CHRISTMAS 2014

Debra, Ashley and I drove through rain, through snow and through bright sunshine yesterday to be in Woodburn for Christmas.  We arrived to a house in which two-thirds of the population of the house were totally amped up and ready for our arrival.

 

We played games, ate, visited and went to bed.  This morning we awoke to Christmas day.

 

 

Devon, Tim, Bethany, Naomi, Silas and Ashley started Christmas Day with a three-mile run.  Tyler, shown looking through the window, kept me entertained while the others ran.

Athletes in action.

Our first attempt at a family photo failed because Tyler was too immature to pose properly, choosing instead to reach for my bald spot.

Attempt number two at a family photo succeeded once the distraction was removed from Tyler's reach.

Surname Weathersby.

Surname Perkins.

Married.

Silas reads from the Bible before gifts are exchanged.

Chewing candy.

Naomi reacts with enthusiasm to Christmas festivities.

Devon wears his new lighted headband.

Silas unwraps the 2015 edition of "Guinness World Records".

Tyler, Debra and Ashley watch Naomi open a gift.

Tim amused by Tyler who is amused by somebody else.

Debra receives an original work of art painted by Silas.

Silas performs a magic trick using two one-dollar bills.

Tyler happily receives a bag of balloons.

Bethany and Tim get a date to Woodburn's top-rated restaurant, Luis's Tacqueria.

Devon opens a gift forcefully.

Tyler gets a couple of new books...

...then gets Nana to read with him.

Tyler gives Tim a hand-made necklace.

Moustaches made it to the event.

And, in a highly anticipated moment, Bethany declares, "I know what it is! I know what it is!", as soon as she sees her other name, Bertha, on a card and as soon as she sees the size and shape of this particular gift.

Almost there.

There!

Bethany ponders a possible position for placing the painting Belinda created and gave to her as a gift.

After all the gifts are open, Tim reads "The Legend of The Three Trees", reminding us that God's plans and dreams for us supersede our own plans and dreams for ourselves.

While listening to Tim's reading, a new walkie-talkie set, sitting in a battery charger, kept beeping every minute or so.  Distracting but funny.

The event ends.

HOLIDAY GIFT FROM GOOGLE

Google sent me an email today with a 50-second video called "Your Year in Photos", showing some of my 2014 photo highlights "brought to life".

This short video display, set to music, includes photos of  Naomi, Makiah, Debra, Koda, Baylee, Alexia, Rylie, Tyler, Silas, Devon, Judy, Hunter, Tracy, Emily, Bethany and Tim. 

To view this clever Holiday Gift from Google, click here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/107873813732798627368/yearinphotos2014?authkey=CJvgnKiI_t7YjAE

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Debra and I spent a wonderful evening eating a wonderful meal and watching a wonderful play at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre last night. 

 

After having seen the Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed classic a zillion times on TV, the live radio play version was true to the script. 

 

Not only were we refreshed in our memory of the movie, but we learned some of the old-fashioned radio performance techniques from a previous era (creative sound effects and multiple characters performed by one person using different voices).

 

The cast.

The view from our front row balcony table looking over the rail to the stage below.

The view looking at the stage and the front row seats beside the stage.  Debra and I used to routinely get front row seats, but sometimes when the actors sing, little droplets of musical saliva can be seen glistening under the the stage lights, dancing through the air, and ultimately finding a resting place on audience members occupying the front row tables.  So, we now opt for balcony seating.

Debra, me, the stage, and the back of the head of some guy dining in the front row (seen below through the opening in the railing).

From the stage looking toward the front row balcony, Debra can see the stage, I can see Debra, and you can see the back of the head of some lady above and behind me while she dines on her meal before the play begins.

TURNING EIGHTY

Debra's mom, Dee, turns eighty this week.  Today we celebrated.  One daughter, one son-in-law, two granddaughters, one grandson-in-law and four great granddaughters joined Dee for the celebration.

 

 

We started the event by sharing some of our favorite "Grams" stories, then we showered her with gifts before participating in a group gluttony session with a bunch of ice cream and cake.  Everyone laughed and no one went home hungry.

 

 

Nine smiling faces enjoy the party.  Ten of us were there, but only nine smiling faces.

Some of the storytellers faced a wagging finger.

Some of the stories were pretty funny.

Grams gets gifts.

Debra, Rylie and Baylee place candles on Debra's delicious made-from-scratch dark chocolate cake with raspberries and raspberry filling.

Debra brings the cake to her mom while the crowd sings "Happy Birthday to You".

Ashley appears to be focused on the volume of cake at the end of the fork.