Party Girl

It's my birthday! I'm having a party!

She’s one! And what a lot she has accomplished! She has learned to walk and copy sounds. She’s grown some teeth, and she holds her own with all the big boys around.  In fact, she has charmed the socks off of them. And all of us!

She walks, and talks, and says Mama.

William thinks she is the cutest, funniest little thing he’s ever seen. Better than a puppy. Better than Legos. Better than Poptropica. From the look of things, she feels the same about him.

In good hands.

The photographer's assistant.

In hysterics watching Celeste eat her birthday cake, and egging her on to make an even bigger mess.

And laughing with good reason.

The beginning of the mess.

The other boys are more interested in TV than watching Celeste adorn herself with chocolate.

It gets worse.

The festivities will be interrupted while the life of the party heads to the bathtub.

Chocolate is good for what ails you.

Happy birthday, A-less’, as the little boys call you. YOU are good for anything that ails anyone!

Dino-mite Birthday!

Dinosaur cake by Sweet Sixteen

It has been the year of the dinosaur for Karsten. Doesn’t every child go through a dinosaur obsession? He was a ‘nice’ dinosaur for Halloween,  he wanted a dinosaur birthday party when he turned three in September, and he can be seen most of the time carrying a dinosaur around in his hand. This is a blog post about his three year dinosaur birthday party, a little late. My delay has nothing to do with the fact that we celebrated in style. It’s just that I want to write about Celeste’s one year November birthday before 2009 is up, and when that’s done, I will have recorded the birthday parties for every grandchild but Karsten! That will not do!

The fact is, I made a poor photographic equipment choice, and my pictures of Karsten’s dinosaur party at Mafiaoza’s Pizza are not up to standards. In an effort to keep things simple, I decided to take only one lens to the restaurant. Carrying too much equipment around is a drag, but not nearly as frustrating as having only one lens that is not appropriate for the conditions. The light 50mm prime lens, great as it is for portraits and for keeping things simple, is not the lens you want when you are seated at a table by a window with the late afternoon sun streaming in, and  you have no room to get up and  move back to get everyone in a picture without glare.  You cannot coax a prime lens into being a zoom. I tried it a hundred times at Karsten’s party.

William sitting by the window.

I will have to do the best I can with what I’ve got. The children get a kick out of seeing themselves in my posts, and a major reason for writing this blog is to create a record of events that they will enjoy as they grow. Leaving out Karsten’s three year old dinosaur party is not an option.

All shopping for this birthday party could be done at the dinosaur store!

William and Walker help Karsten unwrap his presents.

At Mafiaoza's they give the children dough to play with while they're waiting for their pizza. Great fun. Really messy.

If you are given dough at a dinosaur pizza party, what is the logical thing to do with it?

You wrap your dinosaurs in the dough, of course.

Feeding time at Jurassic Park

Mom

Dad

Usable photos. But, oh, the ones that got away! Karsten was unconcerned about my camera problems. But, when he’s eight, or ten, will he ask me why there are so few pictures of his third birthday party? I’ll just have to tell him that they became extinct.

Full of Sugar, Full of Spice

Gingerbread House, 2008

Last night was the night to build the gingerbread house for 2009. Actually we needed to build two, one for William and Walker’s house, and one for Karsten’s.

The house above is the one William and I put together last year. I dressed the photo up a little by using Flaming Pear’s Flexify Mirror Ball. I love this effect. It looks like it could be a tree ornament.

This year the other two little boys are old enough to participate, so I baked a casserole of lasagna, so we could be fortified for the task, and  invited the whole gang to come over to participate, or just to observe construction. Next year I think the three little boys and I can handle it on our own, but this year I wanted help available, to minimize the chance that grandma would be run over by a gingerbread house! It’s not easy to concentrate on spreading icing while six little hands are trying to stick gumdrops in it at the same time. I made a rule that no architectural detailing could be eaten until everything was finished. I didn’t expect that rule to carry any weight, but, surprisingly, it did! No one wanted to run out of construction materials.

I think the boys loved it. I was a little busy trying to sprout eight arms to keep up with their six, but I was aware that there was a lot of laughing, singing of Christmas songs (Walker has an amazing repertoire), and being silly.  I was happily amazed at how well they worked together, and not one of them fell off a chair or the counter.

Construction gets underway.

Trying to keep the icing flowing fast enough for the boys to add candy.

Ready to put candy in the icing the second it's applied!

Walker might be destined to be a codes inspector.

Karsten has an eye transplant.

William thinks Karsten had a great idea.

