Post Christmas 2009

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day has been filled with fun adventures including visits from the cousins, a cousins sleepover, sewing lessons, photography sessions with Katy to take illustrations for the 4th edition of our text, hanging art photos, movies, puzzles, games, shopping, food, and visiting.

In addition to all that excitement, Katy sold her car. She actually had a very nice offer from an off-shore scammer who wanted to buy the car above the asking price without even seeing it. We looked up the scam on the internet and it was a perfect match. The actual sale was to a nice man who bought it for his daughter who attends Dixie College in St. George, so the Honda is going to live in a warmer clime. Tonight is New Year's Eve and the kids and their binkers have all gone to Provo's First Night celebration. Kris and I are home alone in a very quiet house.

Clara learning about static electricity in the Jump-o-lene

Grammy teaching Lucy to sew on her Christmas Bernina

One of several game sessions

Max, Tucker, and Anders taking Katy's hilarious oath that they
wouldn't jump on the inflated air mattresses

Katy reads them some Shel Silverstein before they watch
the video they made and a Disney DVD

Pancakes for breakfast at the sleepover

Harry and Old Charlie

The traditional pancake maker

They consumed dozens

Those who slept over with their genial hostess

Katy, Kris, and I saw this and loved it

Katy bids fond farewell to Chocolat

Phillip and family return from Hawaii tomorrow night and the Greek bash is planned for Saturday, so the fun hasn't quite ended.

That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

"It's the Same Thing:" Christmas 2009

At 7:00 we rolled out to see what Santa had done. It was pretty exciting with two little boys who got the perfect gift for kids who like to jump on furniture: the sensational Jump-o-lene!

The best part of the morning was when Kris opened her gift. Last year I gave her a pendant made with jet. This year I had a similar pendant made with lapis lazuli, a beautiful deep-blue semi-precious stone. In the darkness of early morning, it looked black. Kris was concerned that I was losing my marbles (a genuine worry at our age) and had given her the same piece again this year. Instead of being thrilled, she looked up with a worried look and said, "It's the same thing." It got even worse when I opened her gift to me. It was a Lumix digital camera that looked for all the world like my existing camera. I quickly realized it was a new and IMPROVED version, but couldn't resist responding with, "It's the same thing." We were both actually very pleased when we figured out what we had received.

For the rest of the day we visited with family at Ringer's traditional Christmas brunch, stopped by to see what the Ensigns got for Christmas, relaxed, made mac and cheese for supper, and put together a great puzzle of London. Good times.

Finn and Harry fresh out of bed

The fabulous Jump-o-lene

Chocolate is always good

Kris was gobsmacked, but not in a good way

Ditto

Harry got the long-hoped-for dress, but it still
unclear if that is what he wanted

Kris paid for half of this gift for Katy
and wrapped her half

The ravishing Ringer girls: Amy and Kelsey

Mellow Christmas afternoon at the Ensigns

The cousins playing with Max's new stuff

We completed the whole puzzle in few short hours

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Christmas Eve 2009

On Christmas Eve the family gathered for dinner. We had prime rib again, which was delicious, but the day after there is no left over turkey -- go figure. This year after the talent show, at Jayson's suggestion, we shared DVDs made by each family. It took about three hours, but for inveterate slide watchers that was nothing. They were most enjoyable. By 8:00, everyone was on the way home for individual Christmas Eve traditions. At our house Maren and Kris read some stories to the boys, who were soon off to bed in their new pajamas and quickly asleep.

Rob, Anna, and Katy

Gavin, Maren, Emily, and Jayson

Finn, Anders, Tucker, Clara, Harry, Lizzy, and Lucy

The dinner

Katy made Anna laugh until she cried

Finn also made his cousins laugh in the talent show

Anders played carols for his talent

Lizzy went for the big finish after her songs

Tucker played, too

The multitalented Tucker also did some magic tricks

Watching the family DVDs

Kris read the Christmas story before bed

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Christmas 2009 Part Two

On Tuesday 22 December in the midst of framing and wrapping, we finally got around to making baklava. It is a time-consuming process, but the end result is beautiful and delicious. Wednesday we delivered most of it and continued with framing and wrapping projects. The little guys and Gavin managed to escape for a little snow play in the park. Today we get ready for Christmas Eve dinner and tie up all the last-minute loose ends. I actually love going out one last time on Christmas Eve day. Everyone will gather here this afternoon. Should be crowded, noisy, and very fun. The cousins love getting together.

The house is all aglow for Christmas

The baklava begins to emerge as the layers of filo
are slathered with melted butter

About four hours later you see the finished product

Max is standing on a small igloo

Finn and Lizzy seem pleased

It's pretty hard to get a picture of Max
these days, but he's lookin' good

Harry shares some snow with his daddy

There's more to come.

OXO

D.

Christmas 2009 Part One

High Dickie Days are underway. Maren and Gavin arrived on Friday 18 December and Saturday was Carrie and Grant's wedding (see previous post). That morning, dark and early, I took Phil, Meags, Ollie, and Meg to the airport for their flight to Hawaii. We have missed them, but are quite certain they are having a good time.

Gavin springs Harry after a long ride

The Taylors ready for a Hawaiian getaway

Sunday we celebrated Madeline's fourteenth (crazy, huh?) birthday. Emily made a delicious Brazilian dinner and the family gathered here.

The birthday girl and the founder of the feast

"Money is always the best gift"

Some people just can't help themselves: they
have to be silly

Last night, Monday 21 December, we all went to Anna's for a warm and wonderful soup dinner. On the way we made a stop at IKEA to buy some picture frames for various Christmas gifts. Mille and Holden joined us for supper and a visit to Pioneer State Park for the annual Candlelight Christmas. Unlike last year, it was very crowded. We should know better than to go so close to Christmas and on an FHE night. It was fun, nonetheless. The highlight was the dance in the schoolhouse; the binkers and their parents are enthusiastic dancers. (Thanks to Katy for help with some of these photos.)

She's a lumberjack and she's OK . . .

As I said, some people just can't help themselves

Pioneer Village is wonderful at Christmas

The Pine Valley Chapel aglow in the snow

Holden and Millie

Gavin, Harry, and Maren

David and Kris

Brigham Young's farm house

The binkers rolling bee's wax candles

Rob helps Clara with her bee's wax

Auntie Katy and young Anders cut a rug

More rug cutting (photo by Anna)

There are still many more activities to come and we will keep you posted.

OXO

D.