The Unforgettable Christmas of 2016

Christmas this year stretched throughout December. Robin's family and Dan's family visited mid December for an early Christmas celebration. Frank and I had eight houseguests, half of them four and under, sleeping under one roof. Christmas decorating was not as elaborate is in other years due to Frank's mishap, but there was still a decorated tree, lighted garlands, and stockings that I managed. We had been short one bed, but the rental of a hospital bed, set up in the living room for Frank, solved that problem. For the story behind Frank's fall and his emergency hip replacement see these two posts:
http://wanderorponder.blogspot.com/2016/12/hip-hip-and-hampered-hooray.html
http://wanderorponder.blogspot.com/2016/12/update-on-franks-hip-lifestyle.html

SIGHTS
The color scheme on this year's tree was a non-traditional pink, lime, and turquoise. The pink was a definitely in deference to the presence of three granddaughters. But notice on this section of the tree there is still a turquoise blue ornament in deference to the presence of one grandson. I was bemused that this particular photo preserved a three to one ratio.

On top of each hutch is a garland at the base of a rocker toy. The two toned wooden hand-crafted train we purchased from a local toy store before we even had any grandchildren.

This black and white pinto pony rocker was used by Robin and Dan when they were little. The garlands amidst the greenery on both these hutches follow the pink, turquoise, and lime color scheme, although it is hard to discern in the night time glow.

In our kitchen nook hangs a wreath with a bear couple that Frank and I bought for ourselves when the last kid left home, since then it would be only the two of us.

This Christmas zebra rug tickled my funny bone. I think this may be our third year to deploy it.

But it was a tripping hazard for  Frank's walker so I slid it under one of the hutches. I think those striped legs in boots is even funnier than the whole critter.

I still had another yuletide rug that I like so I tucked it in under the piano with two penguin guardians.

Frank had distributed this last item in all our front windows (before he fell). When I moved to California and my Dad had left New Jersey, I asked for these. As a child I remember having them in each front window of my Linden, NJ home. They were called Reath Lites and had been manufactured in the adjacent city of Elizabeth, NJ. We have ten of them and I have never seen others like them at all even though Frank has researched them extensively on the internet. A long tube like, for a piano music lamp, shines up on a screen printed plexiglas sheet and they glow softy. They are a yearly tradition for us. They paint a serene picture.

COUSINS PLAYING

Having four young children around was not at all peaceful (despite the calm wreaths in each window) but it sure was fun and joyous. Frank said he could lie in his hospital bed and hear the cacophony a room away from the playing, the  laughter (and the intermittent unavoidable crying). He could close his eyes and revel in it. My progeny he mused. 

The morning after the final airport pickup, the crew of eight set out on a walk to the local Starbuck's. Apparently parents of small children require coffee, which I do not stock. To my surprise I also have very few photos. It was too much of a zany zoo snap a few shots. That would require knowing where I had left my cell phone or where whoever was playing with it last had left it. But here are a few memories. From left to right the Starbuck's crew are adults, Robin/Jeremy, Carrie/Dan, and kids Isaiah (1 year 5 months) /Autumn (4 years 2 months), and Vivian (2 years 8 months) /Lillian (7 months).

The older girls got along fine dancing,

wearing matching pajamas from Grandma,

or wiggling under a quilt with younger siblings.

Down at floor level there was a lot to admire - not just Lillian,

but also the creations of the next generation of architects and builders.

MADE WITH LOVE

Each grandchild has something handmade by Grandma. The links direct you to November or December posts in my DianeLoves2Quilt blog where I tell about the creation of each. There were doll quilts for Autumn and Vivian,

a knit blanket for Isaiah,

and a vintage knit stocking for Lillian.

Alex, too got a quilted bunny pillow but his was not gifted until Christmas Day itself when he visited for the day.

DISPERSAL OF THE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Christmas 2016  was bittersweet because it was time to disperse those knitted stockings to the families where they belonged. Frank and I had enjoyed having the kids all together in spirit symbolically via those stockings but now it was time to have them go home with their namesakes and be filled in their own homes. The two families had arrived on Dec7th and Dec 8th, and were leaving on Dec 13th and Dec 14th. We took one final group shot. Alex was at a special Christmas camp that weekend and therefore not in the photo. Besides, his stocking was staying.

ALEX VISITS

Christmas lasted longer for us this year because we had started early. We still had Alex's party at this home in San Ramon and Christmas Day with Alex here in Livermore remaining to celebrate. I had a friend stay home with Frank while I dropped in for a short while at Alex's party. He was quite festive in his Santa Claus tie and did not hesitate to tell everyone "HO, HO HO!"

