Finishing 2016
Happy New Year, everyone! I'm guest blogging the end of 2016, while Beth is doing piano lessons and prepping everyone to get back into the "real world" tomorrow. Time to switch the alarms back on...
This first section is a repeat from the previous blog post, but it's in December, so I'm including it.
We kicked off the month with the Governor's Carolighting. You can find more info on the DiscoverSouthCarolina page, and you can watch the full recording online on the SC ETV page. Natalie and Kaitlyn are in the choir that performed at the event, but only Natalie decided to participate.
Natalie is the black/white dress, behind the Christmas tree dress girl. If you watch the recording, use the podium with the State Seal (bottom right of the photo) as your reference point.
The State House was impressively decorated for the event. Beth and Uncle David were in attendance. The rest of us stayed on the usual (busy) Thursday evening schedule, but we watched it on the ETV channel later in the month.
There was also an event nearby that the twins' choir was invited to, as a kind of rehearsal for their big Christmas concert. Here they are, ready to sing
And here they are in the concert
Perfect photo op with Memere
I decided to make one of the Christmas presents this year. Beth found this Nativity set, which has a template on the site, and I re-purposed an old table top that my grandfather (my mom's dad) made years ago. We gave it to my mom, and I am pretty sure she loved it. Here's the work in progress:
Natalie had a presentation at school, and she dressed up for it. She was a Lady from Medieval times. Here's the recording. (Kaitlyn's recording.)
Everyone got to pick a doughnut from the Kroger bakery. Mmmmm, donuts.
I signed up to take food to work, for a Christmas party. Carolyn helped me make the Cookies and Cream dessert
Carolyn is ready for the break from school, in her Christmas best!
Since Carolyn turned 12 in November, she is able to go to the temple. We organized a family baptism trip, and completed the work for 93 members of Memere and Grandpa's family. Uncle Jared, Grammy, and Granddaddy were also there, but not in the photo. Seth was also there- he took the photo.
We went to see the Lights at the Zoo event, which runs for pretty much the whole month of December
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? Well, life sent us lice- again. So, we treated just about everyone (not me, I'm immune and retired from hair). Seth's hair was in prime condition to be styled, with the treatment in it. Here we have the "Superman curl", the "Alfalfa", the "Jim Carey", and the "epic comb-over" (all hair from the entire head combed over to the opposite side):
After 15 years of wedded bliss, Beth and I took a short vacation (roughly 48 hours) to Charleston. Beth's Aunt Libbi provided the housing- it was palatial!
We walked a ton, so here are some pretty sights from downtown Charleston. A fountain at the battery:
Live oak trees everywhere
A fountain near our hotel room
We saw the Canadian Brass in concert with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Quintet. The show was amazing!
We rode in a carriage for a classic tour of the residential part of town
We ate so much delicious food that it's hard to pick the best. In no particular order:
Then we resumed our regular roles as responsible adults, and went to Beth's parents' house. We got to spend a few days with Beth's brother Jacob's family. The kids love their cousins
In South Carolina, on Christmas Eve, we went to the beach. This photo perfectly captures the mixture of reactions to a December trip to the beach. Some of us thrive in the cold, and we got wet. Others abhor the cold and stayed bundled up in many, many layers. Thank heavens for rain boots!
We got to go to church with Grammy and Granddaddy on Christmas morning. Perfect time for a family photo. Note my freshly shaved head. Like I said, I'm retired from hair.
Let the record reflect that Kaitlyn KNOWS that UNICORNS ARE REAL (pointed at Uncle Will, who is a declared non-believer)! I hope Kaitlyn doesn't read the blog, because I don't believe either...
We also made a trip to Memere and Grandpa's house, and spent time with my sister's family, and one Aunt and Uncle on my mom's side. We just plain had too much fun, because we forgot to take pictures! I'll do better next year.
When we got back home, Beth organized a breakfast for all of the children at church. They got a chance to share a meal and spend a few minutes with their new Primary teachers for 2017. The first day of their new classes was 1 Jan, but the breakfast was on 28 Dec.
Other events, not pictured:
This first section is a repeat from the previous blog post, but it's in December, so I'm including it.
We kicked off the month with the Governor's Carolighting. You can find more info on the DiscoverSouthCarolina page, and you can watch the full recording online on the SC ETV page. Natalie and Kaitlyn are in the choir that performed at the event, but only Natalie decided to participate.