Quitting time! Walker gets ready to go home, wearing his great new hat!

Gingerbread House, 2009

Veterans’ Day 2009

Veterans' Day, 2009

Veterans’ Day was a week ago. My husband must have been savoring the touching expression of thanks that he and other veterans in his office received on November 11, because he just brought his card and cookies home this week. I admit my eyes get a little teary when I look at them, and think of the sacrifices and changed lives they represent. I am very grateful for the service of our veterans.

It is my fervent hope and prayer that our young men and women in the military will come home, and that a wisdom that can only come from the highest power will enable the leaders of nations to come up with something more creative and less destructive of life and the pursuit of happiness than fighting these horrendous wars. Tell me again, please. I never can remember. Why did we fight in Viet Nam? For more, I hope, than a moving monument in D.C that makes us cry when we stand before it, and see how much space it takes to write 58,000 names. Why are we fighting in Iraq? I should be able to remember. It was only eight years, 4,400 American deaths, 32,000 American wounded, and 100,000 Iraqi deaths ago that we invaded that country. What is our mission in Afghanistan? Will it be clear and understandable to us before we send in 20,000 to 40,000 more troops, or are we trapped on a runaway train?

Is the only way we can keep maniac butchers from flying into our buildings and killing people, to invade another country, and subject the hundreds of thousands of people who live there to the destruction of their homes and livelihoods, and the maiming of their children by bombs that go off in the streets of their cities? Really?

I think Americans knew why they were fighting in WWII.  It took some time before we got into it, but once in, it was an all out effort of government, soldier and civilian, and the mission was clear and necessary.  My connection as a civilian to our modern wars is not that of Rosie the Riveter. I did not volunteer the information during the Viet Nam War that my husband was in the Marine Corps or involved in any way. To the majority of my generation, if you weren’t out vocally protesting the war, your patriotism was in question. What a time that was! It was a version of civil war, but this time between the peaceniks and the hawks. America was torn apart in the name of saving its way of life. My husband wasn’t given any cookies as a memento of thanks for his service back in 1968!

Today, my attention turns to our wars only when a soldier’s death is announced on the news, and I feel the pain of the family, or when I see the profane cost in dollars of these wars, and compare that to the interest we pay every day on our debt to China, and hear how we can’t possibly afford the cost of health care reform. Then I remember to pray for that wisdom needed by our leaders to stop trying things that have proven not to work. If it were just a waste of time to continue unsuccessful approaches, that would be one thing, but the waste is far greater, and, in my opinion,more destructive to the very way of life we profess we are trying to preserve.

But, what do I know? There are complications that I do not understand. It is not my intention to call into question the sanity or patriotism of anyone who disagrees with what I have written. I am grateful to be an American with the freedom to say what I believe. Most of the time I’m happy to write about my grandchildrens’ birthdays and the beauty of that glorious Oak in my front yard with the impossibly red autumn leaves.

This morning, those red, white and blue cookies just got to me.

Who You Gonna Call? Halloween 2009

Spider on FIRE!

I need to get this Halloween post written.

It seems to me that nothing is as over as Halloween by the time you wake up the next day in a new month and it’s All Saints’ Day! Plus this year Halloween fell on the Saturday of falling back for DayLight Savings Time, so you are truly in a time warp, with all the mental confusion that comes with changing something as basic to daily rhythm as the clock. The whole thing throws me off kilter for a few days, which complicates writing about the, “Creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky,” Halloween, 2009!

Brief though it is, I love Halloween. It is so much fun to watch the children. They get so excited. Part of it is the looming sugar rush, of course, but choosing the perfect costume is important, too. Walker planned to wear the same Hulk costume he wears almost every day. William chose to be a werewolf, and it was the ugliest, scariest werewolf ever seen! Karsten knew early that he wanted to be a dragon, but, as he explained over and over, he was a ‘nice’ dragon. Celeste had no opinion, not being a year old yet, so she was dressed as a purple butterfly. Remembering the Squid costume that William wore on his first Halloween, I think Celeste will consider herself lucky to have been a butterfly.

The costume prize, however, goes to the house, or rather, to the decorator of the house. My son-in-law has never before exhibited an obsession for Halloween decorations, but this year’s effort will be hard to surpass.  There was even a fog machine.  Two, actually.

The decorating began weeks ago when the skeletons and flame pots were hung on the porch.

Installing the flame pots.

Skeletons and flame pots

The crazy witch that cackles when someone walks by was set on the steps, along with the crows and jack-o-lanterns.

