Merry Christmas From Grandma and Grandpa

OK, just an update on my frat-fingering no-tech capabilities. I can't type (no needlepoint fingers) or download stuff--appears my computer is so old the mouse isn't recognized by the vaunted blogger site improvements. So Steve rescued my monitor just before I put my fist through it and helped me upload these photos; and now I'm typing on the new laptop we got for Nancy--which keyboard now allows me to not only frat finger stuff but also dead thumb stuff--if your thumb drops too low the finger-pad will highlight all your input and, before you can stop typing the next key, it just deletes all your work. Ain't that a technical hoot!! Just so you can appreciate how much I want to publish this, it has taken me over an hour to get to this point, and that's with Steve's help, and I have carefully removed all my fratfingering up to this point. Hope you can understand the rest.

Anyway we had a great December. Here are some highlights:

Mom got tickets to the BYU-Texas game here in Kansas City; the Cougars beat Texas but lost to Wichita State in the final the next night.

Mom put on a great spread for some of her work companions and then again for some of the leaders in our ward and some of our neighbors. We wish you all could have come to share the goodies and Christmas decorations with us; Christmas last year will be a memory we will treasure for a lifetime.

Steve wasn't with us that night as he went to see 'the Hobbit.'

 

We drove to Savannah, Georgia, to spend Christmas with Joe, Bethany, Lucy, Hailey and Ryan. Along the way we stopped off at Ft Campbell and checked out Ben and Marinda's pad in Clarksville--it's a little dark and wet but things seemed to be doing well.

Here is the welcoming committee at Joe's--we were met by Tela and Evil Lynn (sp?)--actually Lucy explained to me that she really isn't Evil Lynn, that she's really the Sorceress because the other Sorceress is broken and this is the other Evil Lynn and she's really the Sorceress. Get it?

 

Young Ryan was also on the welcoming committee--in the second wave.

We also built the Beast's castle so he and Belle could have a private dance.

 

That evening we got to share in the awesome reading session of the bedtime routine--note the doting dad stupefied in he background.

Lucy and Hailey showed us their neat-as-heck bedroom hangout--a dome tent set up between their beds where they have been racking out as Christmas approaches, complete with string of Christmas lights you can make out in the background--wish I could figure out how to take shots like this without a flash.

We did a Nativity, with especially tremendous wardrobe support by Bethany. Note Lucy's wings as the angel, and Mary's outfit (Hailey), and Joseph's robe (note the stupefied expression has returned).

 and here's grampa as the wise shepherd ()complete with portable flock of panda, doggie, sheep and I think there was a white cat too) and Steve as the donkey (not sure why Steve got chosen as the donkey--looks to me like the shepherd guy might have been a more appropriate choice as the donkey).

the wise shepherd also subbed as the inn keeper who had no more room--note the authentic footgear.

and we all finally made it to the stable with baby Jesus (Ryan) and Mary and Joseph and the shepherd

 

and then the wise men; a fun note was when wise man Bethany gave Mary some wooden jewelry boxes (which had been wisely emptied) Mary (Hailey) opened them and shouted 'Hey there's nothin' in them!'

The two sisters dote on their little brother--not enough hair to get bows in yet, but they're all working on it. We also spent some time at the He-Man hospital doing some leg uplifts and groin replacement surgery--it was pretty hairy (the patients included that furry guy Grizzlor from the Evil Horde)--they've got quite the collection and a must see with any visit to the Joe clan.

At one point we could not find Steve; somehow he texted me he needed help so I enlisted Lucy and Hailey and they said they had no idea where he could be . . . if you look closely just past Hailey's right foot you'll see a sign Steve had been kidnapped and hidden away by a couple of female ruffians.

family photo by the 3ID Bulldog monument; there are plaques for all the division war casualties and MoH recipients

and we finally got a photo with beautiful Bethany in it.

 

Thanks again for a GREAT week and a wonderful Christmas, Joe and Bethany and Lucy and Hailey and Ryan. And that's all from Grampa small.

Power, precision, and a Thanksgiving leaf

So awesome. Ron Burgundy is the man.

P.s. This picture was sampled from the Lewis's Thanksgiving tree a few weeks back. They are old friends of Ben and Marinda and company.

Gift Guide

Hello all, in case you're having trouble thinking of gift ideas this year I thought this would help:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/22/3771595/dave-barrys-gift-guide.html

In any case, I wish you all a happy holiday season.

More Photos from Gramma & Grampa's visit to Dave & Wendy's Pad (can't figure out how to add text in this newfangled post system, but would probably frat finger it anyway--just enjoy what photos I was able to load . . . )

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Pat and Nancy visit VA

Pat and Nancy came to visit over Veteran's Day weekend and we had a blast!

Upon arrival, Oakley checked their vitals to make sure they were clear for endless laps around the house. seriously. watch the video at the end.

Grandpa had a small case of the rock n roller's disease, but we think he'll be okay. See second video at end of post.



Everybody got lots of Peter time.

Both Pat and Nancy have some kind of magical touch with the kid. He's a hard one to get to sleep and I'm still trying to figure out how they did it. It's pretty obvious they've had years and years of practice. :)

We visited the ole homestead in Montclair, Virginia. About thirty minutes south of us. The house looked great! Dave lived here in 6th and 7th grade. At least I think so. Am I right, Dave?

We did some hiking around Fort Belvoir and at Mason Neck State park. Probably not what you'd expect to do when visiting Washington DC, but hey that's what we like to do and you'd be surprised (at least I was) at the amount of wilderness around here. It's especially beautiful this time of year. And let it be known- Pat and Nancy know their trees!

Not even a cuter than heck baby with luscious locks of chestnut brown hair can distract Nancy from her Cougars. :)

And Peter. First outing in his "tiger outfit." This thing is awesome.

Oakley was enthralled with her Grandparents. She hardly let them out of her sight! It was the cutest thing. We're a little lost without them.

We blessed Peter on Nov 10, 2013. Dave did a wonderful job- the blessing was beautiful and Peter didn't make a peep (except, according to sources in the circle, for a few little farts). Pat and Nancy now have a perfect track record- they've been to every single grandkid baby blessing!  

We had such a good time and it went way too fast.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Oh and the videos.

This is what we did the majority of the time:

And when we weren't doing that we were watching with this strange man and his maracas:

Fall stuff and halloween costumes