Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas

I'm still getting caught up on my photos for the month of December.

Come Home to Franklin County Christmas is an annual event held early in December on a Friday night. Main Street is closed to traffic, the stores and library stay open late, there are carriage rides, food, street musicians and other exhibits and attractions up and down the few blocks.


The county's very own Wright Kids performed again this year in the children's department at the library. This was especially nice for me. I was working and able to get a great (and uncrowded!) view. These kids made the top ten during Season Three of the TV show America's Got Talent; they are very popular around here. We know them well at the library too, some of the sweetest, down to earth kids you could ever meet.

Sage, Baruch, Levi

Little sister Selah joined for one song but preferred to hang out in the Gingerbread House. This photo made our county paper. Incredibly, Robert posed for the picture. (Okay, maybe not "incredibly," but surprisingly!) We didn't know it made the paper until our neighbor called to tell us he'd seen it.


The Wright Kids were followed by a 14 member flute choir in one of our meeting rooms. The paper published this photo of mine also.

This Christmas event is always an exciting and busy evening. I look forward to it, and I'm also glad it comes only once a year!

Two handed user

I can't remember what he was doing--playing one online character against another?

Oh yeah

And they got these nice awards too. Trevor's medal isn't shown, but the medals were given to the second place teams in each division.

Soccer--games and banquet

I've been meaning to post these for two months. What this really means is that I'm postponing the Christmas pictures, for whatever reason!

Soccer championships: Trevor's team. After playing the entire season undefeated, they lost the championship game, 0-1. It was another awesome season. I was a little concerned as to how Trevor would take the loss. He came running up to me, bag of candy in hand. "We lost! Now I'm going to go play with my friends!"

Holly's team also lost in very close game. It was apparently so painful that none of us can remember the final score. We were all pretty traumatized.

Our end of season banquet was held at a local pizza place. I love the fall banquets. Our "team" is really three teams, about 45 kids broken down into three age groups. Seventy-five people were at the banquet.



Everyone eats a ton of pizza and the coaches hand out year-end awards. Each player is called up individually.


Robert got a little emotional over his team, particularly when it was Holly's turn.

(not really)

Fall soccer. Twice as good as spring soccer. I'm looking forward to that, and Trevor even mentioned yesterday that he can't wait either.

We finally use the soaking tub!

At this time of year, it's just not convenient to be running up and down the basement stairs for wrapping paper.



This definitely works.

Thanksgiving, part three

For the past five years or so, Robert has enjoyed the early morning Black Friday sales. (I think he's crazy.) Holly added her birthday money to her saved allowances and had been anxious for a good deal on a laptop. Robert researched the sales ads that were leaked earlier in the week. After arriving in Allentown, he and Holly checked out the Walmart in advance and came up with a plan.

On Thanksgiving night, Robert went to bed early. Holly didn't go to sleep. She woke him up at 1:30am, and they crept out of the house. As the temps were in the 30s, it was convenient that they chose a 24 hours Walmart. They went into the store, went to their appropriate line, were given a number, and waited for three hours for the laptop to be released. They came home at 5:30, the same time that Uncle Al was going out for his morning coffee meeting with friends.

Trevor and Aunt Barb enjoy a game of PDQ

One of Trevor's highlights was going on another walk with Aunt Barb and Walker, and he got to walk the dog. He finds such joy in life's simple pleasures.

And we ate. We ate and we ate and we ate; the whole trip was one giant feast. Aunt Barb spoiled us, catered to us, just like another grandma. She was WONDERFUL!!

Everyone came by the house that night for one last visit before we left. And just to be sure we wouldn't starve, Kathy blessed us with another cake. :)

Tom, Kathy, Aunt Ann Marie

Uncle Joe

We left the next morning. The weather cleared up shortly after we left, and as we drove the quick way this time (no stopping at the mall!), the time flew.


Aunt Barb had loaded us down with sandwiches for our trip, and later in the afternoon, we stopped at Chili's. (Hey, we don't have these in Roanoke, so we visit when we can!)


It was a gorgeous day, a gorgeous drive home.

I didn't realize until later exactly how smart we were to leave on Saturday. Our thought was to avoid the end of Thanksgiving weekend rush, and after hearing the traffic reports later, we had one more reason to be thankful.

Some Thanksgivings are memorable; others blur together in my mind. This was one of those memorable ones-- shared with family whom we've seen so infrequently yet have an innate bond, to be so welcomed by them, and to share a truly special time together.

All things by Trevor

Chinese Noodle Cookies



Face and handprints on my car. (Don't ask.)



Snow Dragon.



Snow Fort.



Gingerbread Christmas Tree. He has requested that I stick with gingerbread houses in the future.

Sledding

While Trevor went sledding in the snow Friday night, the snow was too deep to sled on Saturday. I don't remember why we didn't try it yesterday, or maybe someone did; whatever, it didn't happen.

The snow melted a little and refroze last night, and all is icy again. It's very difficult to get the truck to the top of the driveway today, but it was a great sledding track.



