Tuesday, December 27, 2011
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 15 of 15)
CREATIVELY CHOREOGRAPHED COUSINS
Early last month, Daisy, Baylee, Ally and Rylie spent a weekend together at our house. They had a blast and have been begging us ever since to do it again. Therefore, we'll probably have another girl-cousin-only-two-night-sleep-over again at our house in February.
Meanwhile, this cute little female foursome got together on Christmas day and planned, practiced and performed an outstanding song and dance routine.
And here they are . . .
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 14 of 15)
SINGING CHRISTMAS SONGS
As Christmas came to an end, the twenty of us who gathered together in our home sang a few songs together. Baylee and I provided guitar accompaniment for some traditional Christmas carols.
After that, she and I sang a duet that she had asked me to sing with her: Taylor Swift's Christmas Must Be Something More.
Before Makiah went home for the evening, I asked her, "What was your favorite part of Christmas?" She answered, "Singing!"
Gordon, Josie, Josh and Neo sing from songbooks we printed for the occasion. Neo is shown with a lollipop. Neo's lollipop received honorable mention in the video below.
Silas holds his songbook.
Other vocalists include Bethany, Ashley, Alexia, Rylie, Ally, Daisy, Makiah and Naomi.
Tim documents the singing event on camera. Shown in the background is Josie. Also shown in the background is Neo's right hand and his lollipop. Neo's lollipop received honorable mention in the video below.
As Christmas came to an end, the twenty of us who gathered together in our home sang a few songs together. Baylee and I provided guitar accompaniment for some traditional Christmas carols.
After that, she and I sang a duet that she had asked me to sing with her: Taylor Swift's Christmas Must Be Something More.
Before Makiah went home for the evening, I asked her, "What was your favorite part of Christmas?" She answered, "Singing!"
Gordon, Josie, Josh and Neo sing from songbooks we printed for the occasion. Neo is shown with a lollipop. Neo's lollipop received honorable mention in the video below.
Silas holds his songbook.
Other vocalists include Bethany, Ashley, Alexia, Rylie, Ally, Daisy, Makiah and Naomi.
Tim documents the singing event on camera. Shown in the background is Josie. Also shown in the background is Neo's right hand and his lollipop. Neo's lollipop received honorable mention in the video below. 
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 12 of 15)
TYLER ALL BY HIMSELF WITH NOBODY ELSE IN THE PICTURE
Away in a laundry basket
Away in a laundry basket
Some photos more suitable for framing than others.
Away in a laundry basketNo crib for his bed
The baby boy Tyler
Lay down his sweet head.
Away in a laundry basketNo crib for a bed
His little left eyeball
Peeks out from his head.
Some photos more suitable for framing than others.CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 11 of 15)
FOOD
Long before Christmas came, we knew that 20 people would be in our home for dinner and that they all lived too far away to help with food. The food furnishing fell fully on us.
Our challenge was to prepare enough food with only one small double oven and a stove with one burner not working.
We decided to use the outdoor propane grill to cook the ham and we bought an electric roaster to reheat the turkey that was cooked a couple of days ahead of time.
In the end, the meal was served about an hour later than expected, but all the dishes were warm and ready to serve at the same time. And the crowd was so engaged with each other that the waiting was no problem.
To take care of the need for seating the multitudes, we rented two tables and sixteen chairs from Party Place.
Debra and Ashley finish the food preparation.
Long before Christmas came, we knew that 20 people would be in our home for dinner and that they all lived too far away to help with food. The food furnishing fell fully on us.
Our challenge was to prepare enough food with only one small double oven and a stove with one burner not working.
We decided to use the outdoor propane grill to cook the ham and we bought an electric roaster to reheat the turkey that was cooked a couple of days ahead of time.
In the end, the meal was served about an hour later than expected, but all the dishes were warm and ready to serve at the same time. And the crowd was so engaged with each other that the waiting was no problem.
To take care of the need for seating the multitudes, we rented two tables and sixteen chairs from Party Place.
Debra and Ashley finish the food preparation.
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 10 of 15)
THE PRETEND FAMILY
The five essential elements of a pretend family include:
1. Mom
2. Dad
3. Baby
4. Horse
5. Gum
But don't take my word for it. Let the pretend family speak for themselves.
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 9 of 15)
COPING WITH SUB-FREEZING WEATHER
The weather outside was frightful on Christmas day. When I stepped into the back yard with five of our grandchildren, the thermometer stood at 29 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each of the six of us had different ways to cope with the cold.
Silas, Devon, Neo and Ally brave the weather by submerging themselves in 102-degree water.
Naomi eventually joined the hot tub crowd while I played the part of a lifeguard in a down jacket and a knit cap.
