Promotion time

Here's Aaron getting tested (and then promoted) to the next belt level.

Presents appear!

Aaron turns 9

Always the popular one

Dave was always one to be surrounded by the ladies  -- Chicago October 2009

Can you Bear it?!

 

A little ND weekend

Jay and Luke got another chance to fly back to South Bend to see Notre Dame take on USC. An exciting game saw the Irish come up 4 yards short of knocking off a top five team. Jay got to tailgate with numerous ND friends including four of his old Dillon Hall roomies.

Bob Rafter, we miss him

 

Very suddenly in the early morning of October 6, Jay's Uncle Bob Rafter passed away.  The family gathered the next week in Seattle for the rosary service and funeral.  Bob, the youngest of the six Rafter siblings (the brother of Jay's father's).  Bobbo is survived by his wife of 50 years, daughters Karen and her husband Russell; Claudia her husband Dan; Kristin L. Rafter; and son Robert and wife Kelly; nine grandchildren and three great grand children.

Tom Rafter - in memorium

August-September had some sad news for the Rafter clan as Tom Rafter past away at 85 years old.  Survived by his wife Toni and daughter Monica, Tom was the older brother of Jay's father, John.  That's Tom on the right, with siblings (left to right) John, Nan, Bob, and Peggy.  He was buried in his hometown of Kansas City in services attended by Jay and Kendall and other family and friends. We will miss him.