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!