Thursday, December 31, 2015

Really Random Thursday: 12/31/15, The Holiday Edition

This is the last Really Random post of 2015. Wow. It's hard to believe this year is over in a few short hours.

One last rosebud for the year. And then it got really cold here, and a week later it looks pretty much the same. #frozen
Levi was in a 2nd grade school production of the Grinch.
Mark sang Christmas songs with the church choir. In a suit and tie--VERY unusual for him. In fact, I'm sure quite a few people were surprised that he even owned a nice black suit.
But don't be fooled. His good friend, Steve Ewert, couldn't sing this year. They grew up in Minnesota; the family farms were one mile from each other. So underneath that white dress shirt, he wore a Minnesota t-shirt.
Can't quite see it? Here's a closer look. As Mark mentioned to anyone who questioned him: The dress code was white shirt, black suit and black tie. "No one said anything about what was under the white shirt." This one's for you, Steve.
While I haven't really felt like sewing for weeks (I sure how that changes quickly with the coming of the new year!), I did just a bit for Christmas.

Pillowcases for grandchildren.
The last Mid Century Modern bee blocks for 2015.
And a quick pillow from four log cabin blocks that I discovered while looking for something else.
I completed one last gift--painting Animal Planet blocks to coordinate with Gabe's Animal Planet quilt. The box that the unfinished blocks came in had a mailing date of May 2014. And yet I managed to put off making the gift until four days before Christmas. 2015. Typical...
We have a small-ish family--just my parents, Mark and me, Aaron, Christa and the four grandchildren. So Mark and I try to make gift opening last a little longer, since we adults don't exchange gifts, and the children only get something to wear (new pajamas every year), something to read, and something to play with.

My friend has a long tradition of doing Christmas scavenger hunts with her grandchildren. She is super clever in that way. I am not. So I always try to cajole her into sharing her ideas with me. This year we used the "pack rat" version she had come up with a few years ago. This is what the tree looked like when everyone arrived on Christmas afternoon. More on this later...
Mark might have some 'splaining to do as to how he came to possess actual police crime scene tape. Oops.

But first, while the smallest one napped, we played a little game that turned out to be more fun than I had anticipated. Everyone was given a list that had first letters of common Christmas songs (SN = Silent Night, JB = Jingle Bells, etc.). They worked in pairs trying to figure them all out.

 Nana and Levi made a good team.
 A long list--25 Christmas songs
 One person is concentrating. The other one? He seems more interested in the stockings...
Come on, Charlotte. What is GTIOTM? 
In the spirit of real competition, Aaron insisted that there be a time limit. And I think he and Charlotte ultimately were the winners. But it was a fun little game. Although I think Papa enjoyed spending time coloring with Ella more than trying to figure out the names of carols.
Then we had dinner. Yum--so good.
Finally it was time for the scavenger hunt. First up was reading this notice from the Department of Fish and Game.
In the envelope along with the notice was a fork. Hmmm. Where should a fork actually be? The silverware drawer of course. And there they found a bunch of fabric scraps. Which led them to my sewing room and the infamous scrap bucket. After digging around, they found a bottle of shower gel, which led them to the shower. There they found a screwdriver, which led them to Grandpa's tool box in the garage. In the drawer labeled "screwdrivers," they found a coat hanger, which led them to one of the bedroom closets. After a few more clues, they finally discovered the stash of gifts.


Gabe missed most of the fun as he wasn't feeling well and ended up spending most of the evening sleeping. All in all, it was a relaxing afternoon and a fun evening. The best part was just being together as a family.

We got Ella and Amelia matching pajamas. This picture was taken a few nights later. Don't they look cute together?
We tried to get a picture of them without their binkies. This is what we ended up with.
"Please, just give us our binkies back...."
During the week I randomly located this photo from 2009.
Oh dear, look at her now.
Grandma to Charlotte: Please stop growing up so quickly.
Her ears are newly pierced, a Christmas gift from her parents. Which led me to tell her the story of how at age 14 I was forbidden to get my ears pierced. While normally a very obedient daughter, I went against my parents' wishes and had a friend pierce my ears. Maybe some of you remember the days where an ice cube and a darning needle were used. Ouch!

I purchased good-quality earrings for that little episode of rebellion, and they are now nearly 50 years old, which surely qualifies them as vintage. As of yesterday, they have been passed on to my favorite 9-year-old.
This is our Christmas card from 2015.
Gabe got new socks for Christmas. I told him I needed to take a picture of them. Silly Grandma...
Here is why--new quilty inspiration of course. And I wish they came in my size.
I'm ending with this photo. Ella is the best gift we received in 2015, as her adoption was finalized just last month. And now we will get to hold these precious little hands and watch them grow.
I wish everyone a safe and happy start to 2016.

15 comments:

05 08
Grandma G said... #

I loved your whole post, but that Minnesota T-shirt takes the cake! Way to go, Mark! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family! ❤️

Terri said... #

Looks like you had a wonderful holiday season! Happy New Year to you!

Debbie said... #

What fun! We loved scavenger hunts when our kids were small - looks like everyone was having a great day together!

DianeY said... #

What a fun post! I unfondly remembered my ears being pierced, too! Same ice cube and needle and the first one hurt so much I almost ended up with only one done.

Leanne said... #

Your family is so fun! All the best to you for the new year!

susan said... #

I love the scavenger hunt idea!!!

beth s said... #

What a great post! Love your pack rat activity!

Farm Quilter said... #

I also love the scavenger hunt idea!! Did that one year with one gift for one daughter...a BBQ hidden out in the barn! Looks like you had a great Christmas!! Have a happy new year!

Needled Mom said... #

It looks like an amazing celebration - and so much to celebrate this year. Happiest of new years to you and your family, Cindy.

Susan said... #

Such a delightful post to read Cindy! I was wondering how readily available police tape was to come across in the States?!!! And binkies are called dummies in Australia! I love the treasure hunt you created for your family! You certainly had a special day, with lots of loving memories made!

Barb Neiwert said... #

What a wonderful post to read - we can feel your joy throughout. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Carla said... #

I'm so happy for you all. What a fun day you had. The little ones look so sweet in their pj's
I hope you get your mojo back. There are blocks to be sewn! Happy New Year!

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

I think I'll be making pillowcases for my nieces next year - thanks for the idea! Happy New Year!

OPQuilt said... #

What a wonderful recap of a terrific evenin and scavenger hunt! All the photos that go with the story are wonderful, ESP. that last one. Merry (belated) Christmas!

Paul M. Edwards said... #

Wonderful celebration and full day fun ahead. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful moment with us. Dragon's Breath Minecraft