Granny's New Hobby

Claudia has taken up a new labor of love.  Using frames provided by her mother, Claudia is making a baby quilt.  Yes - really quilting - with thousands of small, individual stitches carefully outlining the designs on the fabric.  Can't wait to see it when it is finished!

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

We love our little granddaughters. It is so fun to spend time with them and see them grow up. Here are a few recent photos you might enjoy.

Multi-talented Holly

Holly stole the show Friday night at the Taylor Junior High Talent Show with her piano and vocal performance of "We're So Far Away."  We're prejudiced, of course, but we honestly think it was the very best of the 24 individual numbers. The talent show was held to raise money for the Taylor Junior High choir trip to Disneyland, where they will perform later this spring.

Additionally, Holly joined a group of her friends singing "Only One," an original composition by one of the girls.

Claudia and Angie spent a lot of time creating decorations for the event, including the long string of hearts across the front of the stage.

All in all, it was a delightful, memorable evening for both performers and audience alike.  Way to go, Holly!

Free at Last

If you can look past Eric's momentary lapse into unconsciousness, do you notice something different about Holly? Yep, she received an early Christmas present. On Tuesday, her braces came off after a long two years. What a wonderful smile on a beautiful girl!

Holly celebrated this event on her blog with the lyrics of Brooke White singing " ... free, free, free!"

Christmas Eve Music

Following a long tradition, we gathered to share musical talents last night after Christmas Eve dinner. Maybe the big hit of the night was Devlin belting out "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" with a bit of coaching from his mother and helpful smiles from Eve.

We couldn't help notice how the earnestness of his delivery so matched the boyhood mannerisms of his father!

Claudia and Holly tickled the ivories with a great four-hand rendition of "Jingle Bells."

Thanks to everyone who sang and performed so well, even though your photo is not included here. We are were uplifted and inspired by the wonderful message of Christmas.

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

Christmas Eve

At some time in the future, she may tire of the play on words, but last night, with Santa hat in hand and festivities in full swing, it seemed so fitting to call Eve "Christmas Eve."

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

The Nativity

Every year on Christmas Eve, we read the story of the birth of Christ from the books of Luke and Matthew in the New Testament as we celebrate the miraculous birth of the Savior of the World.  Each year, the actors are a little bit different, depending on the age and availability of our children and grandchildren.

This year, Dave and Rachel were Joseph and Mary, with baby Iris blissfully acting as Baby Jesus.

Holly was the lone shepherd who came to the stable as instructed by angels.

Three wise men, Eve, Devlin and David, soon joined the Baby Jesus to offer their precious gifts.

I can still remember my Dad reading this wonderful story each Christmas Eve when I was a little boy.  We can only hope that our grandchildren will continue the wonderful tradition.

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.