dad buy his house and move in together, and Jody's been dad's activity director, companion and personal driver for the past 3 years or more. Jody and Dennis deserve a great vacation! I hope you all have fun.

I've managed to get dad to bed by 12 or 1 then he sleeps for nearly 12 hours! When he gets up he stays up for another 12 hours with a few short naps. Tuesday we went to the cemetery, his barber (I got a haircut too--just to surprise him), and Sage Farm. He always runs into people he knows at Sage farm and he talks! It was so fun to hear him have a mini-conversation. Yesterday, it was Wednesday and Jody told us that Tracey Aviary is free on Wed so we went had a lot of fun. The last time we went, dad was really tired. This time, he was more awake and was pretty interested especially seeing the huge vulture and owls. He made noises at them..sounded like barking. It was a little cold (40s) so we only stayed an hour or so.

Earlier that day he started asking about his car again and how he and Trevor gets to drive his car. I told him that his license is expired and he can't drive anymore. So when we went to the bank to cash his check, the first thing he said to the teller was, "Bad news.... I can't cash my check.... my license is expired." He bragged about his age and said, "I'm 94! ...but she said I can't drive anymore." He waved me off when she told him that I was supposed to drive him now and said that he was the better driver. It was fun to see him talking again. But later in the evening, around 8, he put on his shoes and coat and went outside without his cane. His car wasn't there anymore so he went around through the fence and into the garage. When I went out there the garage door was closed, it was dark and he was in Dennis's car, trying to start it with the house key.

Today, he looked a little down even with Elise visiting. Tomorrow I hope to take him to the festival of trees. Maybe he'll forget about driving for a little while.