Cackling witch

Can’t decide what your favorite spider is? No worries. There are several varieties to choose among. And, bring in the clowns!

Spider weaving a tangled web.

Bring in the clowns!

When we arrived for trick-or-treating, there was a new wrinkle –  the windows had pumpkin and skull shades installed.  It’s really a shame that Halloween is a one day only event.

The house decked for Halloween.

The house was ready for the gathering of the trick-or-treaters! What a crew there was.

The cast of characters for Halloween 2009.

The Werewolf. Eeeeek!

The Hulk

The 'nice' Dragon

The Purple Butterfly

The Devil

Dorothy and the Little Mermaid

Indiana Jones

And off they went!  First stop, the little church at the end of the street for Trunk ‘n Treat, where church members decorate their cars and hand out candy from the trunks.

Heading for Trunk 'n Treat

Trunk 'n Treat

Official greeter at Trunk 'n Treat

Next, turn them loose in the neighborhood.  Well, not too loose.

The neighbors are ready.

One last picture  for Halloween, 2009. It is of one of the teachers at William’s school, dressed for their Halloween party. She wore this all day at school! She gets my vote for being the best sport.

A bunch of grapes

The children get my vote for loving Halloween and making us all happy. My son-in-law wins the grand prize of a year’s supply of candy corn for best decorating of a house. Good thing he likes candy corn. He’s actually the only person I’ve ever known who does like it!

Who are you gonna call if you want to turn your house into the Monster Mash?  I know who I’M gonna call!

Happy Birthday, USA

Bombs bursting in air!

Happy two hundred and thirty third birthday, America.  Fireworks over Titans Stadium, Nashville, TN, 2008.

The Class of 2009

Dear Madelyn,

The main event of the past week was most certainly your graduation from high school, but I’ve put off writing about it because of teeth. Really. Every time I turn around I come face to face with a new tooth issue! I’ve come to think there must be a connection, however murky, between your graduation and all these teeth!

Maybe when you write a blog you’re more attuned to the possibility of connectedness in what formerly seemed random, but the subject of teeth has been remarkably intrusive.

It started with Karsten, when he bounced off that ball,  crashing into a marble fireplace surround, and breaking his two front teeth. Accidents do happen, but this one established the pattern. Celeste had no teeth, but now some are trying to break through, and she’s cranky.

William has been losing a baby tooth every few days for the last two weeks, and regular trips are made to the bank to keep the tooth fairy supplied with cash. There was some discussion about the proper amount for the tooth fairy to leave, with the going rate finally established at $5.  Then William lost his bottom, right tooth, which happened to be a double tooth, so the discussion had to be opened again.

Robert had a root canal Thursday. Not everyone is given the same gifts. Some people do not have trouble free teeth. I would like to not, however, be the assigned culprit any longer for whatever bad genes my children claim they have inherited.

On Tuesday our dentist’s office called to say Frank had missed his cleaning appointment. I told them I was sorry, but something came up, namely, open heart surgery. He didn’t remember to call and cancel before they split his chest open, and I didn’t even know he had the appointment.

Your graduation ceremony was on Monday and you had your wisdom teeth out on Friday, which introduces the most interesting question of all! Do you know it all, now that you are a graduate? Is that why you don’t need your wisdom teeth anymore? What does it mean that you only had the two upper wisdom teeth? Luck? Genes?

Do you see why this connection has become a subject we can really get our teeth into?

Madelyn, I know they said at graduation that you can spread your wings and fly, but in your case I’m convinced the tea leaves point to teeth. So use those choppers, and taste life from Apple Pie to lemon Zest! If the menu ever seems bland, just call to mind the deafening cheers from the stands when your class of 2009 walked into Allen Arena. The outpouring of love and pride gave me chills, and I thought I was going to cry. Waves of cheers and smiles and calling of names followed as each of you processed to your seat.  You all looked a little overwhelmed, like you wished those mortar boards were big enough to let you hide, but you were smiling, too, as you tried to see where your families were seated. A thousand cell phones had already texted you, “Right hand side, middle, half way up,” and three hundred cell phones had texted back, ” Right hand side, fifth row, fourth seat”. The room was filled with popping camera lights, waving handmade signs, cheers, whistles, and flashing, white, smiling ……TEETH!

Maybe that’s it? All of this toothy activity just means you make us smile. We salute your accomplishment. Good job! You’ve come a long way to being the strong, smart, confident, patient and kind woman I saw walking up to receive that richly deserved diploma. Getting to this point was fun, hard, heartbreaking, rewarding, but you made it! We’ll never stop cheering for you. We absolutely love you!

