December, Where Have You Gone?

December, for us this year, was a whirlwind of travel which brought us home late the night of December 23rd. We arrived home just in time to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with our sweet grandchildren who we missed more than we can express. A couple of pictures that I especially like are below, taken in the city of Vina Del Mar, Chile while traveling between Valparaiso, Chile and Santiago, Chile where we were to catch our flight home. It is a working clock and for some reason it struck me as something very special.

 

 

 

Norm and I on the tour bus...both looking just a wee bit weary! Silly us, and we were just beginning our long trek home!

 

 

While we were traveling, Mike sent us a few pictures of Claire, Chloe, and Chris taken at their  Christmas programs at preschool and Kindergarten. We were very disappointed to have missed their performances. Chloe reported that Chris didn't sing a word of his song but at least he stood up there. The girls are shown below with some of their friends. Mike also sent us a picture of their chickens in the rare snow fall that we missed. I love this chicken picture!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve was a quiet but very special time with the three C's. Below you can see a few results of an attempt to get a picture of the three of them. It was quite a circus before it was over and I have many out of focus shots to prove it.

 

 

 

 

Each of the children were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve after Daddy read the Christmas story from Luke, chapter 2, on  his Iphone....(times have changed)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher was the first one up Christmas morning and ready to check out his stocking! Claire and Chloe soon followed. I'm sure some day Claire will be mad at me for posting her picture but I had to, it is classic!

 

 

 

 

Opening presents took place next.....

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little time with Papa.....

 

 

Chloe tried out her new boots and retrieved the paper from the driveway....

 

 

 

Chloe eating some Christmas breakfast, a little different than the rest of us had, I might add.

 

 

We had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of Jesus!

 

We are looking forward to an overnight visit for two nights starting tomorrow. We will have a New Year's Eve party and hopefully lots of fun.

 

Happy New Year!







Thankful Hearts

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone and I am reminded that being thankful is a daily, hourly, minute by minute thing. I so enjoy the family gathering and celebrating a special time for being thankful, but overall, my prayer for my family is that we are thankful all the time in all things.

Our family gathered along with dear friends and had a great meal and time together. Jon, as usual, did a super job on the turkey using the Weber BBQ and all of the usual side dishes were included in the dinner. Chloe and Claire each made a vegetable side dish and Chris helped make a dessert. I think they all felt important and I enjoyed the one on one time with each of them.

Claire made the traditional green bean casserole and Chloe made a corn casserole that my Mom and sister made often. Below you see Chloe, hard at work, in her apron and her tiara. Both girls came dressed in tiaras and Claire in a very fancy dress.

 

 

Before dinner, when the children were in and out of the house they picked some weeds (shamrocks) and made a bouquet for the table. They were all excited that it would be part of the centerpiece.

 

 





Norm had set up the old electric trains that we still have around our home in the garage and that gave some additional entertainment to both kids and adults.

After dinner Claire went upstairs to the "fancy box" that is in the guest room where the girls always sleep when here. She found some additional fancy stuff to add to her already fancy dress. :)

Below you see Chris enjoying some pie later in the day and Chloe gets a little photo op with her brother as well.

 

 

 

The last picture shows a lovely bracelet that Chloe brought to me. She had made it for me and pointed out the bead with the "S" on it that represents my name. I will treasure this bracelet always and plan to wear it at every opportunity. She knows me well, that I love flowers and sparkly stuff, and she included all of those loves in the bracelet.

 

 

We are blessed beyond measure with our Grandchildren and I thank God every day for the fact that they are healthy and strong and that we are honored to be part of their lives. I am looking forward to spending this upcoming Thursday morning in Claire and Chloe's K class because it is the last I will see them before Papa and I leave on another wonderful adventure. I'm sad that we will be missing Christmas musical celebrations here at home and that we will miss the children's programs at their respective schools, but I know we will enjoy our time together and with friends as we travel. Yes, we are blessed beyond measure in many ways!

 

We will return to the U.S. on December 23rd. Merry Christmas to all of you! 





Mostly Chris!

Papa and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Chris on Friday afternoon while Claire, Chloe, Mike, and Paula attended the girls' first parent-teacher conference. At their school, the student attends with the parents and is  asked to set some goals for the next grading period. Paula reported that both girls decided that they would like to be "nicer". That strikes me as very funny since they are both such nice little girls. Their respective report cards back me up on that!

While they were gone we had some laughs with Chris. Chris adores his Papa and even this morning when he saw me after Sunday School his first words were "Hi Grandma, is Papa here?" Papa is equally smitten with Chris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below the three C's sample their caramel apples that they had made earlier in the day. Their great Aunt Jen had sent them the ingredients and instructions which was very sweet of her. I think prior to this picture being taken each of them had dropped the apple off the stick at least one time. Oh well, they still tasted yummy to them!



 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying Autumn....hope you are as well!

 

Halloween Fun, 2013

Halloween fell on a school day, actually the day I normally volunteer in Claire and Chloe's classroom, so I was able to take part in their fun day at school. All of the children were in costume,  sweet little costumes that indicated how creative their parents were. It was fun to see.

Chloe declared that she was a snow queen/angel. The angel part was added later but she did indeed look like a little angel.

 

Claire was a princess bride and in the picture below we see her consulting with Cinderella about something important. Cinderella's Mom had made her dress and it was so authentic to the story looking. She has twin toddler brothers who came in to the classroom and they were two of the mice from the story and were absolutely darling. Their mother is beyond talented!

 

 

Below you see the class dancing to the music of the song "Dry Bones".

 

 

 

Here is their wonderful teacher and her precious little daughter who stopped by for a short visit.

 

 

 

About mid-morning the school costume parade took place. The Kindergarten children led the parade by marching through the classroom of the 1st graders who then stood and joined the parade and they all went on to the 2nd grade class who then joined the parade until they reached the 5th grade classroom. All K-5 students then marched to the playground area. The middle school students didn't take part in the parade but were outside for some celebration time of their own.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That evening Mike and Paula hosted a little dinner party and trick or treat time for some of the family. Aunt Suzie came as Batgirl and looked beautiful as usual. Below she is holding Chris the dinosaur.

 

 

Paula and Suzie. Paula looked so cute in her long, black wig!

 

 

Claire and Chloe by the door, anxious to get started trick or treating!

 

 

 

Emma is ready too.......with her glow stick....

 

 

Hold on kids...one more little detail before we go.....



 

 

Chris came back with Mommy a bit earlier than the rest of the gang. He promptly took his candy bag and dumped it all in the bowl holding the candy his parents were giving away. He didn't seem to mind sharing at all...

 

 

Someone is looking just a bit weary.... not Grandma!

 

 

 

Someone, believe it or not, was giving away full size cans of soda. Mommy let Chris have a little taste. The three C's hardly know what soda tastes like. 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Batgirl and Chloe the snow queen/angel.

 

 

 

Cousin Ezra, the tiger....

 



 

Three tired looking trick or treaters.....

 



 

 

Batgirl and sweet little cousin Emma.....

 

 

 

It was a long and busy day but the children thoroughly enjoyed it. Again I think of how thankful I am for healthy grandchildren and for the fact that we are able to take part in many of their activities!

 

Welcome November, one of my favorite months of the year!