Merry Christmas

 

From our family to you!

 



Thankful

 

After too many years of too little rainfall,
we are finally being blessed.
Even the foggy days are blessings because
they indicate that there is moisture in the air and on the ground.

The day after Thanksgiving,
we took a little jaunt into the hills.
We hit up our favorite historical town and found it FULL of people.
So, we didn't stay long but opted for a drive over the reservoir
to check out the drought damage.
We had heard of long buried towns reemerging
from their watery graves.
Of railroad tunnels, ancient dams, and roadways
being rediscovered by curious hikers.

Three years ago this was a fairly typical low water level
before the mountain snowmelt filled it up again.

 

 

 

This is what it looked like this fall.

 

The water is usually pretty close to the bottom of the bridge.

 

This reservoir is usually so deep that gangsters that live the high-life
have been known to drive cars filled with evidence into these waters to hide their
low-life deeds.

It would be pretty hard to submerge a car in this little bit of water.

 

The good news is that it is raining.

And even though we would need tons of rain to technically get out of the drought,

we are thankful for every little drop we receive.

 

In pleasanter news...

Here are some pictures of our day together.

Tiana had jumped up on this wagon, sat down, scooted back

and then got splinters in her bottom!

That was a shocking experience for her.

 

Photo bombed!

She is scared to death of this old jail.

The happy smile is only because she was not inside.

 

They are happiest climbing on the rocks.

 

This seems like a strange and troubling business partnership.

 

 After a warm and sunny day, the clouds rolled in again
 and gave us a few more days of much needed rain.

 

 

*****************

Lately I noticed that when I told Tiana to do something

she would mutter under her breath, "I will not" or something

to that effect but then would happily go do what I had asked.

One day she said it a bit louder than usual and I was kind of fed up with it

so I told her that yes she would do what I had asked.

She came to me, looked me in the eye, and said that she was being the first son

that we had recently read about in the Bible.

The first son had told his father that he would not do what asked but then

went and did it anyways.  The second son had told his father that he would do

what was asked of him but then did not do it. 

 In the end, the father was more pleased with his first son for his eventual obedience.

This was her way of her life imitating the Bible.

Maybe she thought we would be more pleased with her actions

 if she expressed disobedience first.

 



Family Snapshots

 

With so many member of the family together,

it was prime time to take some family pictures.

 

Of course, the day after the wedding was bright and sunny.

Not the best for taking pictures but we managed to get a few decent shots

especially when the clouds would slowly drift across the sun.

Uncle Jerry surrounded by his five sisters:
Martha, Kate, Marilyn
Edith, Jerry, Esther 



 

Then they added in the spouses that were there.

 

We moved to the back yard where there was a little more shade.

My parents with their five children.

This photo has a back story.

We all look calm and composed here but it was not like that directly before the photo.

I had sat down in my chair not realizing that the back leg was over a gopher hole.

It was a bit shocking to find myself with my legs flailing in the air in a chair that was falling down.

It was especially funny to our family because we always laugh when we talk

about the time we were camping and my Dad's chair tipped over and laid him out on the ground.

 

Then we added in the spouses that were there.

My family had already departed for home.

 

The aunts took pictures of individual families

but this is the only one I took that day.

 

Here is one of Tim's family on the previous day.

 

The lovebirds were happy to pose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy (first month) Anniversary,

Matt and Nina!

 

For a celebration of their one month of marriage,

here are some wedding pictures.

 

They are mainly of our family members since those are who

my readers will recognize.

 

After not raining for many months, it rained that day.

It cleared off a bit in the afternoon and they were able to have

their (chilly) outdoor wedding.

 

Matt with his two brothers, best friend from high school, and

his nephew.  At this point, Matt just wanted the day to be done!

 

Me and my baby!

 

She was pretty sure she was a princess in this outfit.

 

Some of the cousins hanging out together.

The boys were ushers and did a great job.

 

This day was eagerly anticipated and she cried all the way to the alter.

 

 

 

 

Then it was on to the reception which thankfully was indoors.

 

The favors were individual jars of jam.

 

 

 

 My parents and aunt and uncle M. & E. from Kansas.

 

More aunts and uncles but this time from Iowa:

J & M.S. and W. & K 

 

Still more...this time from my dad's side.
His brother and wife. 

Two aunts and their cousin and his wife.

 

My sister. 

 

The word that got around was she ate her whole jar of jam with her finger

before dinner.  By the time the night was done she had mustard on her front,

ketchup on her shoulder, and sore feet from tearing up the dance floor all night.

 

 

And here we are sitting at an adult table with our children seated elsewhere.

It was kind of a different experience.

It's obvious that it was not a bad experience!

 

 

This is the treat the nieces and nephews left for Matt and Nina.

They were not sure what car the bride and groom planned to escape in

 so they took care of both vehicles.

Thankfully they went back later and helped them untangle the mess.

 

It was a happy day, an exciting night, and we had a great time.

It's amazing how fast one month passes by.