New Years Eve, 2016

We really enjoyed spending time with some of our church friends (Gonzalez and Biangel families) to bring in the new 2016 year. We played some games, ate some amazing food, and told happy and fun stories to each other. 

Happy New Year!

Mid-December Christmas Activities

It was not easy for the four of us to all agree on the right tree for our Christmas celebration. I thought that maybe majority would rule, but Belle insisted on unanimous consent. Courtney later observed that our family quartet, that night, was composed of two opposers (A & B) and two compromisers (C & S). 

The girls shared some laughs while waiting for our Stake Choir and Orchestra performance of excerpts from the Messiah. Audrey was one of four piano accompanists to the choir. If you look closely at Belle and Audrey in the picture above and below, you will see that they smile and laugh exactly the same. 

The girls in our family are so pretty. Christmas time is family time. Put those together and what makes more sense than a family portrait whenever you get the chance? Loving these girls, and loving Christmas.

Halloween Reveals True Personalities

We put on costumes that revealed our true "inner selves" this Halloween Holiday. Audrey is an Egyptian Princess, and Steve is a nerdy guy with poor dental hygiene. 

Glacier Bay Alaska, Face in the Lens

My buddy Craig took my picture on the bow of the Oosterdam while in Glacier Bay. It wasn't until much later did we see my face in his camera lens.

Who is Who?

Faces of Halloween

We had a great couple of parties with church people over the Halloween weekend.  The pictures above are just a few of the faces that we saw.  Can you tell that they are arranged in the shape of a pumpkin?

I looked at him looking at me...

He was liking my tree, and I was liking his green-ness.  But after a few minutes of staring at each other it became awkward.  When it became apparent that he was not going to leave, I stammered a clumsy excuse and drove away to mingle with others that were more "my kind." 

Yyyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick!!!

This laceration did not require stitches and the pain was not all that terrible.  Nonetheless I almost passed-out immediately after sustaining the wound and it started to bleed, nearly performed the classic vomit-and-faint combination in the doctor's office when she washed it clean, and continue to make myself light-headed and queasy-in-the-stomach when I change the gauze bandage.  Just thought I would share the joy.

Two Beauties, Three Generations

A Visit to Iowa in the Winter

Weirdly, this unremarkable image of everyday life rouses memories/thoughts of some of my most favorite things.

• Snow on rooftops and parking lots circumferenced by window-high banks of pressed-power.  So many memories of the cold, the snow, the production that it is just to leave shelter during the winter, and the coziness of any car when the weather forbids.  A simpler time with simpler struggles.
• Leafless trees reveal true shapes when shade is unneeded and unwanted, and sturdy trunks are protection from the inevitable fast-ball projectiles given as an offering of genuine friendships. 
• Street sign convergence:  Jersey Ridge road was a fascination to me in my youth as I imagined long-dead ghost-cows walking along the street just yards from my front yard;  Belle is the name of my youngest daughter -- often told that she is my very favorite youngest-daughter ever!
• Culver's Butterburgers & Frozen Custard -- the kitchen away from home when I visit my parents' in Iowa.

Belle's Basketball (delayed post)

Belle's basketball team was so fast that it sometimes was on both ends of the court at the SAME time!

Sunset

Family Picture & Toe Shoes

Jenn took our family picture....

So I took picture of her in her new toe-shoes...

Skyping Together

It is fun to huddle around the computer and look at live pictures of Walker, Jenn, and baby Atticus by using Skype.

Does anyone remember a time before computers?

Morning Sunshine

The piano's silence filled the house as the sun dazzled a livingroom corner, cat curled into a ball out of sight.

There are more stars in the universe (200,000,000,000 stars in each of more than 300,000,000,000 galaxies) than grains of sand on the earth; but this beautiful little moment, in this very place, at this very time, was perfectly sufficient for me.

Climbing Mt. Vernon

The last day on our Memorial weekend, we went to Mt. Vernon -- Home of George Washington. After parking the car and heading toward the Mansion, Belle says ... "So, where is this mountain we are going to climb?" Even though we didn't have to "climb" Mt. Vernon, it was still quite a walk to go on the tour of the house and walk through all the surrounding gardens and fields. It is a beautiful estate and well worth the visit (I had never been there before). We enjoyed the short movies in the visitor's center and the kids are now able to share all sorts of interesting tidbits about George and Martha Washington. After our visit, we were famished and headed to Mom's favorite pizza place, Generous George's. Delicious!!!

The Good Old Days........

These four sisters now have a total of 12 children.  But domestic work and child-care was not always a big part of their lives.  Having recently stumbled across some old pictures, I present here a little glimpse into the past, when a silver nickle would get you a good drink and pretty gals had to carry a gun for their own personal protection.

Look at all those legs!

Grandma Arrives!

Belle and Courtney are happy to swarm all over RuthAnn in her first minutes here in Florida. They talked about the end of school for this year, and outtings that they would have together while Steve and Audrey are gone.