just finished coloring eggs, a day late. kids are outside playing. i'm cleaning up the egg mess. listening to diana krall. thinking about making another pot of coffee.

glimpses

reminiscing...

... on our easter celebration. a collection of tea cups filled with jelly beans and tea lites were the centerpieces on jo's table. glimpses soon to follow...

The string

Behold, the sweet Cryderman legacy of...the string. Why, I don't think Christmas would be complete without some form of twine, yarn, or ribbon to follow. Apparently, Papa's neighbor, Nurse Vera, recently discovered an unclaimed baby at her hospital, in need of a mommy. So, she brought little Claire home and after talking with Papa, arranged an adoption. Days later, Somer followed her string all the way over to Vera's condo and added yet another baby to her repertoire.

My dad never ceases to add magic to my Christmases...I love you, Dad!

glimpses

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." ~Burton Hillis

recap

a few happy moments from Christmas '07...

playing spoons on Christmas Eve at Bubby & Dahna's

spending very little money

playing Guess Who with Sydney on Christmas day

chatting with cousins at the holidome

my Christmas Eve ritual...staying up late alone

going to a movie just the five of us Christmas day

Savannah's proud violin performance at Bubby and Dahna's

singing Christmas carols at Bubby and Dahna's

sitting in the hot tub with Kelle and Lainey

walking up dad's walkway lit with luminaries and the sound of Christmas music

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!" ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

The day began with turkeys

On my way into Starbucks yesterday morning, I saw these turkeys...a big group of them, not far from the road. It was as though they knew Thanksgiving was over and it was safe to venture out. You should have seen their big, burly bodies as they tried to fly up into the sky as I followed them with my camera!

I went and had lunch with Savannah and Sydney at school, and later, watched them in their jumprope class...my battery died before I got to jumprope class.

It snowed all day yesterday - great big, pretty flakes. As soon as the girls got home from school, they headed right back out.

Later, real hot chocolate...milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips heated on the stove.

We finished up the tree last night...

A few of my favorite ornaments...they're always the handmade ones.

She made this in preschool, back in 2002. I love the dried glue.

Yay!

and the festivities begin!

One can never have too many marshmallows

Bubby preparing peartinis

I want this sign.

Joel, Lainey, and their matching heads!

Santa

Aunt Kelle and little Lainey arrived Saturday morning for a whirlwind weekend...we enjoyed dinner at Kruse and Muer on Saturday night, Grandpa Gates pancakes with marion berries for breakfast on Saturday, a magical visit with Santa in the afternoon, and an early Thanksgiving dinner Sunday evening.

silver bells

Friday night, the girls and I attended our first Silver Bells, downtown Lansing. We toured the Capital, watched the parade, feasted on swiss miss and voortman cookies with sprinkles, and watched the highly anticipated lighting of the tree, followed by fireworks. So festive!

All are in bed...just me, the glowing pumpkins, and memories of a good day

Her first Halloween party....hair still damp from bobbing for apples. She had intended to be Belle, but just before leaving, decided she'd don Sydney's costume....that of a Starbucks barista.

I found her fishing through the dress up bin just before going out...she had changed her mind. Again.

My "nice witch" and Starbucks barista

A surprise visit from Grandma Krissy...just in time for a good-night kiss.

pumpkin lighting ceremony

We carved pumpkins last night.

After-wards we had a pumpkin lighting ceremony out on our little balcony, complete with hot wassail, donuts, and blankets. So cozy.