Pacific Northwest Christmas

We are celebrating our holidays in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Above is the tree and the gifts before bedlam ensued on Christmas morning.

Anna and Sam were ready to celebrate!

On Christmas Eve, Mount Rainier came out of hiding, and was bathed in late afternoon sunshine.

Maggie helped her little brother with his stocking on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning there was a beautiful red sunrise (which happened well after the gift unwrapping began.)

Number One gift this year was a die-cast Kubota tractor for Sam, just like Grandpa Doug's full sized one.  After opening this one, all else was mere gravy.

No offense, Aunt Jane, I love the sweater, I just don't like having clothes pulled on over my head with people watching.

Lad and Grandpa comparing gifts.

This present was nearly bigger than Aunt Dorothy.

Anna loves Christmas!

A group photo with matching t-shirts.

Followed by obligatory FUNNY FACE!

Christmas, part deux

Christmas number two for the household began on Monday morning. It was supposed to include the Grandma Pam, Grandpa Doug and Aunt Dorothy who were to arrive from Maine on Sunday night, but Mother Nature had other plans. After a nightmare of flight logistics (first flight out is not until FRIDAY?) they've found other means of travel and should arrive today. Just means there will be not one, not two, but THREE Christmases for us. No problem!

There were cookies as far as the eyes could see.

Sam FINALLY got to open some presents. He loved it so much he wanted to eat the wrapping paper.

Maggie loves being fashionable. Thank you to Aunt Jane and cousin Gabi.

It was all so much fun that Sammy was bathing in it!

Tuesday we had a day out. "Let's go bowling" for us means more than bowling. It is in fact code for "let's eat Indian food at Udupi, buy some groceries at the Indian grocery store, and then bowl." Sometimes we fit even more into this outing. We bowled at Bradnan's Recreation, a real throwback of a place (in the basement of a strip mall in Middleburg Heights) and one that is full of memories for me. This is where we usually bowled when I was a kid.

The rolling was good. Anna got a strike! YUSSSSS!

Maggie showed rare form while Sam looked on. He did NOT want to roll that pink ball.

Here are the kids showing off their Aunt Jane hats.

Stay tuned for Xmasx3!

Punkin' Head

Aunt Jane has worked her knitting magic again! Her ability to create just about anything with yarn and fancy knots is legendary.

With the autumnal equinox upon us, the arrival of this dual-duty chapeau was just perfect. It's a nice, warm wool cap AND a Halloween costume.

Sam says: Thank you, Aunt Jane!