Busy, Colorful Christmas through New Year

Frank and I were to have a quiet Christmas weekend in 2017 spending it with Alex. Dan's family had visited mid-December (post for 12/30/17) and Robin's family were not traveling from Oklahoma over the holidays this year. Each have begun to start their own family holiday traditions in their own homes. The stockings on our wall reflect the change. Frank's, mine, and Alex's were "hung by the chimney with care". The others had been distributed last Christmas 2016.

The SoCal stockings were hung with care from an upstairs railing since they have no chimney. I do know I need to knit one more for next year - as soon as I learn the name for Dan and Carrie's son, due in April.

Here are the Oklahoma stockings in use Christmas morning by Autumn and Isaiah. 

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On Saturday, December 23rd we picked up Alex and took him to see a local performance of the Olate Dogs. This act won first place at the 2012 America's Got Talent Competition, taking home a $1,000,000 prize. Personally I thought it was kind of slow moving and preferred The Stunt Dog Experience Alex and I had seen last November. But Alex seemed to enjoy it and stayed engaged throughout.

On Sunday, Christmas Eve, we toured the local lighting display of Deacon Dave. The lights were impressive, as always, and the weather was cool enough to hint at Christmas and mild enough to be enjoyable.

On Christmas Morning we opened our gifts to each other. I gave Frank a log-building set to help him recall of his Lincoln Log moments of yesteryear.

  

He also got a cat jigsaw puzzle we could do together. I picked the image because of all the book titles. It reminded me of a puzzle we had assembled in Chicago with our college friends. All the text and differing font types made that one easy. (See Day 6 of Chicago post dated 10/28/17). Not so for this cat one! Frank and I worked on it a couple nights ago and it was hard!

Alex got a puzzle, too. His was Cinderella and it was much easier. It was a 72 piece challenge which appeared to be just enough stretch for him to do totally independently. We did keep him company doing it Christmas Day, though.

Every man likes to mount his accomplishments on a wall. Alex now has a rabbit head to proudly display over his bed.

Alex also got a monkey tower building game. I mainly bought it for the cute tin.

But Alex liked the contents and making multi-level monkey towers.

We are ending 2016 with a burst of color. Saturday, December 30th we went with our neighbor Ayn to see a performance of Shen Yun, a display of historic Chinese dance at the San Jose Center for the Performing arts. The flowing costumes, rich colors, and impressive dancers were indeed a one-of-a kind performance. The orchestra had classic Chinese instruments intermixed, lending a unique blend to the sounds. Each dance number told a story which was explained by a male and female host and hostess in both English and Chinese immediately before it began. Each story was re-told in the extensive program. A projected backdrop was amazing; the dancers would flawlessly and seamlessly pop out of performing on the stage into dancing and flying within hillsides and skies depicted on huge, stage size projected scenes. We had great seats in the orchestra section and were glad we had gone. It was my Christmas present from Frank.

Today, Sunday, December 31st, Frank and I took Alex to see the Disney-Pixar movie Coco. Again the colors and joyous depiction of another culture, this time Day of the Dead Mexican, was lively and awesome. The music was peppy and exciting and, at times, also moving.The human traits, expressions, and mannerisms given to skeletons were truly creative and the lands they traversed were equally inventive. The emotions evoked felt so real and the story line had an unsuspected twist to it. Do not miss this one. It was delightful.

I sit here trying to complete this blog post before the stroke of midnight and the start of 2018. Our Christmas letter is written and accompanying photo collage prepared. Printing will need to wait until the stores re-open on January 2nd but Frank and I can prep envelopes in the meantime, so our annual Christmas letter should go out in the next few days. Don't the Twelve Days of Christmas last until January 6th anyway? I still would like to leave 2017 with these images of our home decor this year.

As you enter our front door, ahead and up to the right in our dining room is our wooden locomotive over the hutch featured with a lighted garland.

Circling around into the living room, the fireplace hosts a gathering of snowmen. The collection is flanked by two nearly human size Debbie Mumm snowman that Daniel brought home from San Luis Obispo when he was pursuing his architecture degree at Cal Poly. He had sweet-talked the store owners into selling part of their window display to him. I still remember him ringing the doorbell after he'd driven home for the Christmas holiday break. I opened the front door to see this cheerful couple greeting me. "Merry Christmas, Mom, from Robin and me," he grinned. This couple has faithfully journeyed down from the attic for the past fifteen Christmases to grace our living room. They have aged well.

