There's Still Snow, Harry

Harry called from Arizona today to see if we still had snow. The answer is yes. Fortunately, most of it is in the mountains. The first photo is of Timpanogos today. The second was taken last week when the mountain was hidden with clouds and the snow in the park was turning to messy puddles.

Today: caked thick as frosting

Last week: covered in plumes of white

I have to admit that this is how I like winter: lots of snow in the mountains and very little in the valleys.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Photobooth Classics 2009

Folks have been enjoying themselves on Photobooth throughout the year. Here is a sampling of some the mirth:

Finnigan

Maxwell

Anna

Emily

Meg

Finn

Katy Kathryn

Carrie's Photobooth augmentation

Oliver

Large collars and big hair are hot!

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Hung, Drawn, and Quartered

The title of this post is a hyberbolical (not diabolical) expression of the fact that we have FINALLY hung some art on the walls of the dining area and the walls of the play room in the basement.

This was an artsy Christmas. Maren, thanks to Katy's good work, was able to get several pieces of art, including some of Katy's original photos, framed and ready for display in her Peoria home. Katy actually constructed four frames for some great photo prints Maren and Gavin bought in London.

For Rob and Anna she took a spectacular photo of Mount Timpanogos that she had matted and mounted with a frame she made herself. It is a really beautiful art piece now.

For us, Katy orchestrated the printing and framing of five photos taken by her and me on our various adventures in England, Italy, France, and Brazil. With the help of Phillip and his magic Little-Giant ladder we hung the blighters this evening. I think they look great. As part of the same gift, Katy photographed, printed, and helped me hang twelve pictures of each one of the binkers (including #12 in utero). Those were hung last week before Katy left for Texas. They look great and make the room feel complete. Here are a few pics of the finished hangings:

Iguaçu Falls, Notting Hill Gate Tube Station,
Parisian pastries, the Duomo of Florence,
and the Royal Naval College at Greenwich

Madeline, Max, and Lucy Jane;
Tucker, Lizzy, and Oliver

Anders, Finn, and Meg;
Harry, Clara, and Baby Young

Special thanks to Katy for her drive and thoughtfulness; she always gives well-chosen and meaningful gifts.

OXO

D.

Dickie Days Are Done

Dickie Days finished with a bang but are now merely a happy memory. The decorations are all packed away for another year and life will return to its normal, less-exciting pace.

The Youngs left for Arizona this morning at 6:00; it is very quiet and we are feeling somewhat melancholy. Tomorrow the new BYU semester starts, Kris goes back to work, and Katy heads to Texas so our minds will be on other matters, but the nest will be extremely empty again.

Phillip, Meagan and kids returned from Hawaii New Years night and so the whole family gathered yesterday (2 January) to celebrate Harry's birthday early -- he will actually complete his first three years on January 11. Later that evening Stephen, Ann, Millie and her kids joined in for a traditional New Years Greek dinner. Everyone contributed and it was fantastic. In addition to delicious food, there was quite a bit of Rock Band played. It turns out that Oliver is very enthusiastic about Eye of the Tiger. What a fun holiday season! Thanks to everyone for wonderful company, fun excursions, cool snow fun, delicious food, great family DVDs, excellent games and puzzles, sleepovers, and movies: a fantastic Christmas celebration!

Partygoers enjoying the Mickey-Mouse themed party --
cake decoration by Auntie Em

Harry was the genial host and Clara was
dressed in her finest party frock

Harry made short work of three flames

Opening gifts

Holdie and Lizzy were fully engaged
in the gift-opening process

The Young boys et al. playing Rock Band

Ollie and the crew performing Eye of the Tiger

Dolamathes: Stephen and Ann, Tzatziki: Emily, Pita: Colton,
Souvlakia: Phil, Spanakopita: Dickie, Pilafi and grape drink: Maren,
Greek Salad: Anna, not pictured butter cookies: Emily,
not pictured Rice Pudding: Millie

Gavin strapping Harry in early this morning

Finn and Gavin ready to go

Things will be a bit more boring now, but I will try to keep you abreast of any newsworthy developments. That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

Post Christmas 2009

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day has been filled with fun adventures including visits from the cousins, a cousins sleepover, sewing lessons, photography sessions with Katy to take illustrations for the 4th edition of our text, hanging art photos, movies, puzzles, games, shopping, food, and visiting.