Natalie is the black/white dress, behind the Christmas tree dress girl. If you watch the recording, use the podium with the State Seal (bottom right of the photo) as your reference point.
The State House was impressively decorated for the event. Beth and Uncle David were in attendance. The rest of us stayed on the usual (busy) Thursday evening schedule, but we watched it on the ETV channel later in the month.
There was also an event nearby that the twins' choir was invited to, as a kind of rehearsal for their big Christmas concert. Here they are, ready to sing
And here they are in the concert
Perfect photo op with Memere
I decided to make one of the Christmas presents this year. Beth found this Nativity set, which has a template on the site, and I re-purposed an old table top that my grandfather (my mom's dad) made years ago. We gave it to my mom, and I am pretty sure she loved it. Here's the work in progress:
Natalie had a presentation at school, and she dressed up for it. She was a Lady from Medieval times. Here's the recording. (Kaitlyn's recording.)
Everyone got to pick a doughnut from the Kroger bakery. Mmmmm, donuts.
I signed up to take food to work, for a Christmas party. Carolyn helped me make the Cookies and Cream dessert
Carolyn is ready for the break from school, in her Christmas best!
Since Carolyn turned 12 in November, she is able to go to the temple. We organized a family baptism trip, and completed the work for 93 members of Memere and Grandpa's family. Uncle Jared, Grammy, and Granddaddy were also there, but not in the photo. Seth was also there- he took the photo.
We went to see the Lights at the Zoo event, which runs for pretty much the whole month of December
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? Well, life sent us lice- again. So, we treated just about everyone (not me, I'm immune and retired from hair). Seth's hair was in prime condition to be styled, with the treatment in it. Here we have the "Superman curl", the "Alfalfa", the "Jim Carey", and the "epic comb-over" (all hair from the entire head combed over to the opposite side):
After 15 years of wedded bliss, Beth and I took a short vacation (roughly 48 hours) to Charleston. Beth's Aunt Libbi provided the housing- it was palatial!
We walked a ton, so here are some pretty sights from downtown Charleston. A fountain at the battery:
Live oak trees everywhere
A fountain near our hotel room
We saw the Canadian Brass in concert with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Quintet. The show was amazing!
We rode in a carriage for a classic tour of the residential part of town
We ate so much delicious food that it's hard to pick the best. In no particular order:
Then we resumed our regular roles as responsible adults, and went to Beth's parents' house. We got to spend a few days with Beth's brother Jacob's family. The kids love their cousins
In South Carolina, on Christmas Eve, we went to the beach. This photo perfectly captures the mixture of reactions to a December trip to the beach. Some of us thrive in the cold, and we got wet. Others abhor the cold and stayed bundled up in many, many layers. Thank heavens for rain boots!
We got to go to church with Grammy and Granddaddy on Christmas morning. Perfect time for a family photo. Note my freshly shaved head. Like I said, I'm retired from hair.
Let the record reflect that Kaitlyn KNOWS that UNICORNS ARE REAL (pointed at Uncle Will, who is a declared non-believer)! I hope Kaitlyn doesn't read the blog, because I don't believe either...
We also made a trip to Memere and Grandpa's house, and spent time with my sister's family, and one Aunt and Uncle on my mom's side. We just plain had too much fun, because we forgot to take pictures! I'll do better next year.
When we got back home, Beth organized a breakfast for all of the children at church. They got a chance to share a meal and spend a few minutes with their new Primary teachers for 2017. The first day of their new classes was 1 Jan, but the breakfast was on 28 Dec.
Other events, not pictured:
- I gave a ".NET Crash Course" (programming) presentation at a local training company called The Iron Yard
- Seth went to the Christmas youth dance and had a grand time
- We did our best to #LightTheWorld with the Mormon.org campaign
- We loved the First Presidency Christmas Devotional this year. 4 of us stayed awake long enough to watch it.
- We had all Christmas shopping done by 10 December this year. Amazing.
- We came home with so many presents from both grandparents' houses, that we had to take up the extra van seat with stuff each time. Thank heavens there are only 7 of us, and 8 seats! #KidsAreSpoiled
Quotes from the kids:
Alee: "I like restaurants because you don't have to pay- you just eat!" I like that too, Alee!
Kaitlyn was working with wire cutters, for a project: "It's kind of fun, like playing with knives." I like that too, Kaitlyn. Wait, what?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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