Above our other hutch in the living room is one of Santa's reindeer. He has a black nose so he is not Rudolph. Some years he is outside but this year he is keeping a watchful eye from a higher perch. This elevated position is much better for launching into the sky to pull the sleigh when he is called to duty.

Our tree was decorated with all sewn and stuffed ornaments made over the years since the kids were small and they helped.

Back in the dining room, along the window sill is a collection of glitter houses Frank made to recall those of his childhood.

We were not planning on a large crowd for Christmas dinner so I used our long table to stretch out a village themed length of fabric yardage that I thought was too pretty to cut up. I hemmed the edges and then displayed my collection of house tins on top of it.

Here is a closeup. Frank accused me of lining them up too symmetrically, as an engineer would do. Old habits die hard, I guess.

On a small wood red side table, I set out some of the smaller houses and accessories, made of wood.

One year at a post-Xmas clearance sale, I purchased two 5½ feet long snowman banners hand painted on oilcloth. We have a high soaring vaulted ceiling in our living room and I said to Frank, "Wouldn't they look impressive hung side by side over the TV up on the apex of the wall?" We both agreed, yes they would, and then simultaneously shook our heads - no more ladders! They still look nice hung by wreath hangers on doors. The brown Home Sweet Home hangs in the living room near the entry. 

The blue Winter Welcome hangs in the family room, in concert with the blue scheme in there.

  

I'd put blue sphere ornaments in glass jars  inside lighted corner cabinets with more lit garland on top. There are a few more of those stuffed ornaments too, to add to the festivity.

There is a small Wysocki tree next to those cabinets and next to it, a large scale erector house Frank built, once again to conjure up childhood Christmas memories.

Further to the right is a display of cardboard village houses. Our friend Vickie had given us a Twelve Day of Christmas gift combination from The Harry and David gourmet food catalog. The boxes the various goodies came in were just too darn cute to discard. Of course I saved them so there you have it, another Christmas decoration.

I added some blue glittery candles inside the fireplace along with a few more  blue ornament balls. In front is a child's Nativity set that Vivian and Lillian played with during their visit earlier in the month. This year I taped our Christmas cards on the fireplace tile. as they arrived. The fireplace face has been filled since I took this photo. 

Lastly, coming full circle in we have hanging on the wall in the nook our teddy bear couple wreath Frank and I bought the year the last kid left home. It is our empty nest symbol indicating it is only the two of us now. 

There are only two living under our roof now, however there are many more in our memories and hearts. I wish all my readers – and I guess my non-readers, too but they will not know it – all the best for 2018. Wow! 2017 went by past!

Mid-December Visit and Early Christmas

December 15th -18th Frank and I celebrated a pre-Christmas visit from Dan, Carrie, Vivian (3½) and Lillian (1½). They arrived on a Friday afternoon. Immediately upon entering the house, Lillian spied the rocking horse we'd temporarily plunked behind the couch. She insisted on climbing on board.

Frank and I had ordered this classic horse custom made  when Robin was a toddler and Daniel had just been born. It is inscribed on the bottom for the Chambers Family and dated 1983. It is over thirty years old. I guess we somehow had a hunch that one day grandkids would ride it.

Friday night Dan, Carrie, Vivian, and Lillian went to see the Christmas lighting display at Deacon Dave's, an annual tradition around here.

Saturday late morning Dan and Carrie left for a bed and breakfast overnight at a spa in the Napa area wine country north of us. They would return Sunday early evening (they promised) after a well deserved respite from the toddlers. The girls had never been left overnight, especially not somewhere other then their home bed, so Frank and I were a bit apprehensive about how they would react. We had a plan for while Dan and Carrie were gone. Saturday we would hang around the house then go for a walk at dusk and look at the Christmas lights. Sunday we would take the girls bowling with Uncle Alex. The time would be filled and accounted for until late Sunday afternoon when Dan and Carrie would return. It worked. Vivian and Lillian did great. They did not act as if they missed their mom and dad at all and did not put up any fuss at meals or bedtime. 

I had stocked the downstairs with toys to play with, but I was still surprised by what items arose as favorites - and not necessarily ones that I had featured downstairs . This decorative Radio Flyer wagon that Frank and I have for display was in high demand to pull around blocks, teddy bears, Mega Blocks®, crayons - you name it.

With Dan and Carrie away, Lillian found her dad's shoes an excellent source of amusement. Here she is wearing them and grinning up at Grandpa. I can understand interchanging the right and left foot but mixing up the heel and toe? Oh well.

