Home For the Holidays

Christmas seemed like a rush this year as work schedules and distance dominated our efforts to unite, but family ultimately prevailed. We had to content ourselves with connecting with Jeremy by phone, passing it around so everyone had time with him. Since everyone was not able to arrive until late on Christmas Eve, we visited a bit and then postponed our gifting until after Santa had arrived the next morning. After dinner that evening, Sarah and Travis headed back and then Jen and Danielle followed suit the next afternoon.

As always, we had a good time together punctuated by good-humored laughter. It is these moments of family time that make the holidays meaningful for me and the house seem empty afterwards.

Notice Danielle's creative packaging in the foreground.

Mom sat in her new "shopping chair" rather than let us move her regular chair closer.

A new sweater from Bob and Coletta.

Sister jokes.

Anyone want to know the time?

An obscene chicken.

Sister art.

Puzzled?

Beatboxing meets the Blues

Gifts with a theme:  Different Perspectives

And Then There Were Five

It was nice to have more people around the table this weekend. Sarah and Jen made it home for Thanksgiving so we feasted in the traditional fare, followed by alternate napping and snacking for the rest of the evening. Things were so relaxed that I didn't grab the camera, but if I had, I would have documented Don alternating between surfing the net and reading, Jen and Sarah stretched out on each sofa with their laptops, Mom napping in her chair, me painting the next window masterpiece, and Jen irritating Ellie by leaning over the back of the sofa next to her to stare out the window cheek-to-cheek.

This Wild West

Jeremy and two friends from Brooklyn flew out to Oregon for the week of his birthday. Spreading the time between a quick visit with friends, several nights in Portland with Jeremy’s sisters, and three nights here made the time fly by. Although a camping trip had been part of the original plan, a cold snap revamped the idea into an afternoon trek up the mountain toward J. Lake. They were also rewarded with a clear sky for viewing stars later on. Of course, no trip to the wilds of EO is complete without petting the tame critters, seeing the wild ones in their natural habitat, and hearing the coyote calls at night.

It was really great having Jeremy home and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting M and T. We hope they had some positive memories to take back home with them. Although the trip was a birthday gift for Jeremy, it certainly spilled over into a homecoming gift for the whole family. Thank you so much.

Loose in PDX

Mom, Don, and I spent last weekend in Portland. Saturday afternoon, while Don and I kept our date with Topol at the Keller Auditorium for one of his final tour performances in the musical Fiddler on the Roof, Mom was squired around by Sarah and Jennifer. Focusing their shopping efforts at Washington Square Mall, Mom consented to ride in a borrowed wheelchair from one end to the other, shopping all the way. Finishing the afternoon off with ice cream, Mom drank every bit of her rootbeer float. Although both wheelchair drivers were nearly fired for recklessness, they won back enough points to be offered by Grammy the opportunity to do it again in a couple months so that she could Christmas shop. Unfortunately for us, Danielle had to work all weekend, but she joined us afterwards every evening for dinner.

Mom's favorite conquest was this pair of Aerosoles.

Hood River Family Reunion 2009

Objectives:

Reconnection

Eating

Laughter

Mission:

To gather without a funeral

Motto:

The rules are: No Rules!

Favorite Fashions:

Teresa's shoes

Danielle's glasses

Favorite Quote:

I'm still waiting for my fat to render.

Most of Clyde and Carol's Clan

Most of Betty and Vern's Clan

Click here to view these photos and others at Photobucket.

Sarah's Summer Digs

For the fun of easy access to downtown summer life, Sarah has rented and decorated a studio appartment in the rejuvenated Pearl. It was fun to see her creative spin on this 1920's apartment. She is a natural at pulling things together.

Time Out

We stretched out our blankets under the trees at a nearby park and enjoyed...

good music...
good food...

and good company.

Thank you, daughters!

- Love, Mom