Let the games begin.  Boy being the grandparents of twins can be so much fun and exciting.  We have been watching Robert and Reagan prepare to walk for the last several months.  Last night I received the video “Robert’s New Trick”.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but had my suspiscions.  I hope you enjoy watching this.  It was late last night that I got to my e-mail after a long day.  Nancy was blearied eyed and half asleep when I came down from the office and suggested she check her e-mail.  Of course she had trouble with the speed of her laptop and was ready to give up opening the message.  Once she finally had a chance to see the video, she simply couldn’t go back to sleep. 

I promise there will be more to follow.

Thank you so much to those who have stepped up to brighten Christmas for the children of our injured servicemen.  Twelve of the sixteen families on the list have been fully accounted for with 25 of the 33 kids ready to have a wonderful Christmas morning.  Nancy and I ran out on Friday to do our shopping for the Helmuth kids.  We simply couldn’t resist the urge to buy “any toy that makes noise” for the one year old girl.  It was a great deal of fun picking out toys we thought the twins would enjoy.  We also had to learn all about transformers for four year old Nathaniel!!

If you are still considering showing your appreciation to our vets, please take a look at the remaining names below.  Once you let me know who you would like to purchase a gift for, drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com.  We will then give you the address and contact info for the family.  Feel free to visit the websites for Our Military Kids, Operation Second Chance, Thanks USA, the Semper Fi Fund and the Yellow Ribbon Fund if you’d like to show your support to these wonderful grassroots organizations.

Kids Still in Need of Gifts

Weissmiller Family (Adopted by the Moran and Vamvakias families – Thank you Mary and Don)

• 12 yr old girl: in-line skates (size 6-7)
• 7 yr old girl: roller skates (size 1)

Jensen Family (Adopted by the Grimes family – Thank you James and Susan)

• ·         13 yr old girl: Ipod Touch
• ·         9 yr old girl: Wii gaming system
• ·         6 yr old girl: Littlest Pet Shop toy house

Fulkerson Family

• 18 yr old boy: laptop computer for his school work and for college next year  (A  big thanks to Shiner Roofing and Siding for offering to purchase the laptop.  Again my thanks Kevin.)
• (A short note about this one.  It seems that the Fulkerson boy is a senior in high school.  He had come home from school and accidentally left his car door unlocked.  Someone actually stole the laptop out of the car from the son of an injured vet.  I realize this is a large item to be requesting.  I’m imagine he would be happy to receive a good condition laptop if nothing else.)

Thank You to Those Who Have Agreed to Purchase Gifts for the Families Below

Bellis Family (Adopted by the Hoernig family – Thank you Laura and Family)

• 14 yr old girl:  electric guitar, JC Penney’s gift card
• 11 yr old boy: football, Tennessee Titans merchandise, JC Penney’s gift card
• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, furreal electronic dog, JC Penney’s gift card

Broesch Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 15 yr old girl: art supplies (paint brushes, charcoal pencils), iTunes gift card
• 7 yr old girl: books, craft supplies, a Barbie doll

Brown Family (Adopted by Knight Point Systems – Thank you Lindsey)

• 7 yr old boy: Xbox 360
  
• 1 yr old girl: Disney princess toys/merchandise

Christiansen Family (Adopted by the Christianson family- Thank you Vickie and Family)

• 9 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cake Bakery
• 4 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker

Deen Family (Adopted by the Matthews family and Collingswood Nursing Home – Thank you Catherine)

• 16 yr old girl: iPod
• 15 yr old boy: video games
• 14 yr old boy: video games
• 9 yr old boy: board games
• 3 yr old girl: educational toys teaching the alphabet and numbers

Helmuth Family (I can’t resist.  Adopted by the Nelson Family. 

• 3 yr old boy: Transformers, action figures, books
• 1 yr old girl: any toy that makes noise!  (I love this one)

Loper Family (Adopted by the Borland Family – Thank you Dodie and family)

• 12 yr old girl: digital camera
• 11 yr old boy: remote controlled cars
• 10 yr old boy: nintendo dsi
• 7 yr old girl: American Girls doll

Sherrill Family (Adopted by the Copito family – Thank you Debbie and family)

• 14 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)
• 11 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)

Hall Family (Thundercat Technology)

• 8 yr old boy: gameboy

Holsey Family (Adopted by the Grossmans.  Thank you Jackie!)

• 15 yr old boy: gift cards to Footlocker and Macy’s

Pointer Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 13 yr old boy: ripstick skateboard

Williams Family  (Adopted by the Smiths – Thanks Laura and Gene)

• 14 yr old girl: gift cards to Barnes & Noble or AMC Theaters

• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, clothes (pants size 6x, shirts size 7)

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales were up 3.7 percent in October, compared to September, and up 32 percent when compared to October 2008.  This was the biggest annual increase in history.  Keep in mind that October 2008 was a historic low so we should not be surprised by the huge increase.

Pending home sales — which equates to the number of contracts signed but have yet to close — rose in all sections of the country except the West.  They were up 20 percent in the Northeast, 11.6 percent in the Midwest and 5.4 percent in the South, but down 11.2 percent in the West.

Part of the surge is probably attributable to buyers rushing to take advantage of the government-subsidized first-time home buyer’s credit, which was set to expire at the end of November but now has been extended through April.  Also, the bulk of sales still are coming from cheaper houses, with little movement in houses costing more than $250,000.