I'd halfheartedly ventured out yesterday. Unable to find my boots, I pulled on Robert's and wandered out front for a short time, admiring Trevor's snow dragon and fort (pictures to follow). But a Facebook friend from church unknowingly encouraged me last night to really get out there with Trevor and enjoy the snow. "It'll make some great memories," she said.

The last time it snowed like this was four years ago. We took the kids to a large hill, and they were surprised and excited at how much fun I had sledding. I was surprised that they were surprised--am I really that boring and old? I went down the hill over and over again, vying for my turns on the saucers. We sold the saucers when we moved, choosing to bring along Robert's old Flexible Flyer instead.

With Heather's words playing over in my head, I dug around in the basement this morning until I found my own snow boots. (Okay, so they're really hiking boots, but they've always worked fine in the snow too.) I grabbed the down coats too.

Trevor and I had a blast slipping and sliding up the driveway. We pulled the sled up too. It was a little scary--it crossed my mind that I'm closer to the ground in the saucers.



Yep, memories.

I came inside, went online, and ordered two saucers too. For next time.

Recipe - Crab and Cauliflower Chowder

I've made this for several years, tweaking the recipe every so often to suit my tastes. It's very forgiving, easily adaptable, easily adjustable.

CRAB AND CAULIFLOWER CHOWDER


1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. bag of frozen cauliflower pieces, thawed and chopped (about 2-1/2 c.)
1/4 c. flour
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 c. chicken broth
2 c. milk
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 c. white wine
6 oz. fake crabmeat, chopped

Melt 1 T. of the butter in a skillet and lightly brown the onions, cooking until soft. Set aside. Melt remaining butter in a Dutch oven or similar pan on med/med high heat, add cauliflower and lightly brown, cooking until soft. Stir in flour and cook one minute, stirring and turning down heat if necessary. Add garlic, broth and milk, stirring well to blend everything in the pot. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir for one minute more.

Add cream cheese, turn down the heat, and gently stir cream cheese every few minutes until melted. Stir in crabmeat, pepper and wine; gently heat through.

This always taste best the second day; if possible, cook one day beforehand. Makes 6 small servings, 3 main dish servings.

From my window this morning

This is looking southwest, as the sunrise was hitting the trees on the hill behind our home.

Blizzard '09

Snow, snow and more snow, the largest snowfall in Roanoke since 1986! It began yesterday afternoon.

3:00pm

Over the past three winters, total snowfall has been 12".

4:00pm

Once the snow began, it snowed like crazy.

6:00pm

Robert pulled the sled out for Trevor, who began sledding at 8:00 in the dark! We haven't been sledding in four years, so he was pretty excited about it. He made a track down the side of the house, down the path into the woods. Robert marked it with a few lanterns, I'm not sure if they were guidelights or warning lights.

8:00pm

12:30am Saturday

When we woke up in the morning, it was still snowing.

8:30am

It finally stopped a short time later.


Lucky was so excited, but he wouldn't go to the bathroom--he was chest deep in snow.

Goofy dog

Trevor made several ventures outside. Early on, he was stung by a wasp. Very freaky, but we saw the welt and then saw the wasp on his coat. We occasionally see them at this time of year, trying to hide for the winter.


Good thing we had no plans to go anywhere!



Robert pulled the truck to the top of the driveway. We have a wonderful neighbor who plows first the street, then everyone's driveways. Hey, we're from Colorado, this is just regular snow to us! (Okay, not really, but there was no need to dig our driveway out today!)

Trevor building a snow dragon

Holly curled up by the window with her laptop.


Funny pic of Rob, since he's never on his computer like this!



Robert and I began wrapping presents.



We made two different soups for dinner.

Cauliflower Crab Chowder; Beef Noodle Soup

Holly helped made cookies, which we ate warm from the oven for dessert.

M&M/chocolate chip, since I broke into the M&Ms earlier

It was a wonderfully, down kind of day. Church is already canceled for tomorrow. As the temps aren't expected to rise out of the 30s for the week, we're guessing we'll have a white Christmas, even if it's leftover white!

More book reviews

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark Levin

Be still my heart! I LOVE Mark Levin (impressive bio!). I recently made the connection that the same Mark-Levin-author-of-the-standout- Men In Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America is the talk show host guy is also the author of this book.

Liberty and Tyranny is a series of essays on hot button topics such as free market, federalism, faith and the founding of our government.

I want my own copy of this book, definitely recommended reading, "the necessary book of the Obama era."

Ronald Reagan: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."


Arguing With Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government by Glenn Beck

While reading the Levin book, I also picked up Glenn's latest book. After leafing through, I found the topics to be similar to Levin's, so I skipped it. For now. But I adore Glenn, I love his sarcasm, and the book's graphics are terrific. Maybe I'll read it next year (hey, that's just a month away).


Who Do I Talk To? A Yada Yada House of Hope Novel by Neta Jackson

Book Two in Neta's newest series furthers Gabby's life at Manna House--both as a program director and resident. I am enjoying the series, although Gabby hasn't worked her way into my heart yet. (It took me awhile to like Jodi in the Yada Yada series too.)

