Happy Birthday Madeleine!

Madeleine is one year old today. She was the best Christmas present I ever received - a new granddaughter! Last year at about 10:30 in the morning Debra's water broke while she was standing at my kitchen sink. They took off for the hospital, and in about three hours Madeleine had arrived. Happy Birthday Madeleine!

Madeleine was a little under the weather when this picture was taken. I wish I looked that good when under the weather!

So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger

A well crafted tale from start to finish. Enger has an amazing way with words - poetic prose.

Matthew turns 2

Matthew turned two today. He is another one of our December treasures. He was born two days after I broke my arm the first winter we were here, and it was very hard to hold him. That is indeed sad for any grandma. Luckily he is very snuggly, and lets me hold him all the time now. My favorite thing we do together is rock-a-rock in the rocking chair.

Happy Birthday Matthew! I love you!

Australia

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman

We went to see the movie Australia last night. It's nearly three hours long, but I didn't even notice the length (usually at about 75 minutes I keep straining to see my watch and how much longer a movie will be.) It was delightfully romantic, with just enough adventure in it that Ray said it made it a tolerable chick flick. Very clean. I liked it a lot.

White Christmas

This morning we had a lot of snow. I hunkered down for the day, and decided to do some sewing. Audrey came over with the boys, and we decided to watch White Christmas. (Sorry Beth and Debra, I'll watch it again with you if you want.)

I first saw the movie White Christmas in 1970. We traveled all the way from southern California to Mayville, New York for Christmas that year. Mayville is where my grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins on my mom side lived. One night the adults went out to dinner or something - they were gone for the evening. My sister Cheryl and I turned on the TV, and White Christmas was just starting. We had never seen it before, and we immediately fell in love with the movie. In my mind I was Betty, and Cheryl was Judy. I have no idea why, or what Cheryl thought, but that's what hatched in my little brain. Maybe because I liked Betty's clothes better. I also like Betty's songs better.

We thought we had discovered some great new movie. Imagine our surprise when our parents said, "Oh, that movie. It's been around forever." Well, I say thank heavens it's still around! I think I've seen that movie at least once a year ever since that first time. I still love it every time I see it, and I still cry at the end every time. It's one of my favorite memories and traditions of the Christmas season.

Happy Birthday Beth!

Yes, that's right. Another December birthday in our family. In our extended family, we have 16 birthdays in the month of December. In my own family of four children, we have two. Ray and Beth.

Beth was born ten days before we had to leave for Ray's sister's wedding. We were sweating whether she would be here on time or not (she ended up being two days past due date). She was an easy delivery - two hours from start of labor to delivery.

I'm so glad Beth is part of our family. She is a math whiz, just like her siblings. She has musical talent coming out her ears. I used to love being in choir with her so that I could draft off her. She has a great ear, and great voice. She plays the piano and organ. She's accompanied Ray a few times when he has sung.

She is our baby, and we've had some great times with just her because of that. She's taken cooking classes with Ray, and gone shopping with me as well as being my fashion guru (aka geek patrol for mom). We had a few television shows we watched together. She beat me constantly at rummikub her last two years of high school. I'm so glad she lives nearby right now!

Happy Birthday Beth!

Beth and Bruce

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

I think I've been reading this book for at least a month. It was fascinating. I love biographies, and this one was great. Warren Buffett is a very interesting man.

This book is not a fast read. It is jam-packed with information - over 800 pages for the text of the book, and 90 pages of notes. I started out reading the notes as I went along, but felt a little overwhelmed. I decided to just enjoy the book as written, and know that I could look up the notes later if I wanted to.

Happy Birthday Ray!

Today is my son Ray's birthday. It's snowing like mad today, and it was snowing on the day he was born - in Kirkland Washington. Ray was my easiest baby to deliver (15 minutes after I arrived at the hospital), and he's been pretty darn easy ever since.

Ray is a gentle soul. I can't remember a time when he said or did something mean or cruel. He likes things to be smooth and peaceful.

That said, Ray is also an adventurous person (like his dad). In fact they enjoy doing quite a few things together - shooting, and SCUBA diving to name just a couple. If I were ever in a dangerous situation, I would want to have them with me. I know that if Ray were ever in a situation like that, and if there were any way to get out of it, he would. He is a good man to have on your team.