Lillian likes when Grandpa rocks her on the horse. It is quite amusing that Grandpa enhances the rocking session with "stick out your tongue" lessons.

Lillian at 1½ plays very independently for short periods. Just look at her intense concentration in building this tower of Mega Blocks.

Lillian also has a strong penchant for blankies. First thing upon arising Sunday she found this one I had knitted years ago and claimed it for the morning. My hardwood floors became impeccable clean and crumb free as she dragged it everywhere. A quick toss in the washer and dryer after she had left to go home restored its newly acquired grey hue back to its original pale creamy yellow.

We learned how large an appetite Lillian has as Frank kept the tray of her high chair supplied with food. We are beginning to agree with Dan and Carrie that she may indeed be left-handed; it is too soon to know for sure.

Vivian and I did a craft bead project together. She was incredible focused and recreated the color sequences with astonishing accuracy for a 3½ year old. I don't sound like a doting grandmother, do I?

Sunday morning, after breakfast, we got ready to go bowling. Chapped lips call for a bit of strawberry lip balm. I fetched some for Vivian but, when I was distracted for about 30 seconds with an untimely phone call, Vivian eagerly and generously applied it all by herself. She was very pleased with the results. When I texted the photo to Carrie I think I got a few points knocked off my child care credibility score. 

However, at the end of the visit I did convince Carrie to permit Vivian to take home the strawberry scented gift from Grandma and that its controlled use was indeed enforceable.

Getting everybody to the bowling alley is a tale in itself. We had already made one mistake when Frank did the airport pickup. Dan and Carrie were bringing a car seat and we were to supply the second one. Not remembered by us, but recalled in great detail by Carrie, was that we had two car seats in the attic. We had brought the less desirable one for Dan to install at the airport. Once at the house, Dan went to the attic and located the preferred car seat and switched them. Now Frank and I were about to drive to the bowling alley with the girls. Frank had placed Vivian and Lillian in the car and strapped them in place when I came out to the driveway with back packs and jackets to join them. We'd driven off and were a few blocks from our driveway when I glanced back, looked at the situation, and challenged him that he had the wrong girl in the wrong car seat. 

Frank declared, "No, I do not." 

I asked him, "Well, you did the airport pickup. Which seat was Lillian in? Dan changed out the seat for Vivian. Right?" 

He said, "I don't remember." 

I further argued, "Then how do you know they are right now? I think Vivian is too squooshed." 

He grumbled, "OK, do you want me to pull over into a parking lot and you switch them?" 

I sighed, "Fine," which in woman speak translates to mean, "I do not really want to, but since you messed up, I will have to fix it."

We pulled into a parking lot. I got out and looked at the two girls. I texted Dan to find out which car seat went with which  kid. While waiting for his reply I reassessed the situation. They were both content and not complaining. I reconsidered my demand and decided it was better to leave the situation as it was and not rock the boat. Once I heard Dan's answer we could make it right for the ride home. 

I climbed back in the front seat and mumbled to Frank, "Let's just go, I am not going to switch them". "Smart idea," he retorted back.

Then the following text  came in from Dan. My side of the conversation is on the right in blue, Dan is on the left in gray.

The logistic of the bowling alley transport, even without the carseat assignment uncertainty, was a conundrum like that of a farmer who must transport a fox, a chicken, and a sack of grain across a river. Although the Rav4 seats five – Frank, me, Alex, Vivian, Lillian – with two cars seats in the rear seat of the Rav4, neither Alex nor I could maneuver ourselves to fit between them. Since Dan and Carrie had one of our cars, Frank and I were constrained to get the girls and Alex to the bowling alley in multiple trips.

Frank dropped me at the bowling alley and left me to reserve an alley and rent shoes for the girls. I kept one shoe from each for sizing. I also called ahead to Alex's group home and requested that they have Alex ready and bring him out to the car so Frank would not need to leave Vivian and Lillian unattended. The pickup went fine and Alex rode in the front seat where I had been. I expected Frank to phone me when he arrived back at the alley so I could come out and assist. Instead he let the girls walk in beside him, one shoe on and one shoe off. They did not mind. I was just happy the pavement was not wet or muddy. One sock was slightly dirtier than the other, but that's not the end of the world.