In addition to all that excitement, Katy sold her car. She actually had a very nice offer from an off-shore scammer who wanted to buy the car above the asking price without even seeing it. We looked up the scam on the internet and it was a perfect match. The actual sale was to a nice man who bought it for his daughter who attends Dixie College in St. George, so the Honda is going to live in a warmer clime. Tonight is New Year's Eve and the kids and their binkers have all gone to Provo's First Night celebration. Kris and I are home alone in a very quiet house.

Clara learning about static electricity in the Jump-o-lene

Grammy teaching Lucy to sew on her Christmas Bernina

One of several game sessions

Max, Tucker, and Anders taking Katy's hilarious oath that they
wouldn't jump on the inflated air mattresses

Katy reads them some Shel Silverstein before they watch
the video they made and a Disney DVD

Pancakes for breakfast at the sleepover

Harry and Old Charlie

The traditional pancake maker

They consumed dozens

Those who slept over with their genial hostess

Katy, Kris, and I saw this and loved it

Katy bids fond farewell to Chocolat

Phillip and family return from Hawaii tomorrow night and the Greek bash is planned for Saturday, so the fun hasn't quite ended.

That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

"It's the Same Thing:" Christmas 2009

At 7:00 we rolled out to see what Santa had done. It was pretty exciting with two little boys who got the perfect gift for kids who like to jump on furniture: the sensational Jump-o-lene!

The best part of the morning was when Kris opened her gift. Last year I gave her a pendant made with jet. This year I had a similar pendant made with lapis lazuli, a beautiful deep-blue semi-precious stone. In the darkness of early morning, it looked black. Kris was concerned that I was losing my marbles (a genuine worry at our age) and had given her the same piece again this year. Instead of being thrilled, she looked up with a worried look and said, "It's the same thing." It got even worse when I opened her gift to me. It was a Lumix digital camera that looked for all the world like my existing camera. I quickly realized it was a new and IMPROVED version, but couldn't resist responding with, "It's the same thing." We were both actually very pleased when we figured out what we had received.

For the rest of the day we visited with family at Ringer's traditional Christmas brunch, stopped by to see what the Ensigns got for Christmas, relaxed, made mac and cheese for supper, and put together a great puzzle of London. Good times.

Finn and Harry fresh out of bed

The fabulous Jump-o-lene

Chocolate is always good

Kris was gobsmacked, but not in a good way

Ditto

Harry got the long-hoped-for dress, but it still
unclear if that is what he wanted

Kris paid for half of this gift for Katy
and wrapped her half

The ravishing Ringer girls: Amy and Kelsey

Mellow Christmas afternoon at the Ensigns

The cousins playing with Max's new stuff

We completed the whole puzzle in few short hours

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Christmas Eve 2009

On Christmas Eve the family gathered for dinner. We had prime rib again, which was delicious, but the day after there is no left over turkey -- go figure. This year after the talent show, at Jayson's suggestion, we shared DVDs made by each family. It took about three hours, but for inveterate slide watchers that was nothing. They were most enjoyable. By 8:00, everyone was on the way home for individual Christmas Eve traditions. At our house Maren and Kris read some stories to the boys, who were soon off to bed in their new pajamas and quickly asleep.

Rob, Anna, and Katy

Gavin, Maren, Emily, and Jayson

Finn, Anders, Tucker, Clara, Harry, Lizzy, and Lucy

The dinner

Katy made Anna laugh until she cried

Finn also made his cousins laugh in the talent show

Anders played carols for his talent

Lizzy went for the big finish after her songs

Tucker played, too

The multitalented Tucker also did some magic tricks

Watching the family DVDs

Kris read the Christmas story before bed

That's all for now.

OXO

D.