Ray and I share a couple of interests. One is reading. We don't always read the same types of books, but we both love to read. Ray is an extremely fast reader. When our family would buy a new popular book (i.e. a Harry Potter book), Ray would read it first (usually in a few hours), then me, then Audrey, then Beth or Debra. Another thing we do is play Scrabble together. I've posted about that before. Ray is a good sport to play with me, and we have a great time.

Happy Birthday, Ray! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Ray and his sidekick Madeleine.

Two items off the to-do list

Today I watched Madeleine while Debra did some work here at my house. She was so easy that I completed two tasks from my to-do list:

1. Sort the toys into their proper bins, separate a bin for baby toys, and get the puzzles all put together and put away. (Please note that on some days that would have been at least 3 items instead of one big item.) That's been on my list for about a week, and took about an hour to do. It might not have even taken that long if I weren't playing with Madeleine occasionally while doing it.

2. Put my sewing stuff into the new plastic drawers that I bought. The only item truly damaged when we moved here two and a half years ago was my sewing table. The part that held the drawers was completely broken, although the drawers stayed intact. That's been on my list for two and a half years (I've had the plastic drawers that long), and took me about 10 minutes to do.

What took me so long??? This is the story of my life.

Naptime for Matthew

Matthew has hit the stage where he does not want to stay in his crib for naptime, but still desperately needs a nap. This has forced some creativity on Audrey's part to keep him in bed (a story for another day.)

A couple of days ago Audrey put Matthew down for a nap at my house. I have a full size crib in one of the bedrooms downstairs, and that's where he was put to bed. A few minutes after he was put to bed I walked by and heard music playing. I thought Audrey had a new idea for a way to keep him in bed. A few minutes after that Audrey walked by the door and heard music and she wondered, "what is going on?" So she opened the door. Matthew had gotten out of his crib, and gone over to the big bed. He then turned on the radio portion of the clock radio that is next to the bed. When Audrey went in, Matthew was up on the big bed in the midst of all the pillows, dancing to the music, having a grand old time. Busted. Audrey whisked him off to the crib, and boy, was he mad.

About 20 minutes later she walked by - more music. She opened the door, and this time Matthew was completely under the covers on the big bed, sound asleep. She turned off the radio, and closed the door. He slept another two hours.

What Child Is This? A Christmas Story by Caroline B. Cooney

Christmas

Sweet

Tender

I cried (of course)

You should read it.

'Tis the Season

Currier & Ives Christmas Card

It's the season for many delightful things, but one I love especially is receiving cards, letters and pictures from loved ones near and far. In this electronic age it is nice to go out to my mailbox and see tangible mail to look at and read.

I love just a card. I love pictures to see what everyone looks like (some of us have changed in the last 25 to 30 years). Most of all I love to read any letters that come. I don't mind getting a general letter that is sent (maybe because I send them too) - I just like to find out what everyone's been doing. Once a year I get to catch up on what those friends and family have done.

When I see a Christmas card envelope in my mailbox, there is an initial sense of anticipation. Once I get inside I set all the other mail aside and open the Christmas cards first. As I read each one, floods of memories come to me of the times spent with that friend. We hear from former college roommates, former missionary friends and companions, friends throughout the years that we no longer live close to, and even those who live nearby. It helps me feel not so far away.

Thanks to one and all for all the cards over the years. Merry Christmas!

All by myself

I remember one day when I was a teenager. Everyone in my family was out for the afternoon, except my mom. I was getting ready to leave and had a rare stab of conscience. I thought maybe I should stay home and keep my mom company. I asked her if I should stay, and she said no thank you. She liked to have time all by herself, and in fact was looking forward to it. Wow. That was a new one for me. I just couldn't imagine it.

Well, a lot of time has gone by. I remember another day when Beth was a teenager, and she expressed concern at my being home all by myself one time. I had the same response my mom had had those many years ago. I kind of laughed and realized I now knew exactly how my mom felt at that time.

Tonight I am the only one home. Even though my favorite times are those surrounded by family and friends, I must admit it feels good to be alone. It is not at all a lonely feeling, just quiet and peaceful. I spent some time labeling digital pictures, but now I'm going to go upstairs, crawl into my nice, cozy bed, and read. A perfect way to spend tonight.