RAH, RAH, RAH! SIS BOOM BAH! Be true to your school!

And remember what your Grandy always says, “Be true to your teeth, or they’ll be false to you”.

Happy Niu Year

Chinese Paper cut Lions

I feel like a citizen of the world, feasting on the Danish Smorgasbord two weeks ago, and celebrating the Chinese New Year’s Eve last night with a ten course dinner!

2009, in addition to being the Year of the Ox, is year 4706 in the Chinese calendar. That’s a long time! The biggest holiday in most Chinese peoples’ lives must have at least 4706 ancient customs, traditions and meanings that mark not just one day, but all fifteen that make up the celebration of the Lunar Year. There is significance to everything from household decorations to clothing. There is symbolism in every bite of food in terms of fortune, bounty, and good luck.  Before New Year’s Eve, the house is given a thorough cleaning to sweep away bad luck.  Brooms and dustpans are put away before the New Year, though, so that good luck can’t be swept away. New clothes are bought as symbols of new beginnings, and barbers are as busy as tax preparers in April as it is bad luck to get a haircut during the New Years celebration.

Drums beats

The loud noise of drumbeats and cymbals are thought to frighten evil  spirits.

Lion Dance

The Lion Dance is traditionally performed.  The Lion keeps the horrible monster Nien from rearing it’s head during the celebration and driving away good luck for the coming year.

Feed the Lion

The lion opens it’s mouth for people to feed it money as it winds around the room to the drumbeat, swaying, bowing and rearing back on its hind legs (actually it’s hind person, since it takes two people to operate the lion’s costume).

Red envelopes, chopsticks, candy

The red packets contain money, even amounts only since uneven amounts are associated with funerals, and are usually given to children by their parents and grandparents.

The Lion winds through the room

Red lanterns and red clothing are seen everywhere as it is thought that Nien is frightened by red.

Smiling Lion

Two Lions

Symbol of good luck

Every item of food served in the ten course dinner has meaning, but eating the fish, especially, is thought to bring good luck.  Some of the fish is left uneaten so that there will be a surplus in the coming year.

Menu

The Chinese call every year by the name of one of twelve animals, with the same sequence repeating every twelve years. Instead of giving the year of his birth, a Chinese might say he was born in the year of the horse.  It would be known, then, that he was born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, or 2002, and since the year doesn’t begin on January first, but changes according to the moon’s rotation around the sun, the birthday of someone born in the year of the horse would be between January or February of one of those years and January or February of the next.

There has been a lot of talk about what the Year of the Ox will mean for us. Barack Obama was born in the Year of the Ox, which tradition says might make him stable, fearless, obstinate, hardworking, friendly, remarkably easy-going, eloquent, physically and mentally alert, and capable of inspiring confidence in others. Those sound like the qualities we need for 2009.

I was born in the Year of the Sheep. Sheep can be charming, elegant , creative, insecure, disorganized and indecisive dreamers.  It’s hard to argue with the prevailing wisdom of over 4706 years, but that does not describe me at all. Fortunately, I was not elected President.  I do hope that everyone got all the bad luck swept away in time, and that 2009 contains only good luck, and I ate a piece of Dragon Flounder Pearl to help ensure that happening!

Danish Cold Table 2009

Danish Flag

In Danish households such as Janet’s mother grew up in, where eating is said to be the national pastime, the Kolde Bord would take place on Christmas Day. It would take all day to do justice to the quantities of food, courses, toasts and family celebration that it signified. Since it would be hard to add the preparations required for the Cold Table at the same time as preparing for American traditions, the 2009 Grace Cold Table was planned for January 10, a date that would add a new chapter to the Danish epic tradition. Ancient Nordic tales of crusades and battles turned into one relating the challenge of heroic gastronomic exploration!

Preparing for the guests was a shopping, cooking marathon begun weeks before January 10, local shopping carried out with full knowledge of the blank stares that would meet requests for Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) and Carlsburg beer, and internet shopping filling the gaps. Janet’s source for most of the fish was the gas station on Murphy Rd, owned by two Russians who look for her to come around at Cold Table time for the fish supplies. It brings new meaning to the term full service gas station. As to food preparation, Robert carried that out almost single-handledly, without multiple ovens and burners, or a full complement of prep chefs. He was lucky to have Mark, a friend and cook from his days in the restaurant business, arrive early on the day of the party to help. Watching Mark cook under the hectic conditions in the kitchen on this day was to prove Robert’s statement that a true cook can tune out all confusion around him in order to concentrate on the job at hand. Anita and Annette, the Danes in the crowd, made some items, but no one else could pronounce the dishes, let alone prepare them.