What I did not like about the book was the author's detailed inclusions of Yada Yada characters. Instead of adding to the new book, it's very contrived. I'm guessing that will stop as Jackson gets more comfortable with the current characters. I'm eagerly waiting for the next book, I don't read much fiction, but this is worth it.

Touched By a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga by Beth Felker Jones

I won my copy of this book through Jen's giveaway (thanks, Jen!). Although I haven't read the series, you'd have to be living in an Iraqian cave to not know how popular it is.

I was hoping for a valid discussion of story themes, along the lines of What's a Christian to Do With Harry Potter? Unfortunately, Jones's book is a complete mess, and I stopped reading half way through. Each argument Jones writes against Twilight can be applied to practically every fictional book out there. There is nothing here relevant to Twilight itself.

Example: "The Twilight Saga suggests that the love between Bella and Edward is true love. If Bella and Edward are used as a measuring stick for love in real life, we may come to believe that true love looks a lot like controlling, abusive love." p. 45

Example: "As readers, we relate to Bella . . . Some families are far more terrible than Bella's . . . It's also the case that many families are much less disappointing than Bella's . . . But even the most loving families disappoint." p. 85

Example: "[Bella] panics at the thought of marriage . . . Bella associates marriage with reduced opportunities and disdains it as a traditional route that doesn't make sense for her." p. 99

ARGH!!!!!! It's FICTION!!!!! It may not be appropriate for every teenager, but it's FICTION. I do not worry that Trevor expects the world to be like Hobbiton. I do not worry that Trevor will want to be Darth Vader and turn to the Dark Side. I do not worry that Holly will want to live Bella's life and become a vampire. (Hey, she's on team Jacob anyway.)

Bottom line: If this were my daughter's school assignment, and she wrote similar paragraphs uncovering "hidden messages" of Twilight, I would find her reasoning groundless and her logic unacceptable.

I am forwarding the book on to a friend who had also expressed interest in it. I'll be interested to see if she gets something different out of it. (So let me know, R., will you?!)

(As the word "FICTION!!!!!" shouts over and over in my brain.)

(And yes, that's supposed to be there.)

Waiting

Over the years, we've had a couple of computers. It's a long standing family joke, as I would always refer to the computer as "ours," but everyone knew it was mine. If Robert wanted to use the computer, he would wait very patiently until I was done (we're talking hours here). Same went for the kids.

So Rob bought himself a laptop in the spring. Was he surprised to find he had to wait to use him computer? I loved that it was soooooo much faster than mine. The kids loved it too. A newer, faster computer just meant that we could find more things to do on it, and we would eagerly clamor for our turn.

When we bought a second laptop for me to use, we put away the old desktop. Now we had two fast computers for four people, pretty awesome, but the kids still had to jockey for who got on what computer.

Holly saved her allowances and birthday money and bought her own laptop last month. So we are up to three: Robert uses his in the bedroom; I sit at the kitchen counter; Holly lounges with hers on the couch. It was natural to assume that the wait time for a computer would be minimal.

But there's a new kid kit in town.

Thanksgiving, part two

Thanksgiving morning was cold, and Trevor and I were happy to join Aunt Barb and Walker for their daily walk around the beautiful Cedar Crest College campus. I love the neighborhood, it reminds me of where we lived in Littleton.

Mushrooms growing from a tree

We visited back at the house as the Macy's Day Parade played in the background.

Walker was a pretty popular guy.

Robert and the kids and I left early in the afternoon to see Aunts Loretta and Ann Marie. This was Robert's first time meeting my dad's family, and I wanted him to see the house where my dad spent his later childhood, where Lori and I visited my grandparents when we were little, and where my aunt lives today. We headed a few blocks away to Uncle Joe's house, where the kitchen was bustling with food preparation.



Our dinner included: turkey, chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato filling (stuffing), cranberry filling, corn, creamed cucumbers, cranberry sauce, and cranberry nut bread. I'm sure there was more that I can't remember.

l to r: Uncle Joe('s arm), Trev, cousin Tom, Rob, Aunt Barb, Holly

We washed and dried the first round of dishes. Growing up on the west coast, with no extended family to share holidays, this was my FIRST time ever drying dishes at a big meal like this. How sad is that? I was thrilled (really!).

Aunt Loretta and me

There was pie, and lots of it: pumpkin, apple, pecan, cherry, plus pumpkin cake. That doesn't even count the apple pie that we ate at Aunt Barb's house before Thanksgiving dinner!

Everyone loves to see Mom with the camera

Rob played with Bella and the dinosaur bone she dragged in. Or something like that.


Uncle Al left with Robert, Holly and Trevor. Aunt Barb and I stuck around to try the new floor steamer. No one would let me leave until I worked. (Okay, not really, the cleaner was kind of fun. And this is Robert's favorite photo of me, one where I'm actually working.)


We came home just in time to feed Holly and Trevor more dessert.

Walker is ever hopeful

It was a lovely and memorable Thanksgiving, and such a blessing to spend it with a larger part of our family!