Post Christmas!

 This is a post with a great many pictures. Today is the 11th day of Christmas, so I reckon that I can still share ones from December and the 25th! First is a brilliant sunrise from early in December.

There weren't as many decorations put up this year. I was too tired. Although, it sure made putting them away easier! Above the kitchen window were bright colors and a friendship ball in a mug- I love different things that remind me of others. 

Socks are always fun. Those get opened up while we eat our traditional cinnamon rolls, or even before! (this is a fuzzy green car wash mitt. It reminded me a bit of Muppets!) 

 The box is from mom's house. Steve liked it and I decided to give it to him for Christmas. I  put some beard accessories inside.

 Mittens, with the glowing eyes, is watching Jon build a Lego Bobcat sort of contraption. I don't think it is possible to have a non Lego Christmas! There has been a definite change in Lego through the years. In the 70's, our bricks were just that. Today, Jon's newest box has several items specific to this kit. Tony told me about a store/place where you can buy bits and bobs that have been lost over the years. Brilliant idea!

 Jon and I had researched and determined which of the air fryers out there was the best buy and most accessible on Black Friday. I had hoped the guys had purchased it and was so thankful they did~ I even used it on Christmas Day! Fun, fun, fun! Mine is black, not purple.

 Jon's workplace had them choose numbers and grab a gift with that number on the tag. Oddly, Jon's gift was an incredibly soft camo lap blanket! He had a yellow and black and camo Christmas this year!

 Moses trying to sit in a bit of cardboard from the air fryer!

 Steve brought his mom down for dinner and she got to open her presents.Steve  helped.

 She really liked the calendar made with photos of animals from Alaska and Oregon.

 I had an idea for a Christmas dessert that looked well in theory, but not in the glass dishes! Chocolate angel food cake with an ice cream I'd mixed using the ingredients from the December DQ Blizzard of the month. Candy cane bits, chocolate bits, vanilla ice cream, and a splash of chocolate sauce. With whipped topping.

We also played an interesting game I'd picked up from 'The Moose is Loose'. It was cute, not entirely competitive, but definitely easy and cute.

We are always glad to hear from Tony. Christmas Day night we had him on speaker phone so we could all enjoy talking to him.

Advent calendars are always a big part of Christmas for me. I have one just for the Advent Sundays and a couple for the days leading up to Christmas. I saw this Hot Wheels calendar and suggested Steve pick it up. It had at least 6 or 7 cars and several odd bits that went with them or the scene. They were not very easy to get out, but he used his pocket knife! The most unusual find behind a numbered 'door' was the red character. We aren't exactly sure if it is supposed to be Santa or just a regular elf.

It was a nice low key Christmas. One of the best sorts to have!

Christmas 2018

"...early Christmas morning

Much to his surprise

Snowflakes by the million

Were falling from the skies.."

: Burl Ives - Snow For Johnny 

Yes, this Christmas in Oregon, we got a bit of snow. I never wish or pray for snow for Christmas or my birthday, it doesn't happen. But, this year, it did!!!!!!!! We usually start our day with cinnamon rolls and sometimes sausage. This year, I opted to add eggs and Steve volunteered to cook them. He and Jon had 4 scrambled eggs each with a half a pound of deer sausage! (I ate some of Steve's) Jon added red onions to his mix. 

 The cinnamon rolls were a bit larger than my usual batch. I made 8 instead of 12 and put mini chocolate chips inside with an almond glaze. Jon declared them 'excellent'. I admit, they were soft and delightful!

 Then, we opened up Christmas socks and the rest of the gifts. Jon got Steve a new to him weed eater, hiding it in the back shed so it wouldn't need brought inside.

 Jon opened up his gifts with the aid of tools. He also helped open up the ones I was given.

 Yes, Jon said I needed one of these. I'm not entirely sure exactly what I'll do with it, but it looks like a great deal of fun.

 I gave the guys Lego bricks in their socks. Jon put his kit together a couple of times. He's on the floor next to the 'chicken roaster' he gave me. We aren't sure why he thought it was a chicken roaster, it doesn't say anything about chickens on the packaging! I was so excited to get this large cooking pan.

 This sign was also in Jon's sock. I saw it and absolutely thought it was Jon. He concurred and it is already hanging above the door of his room. Steve spent most of the afternoon watching one of mom's favorite movies. Jon and I chose it for his sock-Grumpy Old Men and then the sequel.

By the time dinner was ready, Jon had gone on a fire call to a nearby town. Moses didn't mind.

 After dinner we played Yahtzee with Grandma. She won by a LOT. We also gave her the presents we had gotten together. She was so surprised!

 She thought Steve was giving her Christmas lights. Inside was a battery tester she wanted and had a bit of trouble figuring out!

 Jon also got her another bird feeder. It is really cool, though!!!!

I'll close with another song. This one has a phrase my dad used to use all the time. 'Whoop de do.' 

(this is different. I used to be able to post the song instead of a link...) 

Happy Holidays to you!!! 

Christmas!

We always miss Tony, but we seem to feel it more on Christmas. In ages past, the boys would sleep by the lighted tree. We'd leave the Christmas lights on all night, inside and out. Makes for a very bright household! We left the lights on this year, but Jon opted to sleep in his room with Kila. They woke up VERY late. Another thing Tony would never let happen. The first things we usually open are Santa presents and Christmas socks. Jon found a Hallmark tractor  this year. A tractor very similar to the one he drove for Brooks (It appears I don't have any of those photos posted to share, cept on FB. How silly!). 

 Steve found a box of candy cane Christmas lights in his loot. Maxwell wasn't as impressed as Steve was.

 How irritating-I can't turn this photo of Jon's ammo box full of candy. The perfect preppers box. Inside is a part of a 2x4, assorted KitKats, Rolos, the ammo was added after the candy was removed!

 Our tree. The first one purchased from Jon's former Boy Scout Troop. It was a lovely tree. I'll be sorry to take it down in 10 or so days.

 Jon got me a lovely oven mitt. On me, it is an elbow mitt, but I rather like it. We were amused to discover the tag had 22 different languages on it, all stating this was 'not for commercial use'. It, however, didn't state what was not to be used. The mitt? The logo? The tag?

 Another of my gifts included bird seed and a new feeder. In my haste to fill said feeder, I forgot to cinch the catch on it and poured out a measure onto the porch. Moses is waiting for someone to stop by.... They did later, but only after Moses left!

 Supper was yummy! Jon's volunteerism got us a lovely ham earlier, so the not thawed turkey went back in the freezer. (they did have a dress down call on Christmas Eve Day--it was a false alarm, but they were ready!) After dinner I had some spice cookies that needed decorating. I think it was a great deal of fun!
                                               Jon's cookies.

                                                              Steve's cookies.

 Kristen's cookies (note, they are sideways again. Dadburn blogspot!)

 Another of Steve's sideways cookies.

                                                Dorothy's cookies (also sideways).

 We ended the evening with a few hands of Triominoes. Steve and Kris were left in the dust as Grandma and Jon blasted away. It was touch and go for a while. At one point, Jon forgot there are more ways than one to reach a solution. He had the numbers 4,4, & 5. Steve told him his score was 8 and 5 or 13. Jon looked up and said, "I thought it would have been 9 and 4....." Jon finally got into the math groove. Here is Jon's closing round of points. 44. Grandpa would have been very grumpy with this grandkid of his!!!! Nest time we'll skype Tony and he can play with us.....I wonder if that would work?????