As my hands began to freeze, I tried to cover them with my jacket. Eventually, I put on gloves.
Ally stepped into the pool which, interestingly, was 2 degrees below freezing, yet not frozen.
Devon also stepped into the frigid waters and eventually won an endurance contest among the five hot-tubbers. They all got out of the hot tub to see who could endure the cold air the longest before getting back into the warm spa. Devon won the contest by standing beside the hot tub for over 12 minutes before climbing back into the tub.
The weather outside was frightful on Christmas day. When I stepped into the back yard with five of our grandchildren, the thermometer stood at 29 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each of the six of us had different ways to cope with the cold.
Silas, Devon, Neo and Ally brave the weather by submerging themselves in 102-degree water.
Naomi eventually joined the hot tub crowd while I played the part of a lifeguard in a down jacket and a knit cap.
As my hands began to freeze, I tried to cover them with my jacket. Eventually, I put on gloves.
Ally stepped into the pool which, interestingly, was 2 degrees below freezing, yet not frozen.
Devon also stepped into the frigid waters and eventually won an endurance contest among the five hot-tubbers. They all got out of the hot tub to see who could endure the cold air the longest before getting back into the warm spa. Devon won the contest by standing beside the hot tub for over 12 minutes before climbing back into the tub.CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 8 of 15)
SISTERS
Bethany and Belinda both have photogenic moments. Also, they both have not-so-photogenic moments. Both daughters. Both kinds of moments.
Bethany and Belinda both have photogenic moments. Also, they both have not-so-photogenic moments. Both daughters. Both kinds of moments.
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 7 of 15)
BROTHERS
Silas and Devon root for competing college teams. Silas is a Duck fan. Devon is a Beaver fan. So, for Christmas, each boy received a baseball cap to advertise their respective loyalties.
Happy.
Cool.
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 6 of 15)
SHOCK AND AWE
You don't need audio. You don't need video. The face says it all.
Neo opens a box and finds a winning lottery ticket? No. An all-expense paid vacation to Disneyland? No. A pair of pajamas? Yes!
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 5 of 15)
NAOMI'S FOOT, ETC.
Creative photo-artistry at its finest.
From left to right: Ally, Daisy, Naomi's foot, Ashley (shown directly above lateral aspect of Naomi's big toe), and Nana.
Monday, December 26, 2011
CHRISTMAS NOTES (Part 4 of 15)
CHRISTMAS WRAP DEMOLITION PROJECT
It is more blessed to receive than to give, for some people.
Especially children.
Typically, they don't get excited about Christmas because they get to watch a bunch of other people open gifts. The fun is in the ripping and tearing and shredding of Christmas wrapping paper and in the discovery of what lies beneath it.
But grown-ups enjoy all that stuff, too.
The first gift of the morning is opened by Neo.
Tim opens a gift that does not fit him. It is not for him. It is for someone who Belinda is holding.
Belinda, whose hands are also a blur, opens and holds up her gift.
Naomi watches Uncle Josh open a gift while Silas watches something else.
Devon digs himself through wrapping paper into a Beaver's baseball cap.
Time for Naomi.
Bethany shows off her gift.
Nana opens her present...
...and appears to be pleased with what she has found.
Devon tears into another gift.
Naomi watches her dad open his gift.
Tim flaunts his gift before the crowd.
A trio of four-year-olds clown around during the demolition process.
Baylee opens a gift.
Rylie opens a present while Baylee continues to check hers out.
Makiah holds up a new set of pajamas.
It is more blessed to receive than to give, for some people.
Especially children.
Typically, they don't get excited about Christmas because they get to watch a bunch of other people open gifts. The fun is in the ripping and tearing and shredding of Christmas wrapping paper and in the discovery of what lies beneath it.
But grown-ups enjoy all that stuff, too.
The first gift of the morning is opened by Neo.
Ashley's turn.
Followed by Daisy.
Ally's hands are quicker than her eyes, as evidenced by the blur at the end of each of her arms.
Tim opens a gift that does not fit him. It is not for him. It is for someone who Belinda is holding.
Belinda, whose hands are also a blur, opens and holds up her gift.
Naomi watches Uncle Josh open a gift while Silas watches something else.
Devon digs himself through wrapping paper into a Beaver's baseball cap.
Time for Naomi.
Bethany shows off her gift.
Nana opens her present...
...and appears to be pleased with what she has found.
Devon tears into another gift.
Naomi watches her dad open his gift.
Tim flaunts his gift before the crowd.
A trio of four-year-olds clown around during the demolition process.
Baylee opens a gift.
Rylie opens a present while Baylee continues to check hers out.
Makiah holds up a new set of pajamas.
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