Day after Christmas

Meg and Claire went to Texas the day after Christmas.  Daniel joined David and I, along with Julia and Matt.  We had a nice day strolling along historic Ellicott City.

Christmas Day

                     
One of our Christmas highlights was talking with our favorite missionary, Sister Andrea Meiners in Calgary, Canada! Julia, Daniel and Meg were here, and James, Erika, Kara and their families tuned in on Skype.

                        Claire and her parents, Daniel and Meg, were with David and I
                                      on Christmas morning, along with Julia and Matt.
                              I was mostly interested in getting pictures of Claire though,
                     and seeing how a two year old views the magic of Christmas morning.

                                             Claire seemed to enjoy Christmas morning,
                          and she looked the embodiment of everything fun and festive about it.

                                               She enjoyed watching the train go around the track.

She looked like a cute little elf with her  new hat and jacket.

I think the Christmas apron she’s wearing was made by my Aunt Nancy for me when I was little.

                                  She liked the oatmeal box drum I made for her (among some storebought toys.)

                                                                  Merry Christmas, everyone!

The Gingerbread

This year we made and decorated gingerbread people instead of houses.

I think we all enjoy these holiday traditions,  no matter what age we are.

                                                                                       Matt and Julia

                                                                           Dave and Cheri

Daniel, Claire and Meg

Since I now eat Whole food, Plant-based, I wanted to adapt the type of treat I brought to our Christmas party for the women at church.  The roses and leaves of this fruit platter came from the crown of the pineapple, along with coconut and cranberries. It was a fun challenge to put this wreath together!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally Danish.  We had a bean loaf instead of meat, but still have the red cabbage and mashed potatoes. Dessert is always rice pudding with almonds, topped with raspberry sauce.  The person who gets the whole almond in our family gets a large almond or raspberry chocolate bar, and the rest of us share a second bar.  Congrats, David!

                         This hand drawn pic of mine became our Christmas card again this year.

                                          cute pics of James' family!

High School Music Concert

Dave and I enjoyed another Winter Music Concert at our local High School. Three of our children performed at these concerts in band, orchestra and choir concerts. They worked hard, won many competitions, made friends with fellow musicians, and performed some great music. Dave met many parents as he was the secretary for the Marching Band, was on their Pit Crew, and organized their Sub Sales for a few years.

Though it wasn't our children performing this year, we know some of the young people who did perform, and enjoyed the power that music has to bring people together.

Our son Daniel is still in the area, and was able to perform with one of these groups this past week. They sang the National anthem for a Harlem Globe-trotters game in Baltimore. It has been rewarding for our family to connect with our community through music.

Thanksgiving 2017

 It was just David and I this Thanksgiving, but we still had a beautiful meal.  Daniel and Meg spent the day with friends, and Matt and Julia were with his family, and came over later.

     We definitely loved our stuffed squash,
                                     and were happy to let one turkey go free this year and not end up on our plate.
     That way, I figure, we and the animals can all give thanks that we can eat plants.

Happy Birthday to me-- the Big 6-0!

 Julia went with Dave and I to see the movie "The Man who invented Christmas", which is the story of Charles Dickens writing 'A Christmas Carol'.

For my big day, I started by attending our temple with Dave.  It is so beautiful and majestic.  

We went with some friends from Liberia 

                                                               who were going for the first time.

Then Dave and I went bowling.  I'm glad it was just the two of us because I didn't embarrass myself too badly with just him watching so many balls go into the gutter!

The day before Julia took me to getting my nails done with her.  That was a fun treat I have only done one other time! (also with Julia, and Andrea.)

                                           Dave spoiled me with breakfast in bed

I loved a whole two days of pampering.  That night we also saw Daniel and Meg as I opened some presents and we had some of the non-dairy pumpkin pie I had made for Thanksgiving.  It was a great birthday, and portends a great year ahead.

New Car!

Dave's 2008 Chevy Malibu finally seemed to be on its last leg, and neither of us were that sad to see it go, given the repairs it had required.

                                              Good bye, Malibu.  Thanks for your service!



We decided that since there were year end incentives, we might get our first actually NEW car.
We chose a 2017 Hyundai Accent Hatchback.  We got the Sport version, which has some cool features, while still being a pretty simple, practical car.

          Hello, Hyundai!

Blue Living Room

                                           I painted one wall a soft blue and made a few pillows.

                                        I hemmed a blue curtain I had made previously, and painted the lower portion of the dining room white.  The over all affect is a blue living and dining room.  I'm enjoying the change after many years of green.

                                          I have a little darker, mid-blue in the library.

                                          I replaced the green in the hall with white, too, so it's blues and creams in this section of the house.

For fall I also made a few new pillows for the family room, and brought back in the orange colors that are reflected outside with the leaves that have changed color.

Julia's birthday 25!

                                              Happy Birthday, Julia!  25 candles

                                       

                                          Matt and Julia were over and she got to open a few things

                                            We love you, Jules!

Kara's August visit

Kara and her family visited us in August on their way back from a beach trip in North Carolina.  Luke was gone during the week and we spent time with Kara, Jacob, Blake and Ava.

  Ava and Claire at the playground

                           Daniel, Meg and Claire were here and also got to visit with them.
                                           

                                                          Dan on Dad/Uncle duty

                                                                     Jacob

                                                                 Kara and Blake

                                                           Ava insisted we wear these :)

                                                                            Luke and Dave catching up.

                                                                         Thankfully Ava got some good pics.  :)