Thanks for the Memories, Pete!

Pat and Pete Baum moved in across the street 23 years ago. We bonded almost immediately with this friendly, outgoing man and his kind, gracious wife.   You may remember a post I did when Pat passed away a few years ago and we celebrated her life with a neighborhood barbecue.  Pete has been a lonely widower since.  He's recently decided he needs to move back to California to be nearer his family.  He's been like a surrogate grandpa to our kids and a good friend to us.  Even the older grandkids call him Grandpa Pete.  Some things we'll miss:  Whenever we're out of town, we don't even have to ask, Pete takes in our newspapers for us.  Every week he wheels our garbage can up our driveway on garbage day.  We've had Thanksgiving dinners together and barbecues with homemade ice cream, enjoyed fireworks together,  and many talks out on the front lawn or bench.  He has brought a baby gift over for every grandchild to celebrate their birth.  This has been especially touching since Pat's passing, as he goes to the store and chooses it himself.  Though not a member of our church, he attended all of our daughter's baptisms and Kristen's missionary farewell and homecoming.  He used to go to most of Kristen's ball games when she was in high school- often traveling to the out of town ones with us.  We had many good chats on those trips. Pete loved my parents.  He loved that my Dad called Mom "Pete" and dubbed himself "the other Pete." Pete and Pat really feel like a part of our family.  

Last weekend, we held a traditional neighborhood barbecue to say farewell.  Here's some pictures from that:

Pete and neighbor, Sharon 

 The beautiful Sonju girls

 The barbecue kings: Travis and Bishop Sonju

Maci holding the Robertson's new baby girl, Inga

I got busy eating the delicious food and visiting, and didn't get more group shots.  There was a good crowd there.

Thanks for the memories, Pete!  We'll miss you!