There is not much I want to eat that needs more than a peel removed, or a few vegetables chopped together, but watching it being carried out on such a grand scale is an inspiring sight.  It calls out for photography! Even though my aversion to food preparation is well known, I was still pressed into service to pit cherries for the rice pudding sauce, and to peel NINE POUNDS of Sunchokes the night before the party. Someone familiar with the order of the Cold Table had to write the menu on the blackboard, and label and place the serving dishes on the table with the names of the items that would go in them.

There is a progression to eating a Danish Cold Table. The first course is always some kind of fish chosen from a plentiful array. Where is my picture of the Mackerel with the head still on? It needs to be framed and hung on the wall next to the War Mackerel!

Anchovies, Sardines and Caviar

Smoked Salmon

Salmon and Turbot

A toast of Acravet (Danish Schnapps) follows each course. Raise your glass, bow, look the person next to you in the eye, and drain your glass.

Toast

The fish course is the precursor to something hot, like Frikkadeller, or Pork Loin stuffed with Prunes and Apples. Don’t forget the toast following the  hot dish!

Frikadeller patties

Cooking the Frikadeller

Clare likes Sunchokes

Toast

After some socializing, and digesting time, the third course makes it’s way to the table. Open-faced sandwiches of thin bread, usually sour rye, are buttered evenly and then topped with anything and everything under the sun – cold cuts, tomatoes, cucumber salad, onions, bacon bits, smoked fish, remoulade, eggs, liver paste, red cabbage and pickled beets. Potato salad and macaroni salad are served with the sandwiches.  There will be another toast at the end of this course, followed by a cheese assortment, alone, or with bread and butter, and, then, another toast.

The Open-Face Sandwich Course

Still have room for dessert? Try Kringle, pie, or cookies, and for the children, Ris a l amonde with Cherry Sauce.  The Danish tradition is for every child to receive an almond in his rice pudding as a prize. One adult will receive an almond, and if he can hide it in his cheek until the rice pudding is eaten without anyone guessing who has the almond, then he wins the grand prize – a marzipan pig! Abbe Yelton won the pig this year. Unfortunately, Abbe’s dog, Annabelle, found it and ate the pig, wrapping and all and became very ill. Poor Annabelle.

Sour Cream Prune Pies

Kringle

Ris a l amonde

Mark and Robert

After seeing the amount of food prepared for the Danish Cold Table, and the enthusiasm for its consumption, I believe the aphorism must be true that Danes live to eat.  The rest of the saying is that Norwegians eat to live, and Swedes eat to drink, but I don’t know anything about that. I’ve also heard that Fins live to do the Tango, but aside from the fact that some exercise would be good after all this food, that is a subject for another story!

Guests living on the west side of the Cumberland River soon learned that their Cold Table adventure would include navigating stadium road closings for the Titans/Ravens playoff game to get to East Nashville. The playoff date wasn’t known when the Cold Table date was set. Traffic gridlock would have been easier to take if the Titans had ultimately won, which, alas, they did not!

Janet and Meghan

Holding Court

Celeste on Sammie’s Shoulder

Tracy and Janet

Anita

Annette, Annaleese, Kathleen and Meghan

Val, Christina and Bill

Janet and Celeste

Little Gymnast

Eleanor

Hubbard and Bea

Ali and friend

Jason and Karen

Bill and Frank

Meghan and Will

John Hunter and his daughter

Peggy and Mark

Christmas, 2008

Christmas is peace and joy and love, but to complete the picture with wonder and excitement – add little children! When you’re two and a half years old, “On Dasher,” does sound a lot like, “Aw Dasher,” and it is exciting to shout it at the top of your lungs, showing you know something exciting is going on, even if you’re not entirely sure what that something is.

We’ve had more than our share this year of the unbearable anticipation of Christmas. William and Walker came down the stairs each morning to look for Sparky, the little elf who came to their house to observe behavior and then left each night for the North Pole to report to Santa. Sparky would be found in a new spot each morning, and they couldn’t touch him when they found him, or his magic would wear off. That rule kept them from climbing on the furniture and up the draperies to retrieve Sparky from his perch. Aunt Ruth gave William an advent calendar on Thanksgiving, and it was almost beyond his ability not to open the first door before December 1.  From that day forward we had a running report on how many doors he had opened, what was inside of them, and how many remained to be opened until the Big Day.