Christmas Day was spent at our Livermore home. Alex and I paused for a photo shoot by Frank under the "wreath for two" and then Frank and I enjoyed watching Alex open his gifts.

Frank was able to watch from his bedside perch. Wouldn't it have been nice those early, early, Christmas mornings when your kids were little and excited, creeping from under their covers at the peek of dawn, if you'd had the luxury of a bed with Christmas tree view?

For one of his Christmas gifts, though, Frank did point out that this cane was not quite long enough for him to use.

Every critter on his wrapping paper was wearing a Santa hat in keeping with Alex's beloved theme of "HO, HO, HO".

Alex's loot is all piled on one chair - edibles, entertainment, home decor, and clothes - the entire gift category gamut.

We had an effort effective Christmas dinner of spiral ham and pierogi's. Alex scarfed it all down like a trooper.

After dinner, with a side dessert of Hershey Kisses, Alex liked the challenge of assembling his new 100 piece princess puzzle. Then I took Alex home to San Ramon while Frank rested and recovered from the busy day. Christmas Day was the first time I had left Frank home alone since his Dec 1st surgery. He was feeling better and I was feeling braver.

CHRISTMAS AFTERMATH

The day after Christmas was a gorgeous sunny day. Frank wanted to see if we could get music playing in our new Toyota RAV 4 via his cell phone and bluetooth since the car does not have a CD player. Frank was quite proud he managed to access iTunes, establish an account, and download some music. Out on our driveway he practiced climbing into the car without violating his positional restrictions ( and without pain). Moreover, he succeeded in getting the bluetooth interface to work with his cell phone and we had The Little Mermaid crooning along inside the vehicle. Victory!

I asked Frank as long as he had gotten himself into the car would he like to take short ride. We drove out among the vineyards of Livermore and some of the new developments in those areas. It was so pretty, I periodically stopped and took a few scenic photos of the countryside from the driver's seat. Frank began to tire and we headed home but it had been a pleasant, low key, and much needed outing together for both of us.

The coloration and quaintness of this house I found very appealing.

THE LEMONS TO MAKE LEMONADE

I do not want to end this post on a downer, but these happenings were also a part of the Christmas 2016 season for Frank and me. To not mention them is like trying to ignore the elephant in the room. But each unpleasant happening was mitigated to some extent and we weathered them all.

• Frank's hip replacement was Dec 1st and though he tires easily, he is walking with a cane by Jan 1st. He is off pain meds, taking only Tylenol as needed. We hopefully anticipate the surgeon will release him from all positional restrictions at his appointment Jan 9th.
• Fighting three months of plugged up ears, Frank had ear tubes inserted Dec 21st and he is hearing much better. Diane is grateful that the decibel level on the TV football games is greatly reduced and Frank's frequency of uttering "Eh...?" has diminished.
• Our pleasant outing on Dec 26th where we drove amid the vineyard outreaches of Livermore had a "turn for the worse" when we re-entered the downtown area. While waiting to turn left at a light a few blocks from our home, our less-than-one-month old new Toyota RAV 4 was rear-ended. No one was injured and the other driver was insured and apologetic. He admitted it was totally his fault, his insurance company is paying for damages completely, and the repair should be complete by mid-January. The rear bumper and backup camera sensors will be replaced, the lift gate will be repaired and repainted - three coats of paint per our specialized pearl white selection. I guess now we do not have to fret about getting that first ding.

• Alex went to the emergency room Dec 29th for a raging foot infection diagnosed as cellulitis. He was visiting with us here on New Year's Day and I could see that he was responding to antibiotics and is on the mend. If he keeps getting better as he is doing, he will not need to be hospitalized with IV antibiotics. Fingers crossed.

BRING ON 2017!
This cute pair of side by side pillows has a message. The Santa pillow on the right had his moustache twisted partially off and made less than perfect by the curious fingers of our grandson Isaiah on his first day visiting. But Santa is still soft and appealing and he can be fixed. He is kind of symbolic of our December this year. Christmas 2016 was not perfect but it was darn good. The wise owl pillow off to the left knows that with the right attitude, all can be weathered. It is not what happens but Whoo is around to help you through it. We had family visiting and kind neighbors and friends to help us out, not to mention the therapists and other medical personnel Whoo were right there by our side with advice and answers to our questions. Even the guy Whoo hit the new car turned out to be as nice as nice could be under the circumstances. We would be lucky to have as many good people in our lives in 2017.