There was a tournament going on so the place was tumultuous and the five of us had to share one alley. We got a bowling ramp and light weight ball for Vivian and Lillian. They lasted three frames until boredom and distraction took over and they were done with the whole bowling experience. I wandered off with them to find alternate entertainment while Frank and Alex bowled out the frames. We toured the decorations, admired the Christmas tree, and posed for pictures by the Santa figure. Lillian did eventually stay put where I posed her long enough to take a photo.

Vivian cooperated even more so, and ducked in under the Merry Christmas pennant banner Santa was holding. I would have liked to get both of them in that pose but realized I would be unlikely to succeed.

I started over to the snack bar with the girls in tow behind me to order a pizza for lunch for everybody. I heard a soft resounding thud and spun around to see what had happened. There was poor Santa keeled over forward, lying flat on his face. I do not know who or what caused that, but I was pretty sure we were not blameless. As I bent to assist Santa, balancing him upright once again, Vivian took off for the video game arcade area since she was interested in driving a car. Lillian was intrigued by the railing adjacent to the ramp for special needs bowlers. She swung on the bars like they were a jungle gym. I grabbed my wallet and cell phone, stuffed them one in each pocket and abandoned my purse to pursue the girls with both hands free. All the areas were within eyesight but the place was mobbed with competitors in the tournament. I wanted to be in more control. Hah!

I did get the girls to stay together by my side long enough to order lunch and I got a side order of fries to be served immediately, mainly to entice Vivian and Lillian to stay put in one place until Frank was finished bowling with Alex. Carrie is adamant about them having a healthy diet, so the fries were not as much an allure as I had hoped. But they were hungry by this time so it helped.

After pizza with all five of us, Frank took Alex back to his group home while I stayed at the bowling alley with the girls. They were as good as gold but kept me traveling back and forth between Vivian at the auto racing and Lillian doing acrobatics at the railing. You would have thought I was a duck in a shooting gallery carnival game, reversing directions on a whim. I was reluctant to send them with Frank for the Alex return because I wanted to be sure Vivian and Lillian remained active and did not nap in the car so. I needed for them to nap at home!

After the Alex drop-off, Frank returned to the bowling alley for me and the girls, as I'd made him promise he would do. Old hands now at car seat assignments we drove back to Livermore and Sunday afternoon naps went as planned (and as hoped). Shortly after Vivian and Lillian awoke, Dan and Carrie returned, snuck in the house, surprised the girls, and proceeded to shower them with lots of hugs and kisses. We all ate dinner and then opened Christmas presents in the early evening on Sunday since they were flying home Monday afternoon.

There were two presents for baby boy to be, dubbed Nacho Boy as a working name by Frank and me. Carrie opened the box containing the first gift.

It was a round blanket knitted by me. Dan snuggled under it assuming the nap expression. My DianeLoves2Quilt post for 2/20/17 gives more details on the knitted blanket. 

The next Nacho Boy gift was a Minky blankie, soft on one side and with an "Oh Boy" Micky Mouse print on the other. My DianeLoves2Quilt post for 11/16/17 gives more details on the Minky blankie. 

Did you say, "Blankie"? That means it must be mine claims Lillian instantaneously. She dragged it around the house and Carrie reported that she dragged it all over the airport, too when they flew back. "It was gross," grumbled our fastidious Carrie. Once they'd returned home Monday night, after Lillian was tucked into bed and asleep , I am positive that blankie was plunged immediately into the washer and dryer. I guess I am making another if I want Nacho  Boy to have one. Hmmm... or does that just mean Lillian will have two? Looking closely at the picture I see she has also confiscated Carrie's necklace gift.

Vivian opened her gift of princess dress up dolls.

Then Vivian opened her other gift of a cowboy doll I had sewn for her. I thought with a little brother on the way, a boy doll might go over well.

I'd also made a companion girl doll for her Lillian.  My DianeLoves2Quilt post for 12/21/17 gives more details on the dolls and their accessories.

There was a lot of chaos opening gifts and even more challenge in packing them all up to fit for the plane ride back. Carrie had the presence of mind to take a final photo of Vivian and Lillian with Frank and me as they were leaving the house for the  airport. It had been a whirlwind weekend that was lots of fun. We got to know the girls much better and Dan and Carrie got a small break. A definite win-win in my book.

I lamented to Carrie that I had rushed so to complete those dolls that I had never taken a photo of them for my blogs. She texted me this one of Vivian with both dolls, hers and Lillian's. It think perhaps for next Christmas I am going to leave tags off the packages and assign the gifts to recipients after they are opened. Vivian got Lillian's doll and Lillian got Nacho Boy's blankie. So far it appears everyone is happy.