Karsten had hints that whatever this Christmas thing was, it involved cars, parking garages and ‘feesh’ (as in goldfish), and he, like the others, thought everything would be improved by getting it out in the open sooner rather than later.

William thought it was unnecessary to answer any questions about his Christmas list, saying only that Santa would know what he wanted. On a trip down the toy aisle at Target he would want a Transformer or Bakugan, and when told maybe Santa would bring it, expressed surprise that Santa could make anything like that, but quickly remembered that Santa had all those elves!

2008 is the third year that William and I have put together a gingerbread house. This year we saved the tree for Walker to build. Visions of sugarplums do more dancing in their tummies than they do in their heads while the house is under construction. Sugar highs can be a problem at Christmas!  The dinner two years ago when William came out from under the dining room table with a pirate’s sword and placed it forcefully in the middle of Janet’s father’s back comes to mind. A few more incidents followed and our little Matey was carted off to bed early.

Preparation, and excitement, is ramped up the weekend after Thanksgiving when the tree is picked, transported home, and decorated…….

…..the wooden Santa takes his place next to the tree……..

….and the stockings are hung, yes, by the chimney with care!

It’s fun to see old ornaments brought out and hung on the tree. Elizabeth gave me the purple cow when she was a little girl.

All the ornaments I made, mostly in some form of needlework, for Robert and Elizabeth when they were growing up have been distributed to them for their trees. Here is Dorothy, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow. Robert has the set from Alice in Wonderland.

To the left 0f the tin man is the cross-stitched letter “E” from 1981. There’s an “R” somewhere belonging to Robert.

Frank and I got the call early Christmas morning. ” We’re opening!” We quickly dressed and prepared for the happy confusion of Christmas Day. The first wave of present exchange was in full swing when we arrived. The second wave would be after John arrived from the airport. The third would be Houston’s various family members exchanging with each other when they arrived for dinner. The fourth would be our exchange with Robert and Janet which would have to be delayed until after dinner because we simply ran out of time. We waded through torn wrapping paper, toy pieces and stacks of cardboard all day as we tried to prepare food, set the table, and cajole excited little boys into being calm. We never succeeded in the effort to get Walker to nap. Crazy for trying!

Walker’s Incredible Hulk costume won the prize for the most successful present. He put it on the minute he opened it, flexed his padded muscles, and shouted, “Cr-u-u-u–u-sh,” in a ferocious, but muffled voice from behind his mask. I’m sure the real Hulk never wore Spiderman slippers, but maybe it’s only because he never received any as a Christmas present.

Somehow, in the midst of people, and presents, and trash, a delicious Christmas dinner was prepared for eighteen people. Seventeen, since six week old Celeste wasn’t quite ready for filet.

Last week Elizabeth told me she was going to keep dinner simple, and there wasn’t much for her to do because everyone was bringing something.  I know she thought that, so it wasn’t an outright lie, but I don’t call Grilled Filet with Horseradish Sauce, Ham, Christmas Salad with Avocados, Pomegranate Seeds and Blue Cheese, Scalloped Potatoes, Braised Cabbage, Haricots Verts, Fruit Platter, Fudge Pie, Cherry Pie, and Blueberry Cheesecake simple, even if other people are bringing much of it. Everything still has to be coordinated, grilled, heated and served at the right time, not to mention attending to the unpredictable actions and needs of  little children and a baby, and all in the midst of the biggest toy/box/paper mess ever devised by man!

Dinner was wonderful, even if conversation had to be loud to be heard over the sideshows in the living room and hall. There are four people in this pile-up. Robert is in there somewhere! Amazingly, there were no injuries or tears!

Celeste loved it all. She was the crown jewel of a day filled with treasures.

John arrived by plane, on time in spite of threats of weather delays in all parts of the country, including Detroit. Is Karsten clapping his hands or praying?  Things were a little wild, but I don’t think they were THAT bad!

Aunt Ruth joined us for dinner after being with Mike and Margaret’s family all day. Frank is decked in his new Christmas sweater.

A trampoline present might be thought to add to Christmas confusion, but, actually, it concentrated it in one place, so it turned out to be a good thing.

William learned to whistle and practiced it all day.

Aw Dasher! Aw Dancer! Aw Prancer! Aw Santa! Aw Sparky! Aw Rudolph! Aw gift givers and tree trimmers! Aw cooks, and family, and to all who gather in the name of the Prince of Peace!  Merry Christmas!