Santa Came to our Forwarding Address

Christmas morning. Santa came! Beeba and Matt are with us! The kids are wearing their brand new PJs that Beeba made for them!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with Mario, Ana, and Bill!

Clara and Jao (Sean! Edit my spelling!).

Bill just can't help himself. He delivers gifts all over the country, he can see the North Pole from his house...

It was a lovely afternoon with kids and food and conversation! We decided that all holidays should be spent with this family in Portugal.

The new meaning of Holiday peace. Boys occupied with violent toys, leaving their parents in peace!

Monopoly Goes On (and on!)

Dear Reader, You may think that I have already posted enough photos of people sitting around playing Monopoly. You just don't understand! Monopoly has been A VERY LARGE part of our lives lately! Luckily, there have been lots of people around to play it.

We bought Monopoly to teach William about currency and math...WOOPS! We have now created an evil slumlord, a trash-talking Capitalist, a tireless opponent who always wants to win and has nothing but time!

Tiny projects involving patience.

Beeba and Margaret worked endlessly on this little tiny project involving the careful placement of beads with tweezers. Each time the project was bumped, they had to start over. Their patience was amazing to me...patience seems to have skipped a generation (alas), but I am glad to see it around!

Beeba has the Christmas Spirit

Right down to her toes, Beeba was in the Christmas-Grandma spirit!

She shopped, she played, she did projects, she drove around town going from one activity to the next, she read stories, she doted on her grandbabies! Thanks for the great visit, Beeba!

Margaret and Karen

These two are good friends already.

Christmas with Mike and Karen

Mike and Karen came to visit us over the Christmas holiday!

They loaded us with presents- which DID fit without issue into our luggage! And after two days we are now reunited with our luggage - Thanks, Frontier!

Mike and Karen had just been to Hawaii TO GET ENGAGED AT SUNRISE ON TOP OF A VOLCANO (not currently erupting). Excuse the caps, but this sister-in-law-to-be is all excited.

Gender roles? He'll learn eventually! Merry Christmas, Karen and Mike! Thanks for a great visit.

Christmas with the Richey Clan

Just a few shots to supplement the Christmas posts by www.temporarylibrarian.blogspot.com.

Gummistiefel und Strumpfhose?

Margaret missed the memo that baggy cargo pants are "in".

The Peppermint Parade

Margaret and Elena sing on stage for the Peppermint Parade!

Home Improvements

When the McCreas offered to buy us new couch covers OR ski gear for Christmas, we knew we had to take decisive action! We had, um, already purchased the ski gear...I mean, there was snow outside and we couldn't even wait ONE DAY...waiting until Christmas was simply a waste of decent snow! But the beige couches with beige carpet and beige walls also could not remain one minute longer! We were BEIGED OUT. So I sent Sean to Walmart to get some fabric die.

Five loads later, some black die, some very sore arms...and WA-LA! We have purple-ish grey couches! I am pleased! They have that "hand-died" look...not bad for 25$!

The other new additions: Fireplaces. We are coming to terms with the winter here and learning to love it. All it takes is some ski gear and fireplaces to come home to.

Grandpa will be a happy man. One, because we have fireplaces to heat up the house. Two, because that means it will be so hot I'll be breaking out my bikini.

SNOW !!!!!!!!!

We have been DUMPED UPON...so much snow we can't make it to the slopes! I wonder if we will make it to the airport tomorrow...SNOW!!!!!!

Margaret and William on the Topic of Marriage

Margaret: ( stares pensively at her plastic Disney princess statement ring) Mama! Mama! I got married yesterday.
DrHF: Again, honey?
Margaret: Yes!
DrHF: To whom?
Margaret: I got married to Eric!
DrHF: Figures. They probably allow that in Wyoming. Congratulations.
Margaret: I tricked you! I tricked you!
DrHF: yep.
Margaret: ( twisting her ring on her finger) Actually, I don't want to get married.
DrHF: Okay.
Margaret: I don't want to get married because my ring is too tight.
DrHF: Yes, it certainly feels that way sometimes.
Margaret: Do I have to get married?
DrHF: No, you only get married if you want to. Some people get married and some people don't. Uncle Matt likes not being married. I like being married to Dada. Uncle Mike is getting married to Karen soon.
William: ( shaking his head in despair) UNCLE MIKE! Married? Karen? I am a shame of you! I am a shame of you! I am a shame of you!
DrHF: Why are you ashamed of Uncle Mike?
William: Because!
DrHF: Because why?
William: ( rolling his eyes) Because marriage is DORKISH.

PJ Dance Party to Alvin and the Chipmunks (OMG, LOL)

Get a laugh or a groan watching us get down in the kitchen to Alvin and the Chipmunk's version of Bad Day by Miley Cyrus (the kids like it, what's a girl to do?). Unfortunately, William has learned to use the camera - so I only got a video of him if he could take a video of me...

O Christmas Tree

Eric!

Margaret's advice to her brother:

After one of the ickiest combinations of dinner noises yet experienced at household McCrea-

"William! We're supposed to say "Excuse me!" after our burping contest!"