The Joys of family at Christmas time....

We have a fairly large family and do a lot of celebrating over the Christmas holiday.

My mom & dad host everyone for Christmas lunch, then it's back to our house for our little family celebration which usually includes  pizza for dinner. The Hemmer celebration is yet to come this Saturday, where we will all gather at Rick's folks to celebrate.

We have 4 little grandchildren so it's fun to watch the delight in their faces when 

they get a gift they consider "surprise worthy"  

Look at that little face....a "Magic Track" that he's been wanting :)

He wins for the best surprised look  :)

3 year old Scarlett gets a Ariel doll AND a matching toddler dress

 so she can dress-up just like her doll.

8 year old Audrey was thrilled to get a doll named "Jovie" that she had on her Christmas list.

 Even 1 year old Lewin looks on with anticipation as his daddy

 helps to reveal what's in the big box

A new riding toy.

 Our SIL Chris about to check out the gift in this box

DIL Jennifer gets her "Bruce" bottle stopper that she had on her list.

My Daughter Brianna did not have a potato on her list. 

Her brother Gavin always has a unique gift-giving style which included a potato and

 a #25 weight, to go along with her "real gift"

Speaking of Gavin......

Pig-pile on Uncle Gavin  

A few random shots of our family Christmas....  

I love watching these 3 play together. There was a lot of running and squealing going on.

 and then we have the snuggles

Auntie Brie getting some love from little Scarlett

These 4 make my Grandma heart full to the brim. 

Rick and I love having our family together, sharing laughs, love and great conversation.  

We have had a wonderful year and are thankful for Jesus and his unfailing love for us all.

We hope you had a nice Christmas as well, and wish you good health and happiness

 in the New year to come.

Hallelujah, a Christmas rendition

This is a really beautiful Christmas version of the song “Hallelujah” 

The lyrics have been written to honor Jesus.  

Telling the story of His birth, what a beautiful song to express the real meaning of Christmas!

A tradition that never ends....

I think know I've been doing this since forever.

Baking Christmas cookies has been in me since I was a little girl.

I remember making home made hand-dipped chocolates with my mom, 

and doing cut-outs with my dad.

This photo was taken back in 2011, when Our first grandchild Audrey was 2. 

She sits on the countertop like my own kids did to help make cookies.

Audrey has been in school for a few years but little brother Carson has become very involved in helping. He's a mixer, an egg cracker and candy-kiss-unwrapper.

I like to tell the kids the story of the year their mommy (Brianna) was helping me unwrap the kisses.

As I was taking them from the container to place them on top of the cookie, I noticed that every one of them had the tops bitten off, ha ha!  

She didn't think I'd notice if she only nipped the top off!

photo courtesy or google images

Someone has been licking the beaters

Under the watchful eye of mamma.

We made 2 different kinds of cookies, 2 pans of bars and white chocolate clusters.

 I had to add 2 table leaves to accommodate the cookies

Our favorites

Do you have any special baking traditions, I'd love to hear about it.

You start with a palette of paint...

A Christmas-time gathering with friends. 

Dinner comes first, lot's of good conversation then a special project....

You start with a palette of paint, a few size brushes, some water and a raw sketched print. 

A glass of wine is optional but a nice touch as we begin a watercolor project taught by

 Deb (red sweater) a long time friend, an artist who is gifted in many ways

 

I have a band of friends, there are 11 of us. We support each other and we pray for each other.

We have all gone to church together, raised kids together and some of us even vacationed together. Some have moved away... then moved back. We have stuck by each other through,

 "family stuff", deaths, serious illnesses and joys. 

We've done a lot of "life" together.

Mostly we just have fun.

Deb wanted to do a class on watercoloring with us girls. 

I don't believe any of us have ever water covered except maybe in
junior high art class a bazillion years ago. Regardless of our skill level
we were all very excited to give it a try.

We started out with a scantily "sketched scene" (by Deb) of birch trees among some rushes.

The bottom of this photo is the "before" I started project, the top is my finished piece

I zoomed in on the detail of the birch trees, The little "blobs" on the trees were called "eyes" by Deb.
They were a challenge, but I think I did ok for a first timer.

There was a lot of detail, color and shading that went into this piece.
I'm cautiously proud of my work, but dont intend to make it my hobby....
For some it's relaxing, as for me...too much stress!

I love my friends and cherish the friendship we have had for many years.

it's always worth it to me...

I look forward to this day in December every year!

 A shopping day with my sister, time spent eating, talking and shopping.

We just came off  several days of 50 - 60 degree weather so of course 

the day of our planned shopping trip was a travel day from hell. 

Gusty winds, rain that had turned to ice on the roads, which were now partially snow covered. 

What usually takes me 1:50 minutes, turned into a 3.5 hours drive to my sisters house.

I saw lots of this...

 and this 

 The entrance ramp onto 494 E  had to be closed due to a semi tailer that had jack knifed and was blocking the entrance ramp. I was determined that this weather would not thwart my plans.

We got a late start shopping but enjoyed our time together with my niece Jensen joining after school.

 "Elmer"

My sister snatched up this 24X36 canvas print of a moose at Kirklands. 

The hanging ornament light up and twinkle making this a beautiful seasonal wall display.  

It is proudly being displayed on a wall in their home.

I spent the night at my sister's house, then the next morning met up with
my niece Megan and her 2 little ones 

I got to watch my great-niece practice at her dance class, those little ones are too cute for words. After class we had lunch together at Panera,
 it's always fun to  hang out with family in the Twin Cities.

From there it was off to my oldest son's home to pick up our 3 year old granddaughter!
She spent a few nights with us...we had such a nice time.

Scarlett and Grandpa chatting it up.

First time in the toddler bed, She did great!

Pancakes in the morning...taste testing.

We had a fun play date with Brianna and Carson at "Monkey Junction"

 A fun place for kids to play when it's too cold to play outside

They also provide a snack and have story time

Later that evening Uncle Gavin, Auntie Brianna, Audrey and Carson came for a  visit

Big cousin Audrey is fixing Scarlett's hair.

All of our children and grandchildren have loved this little ceramic house, made by my
Mother-in-law.  They like to rearrange the little people around the outside of the house.

I will leave it this way for a few more days. 

We miss her already. 

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Remember Alfred Hitchcocks movie "The Birds"?

The  CROWS are back...

But you didn't need to tell me that!

For about the last 5 years Downtown Rochester has become a place for the crows to congregate when the day is done. 

As I walk to work from the parking lot in the early mornings, I among others who work in downtown Rochester  become audience to the choir of Crow-Kawking

 Not the best photo taken with my cell phone, the birds are everywhere, the sound is eerie!

Photo courtesy of Google images 

Remember Alfred Hitchcocks movie "The Birds"?  Need I say more.

 These are just a few of the trees that the birds inhabit starting at dusk and remain until dawn.

This photo was taken just before dusk BEFORE the influx of crows

 they also line the parking ramps and hotels roofs.

 We also must keep our eyes to the sidewalk as it is sprayed overnight 

with crow-poop, a nauseating smell that is appalling.

The sidewalk mess has been referred to a Sh*t Storm by residents in Rochester.

Over the years there have been many costly attempts to rid that city 

of these messy, loud and homely birds.

They just keep coming back, some reports have claimed the crows have moved a bit further from the center of downtown, but even so they are still too near in my opinion.

Anyone else have an overpopulation of crows?