Three Christmas Celebrations

Our tree looks spectacular this year.

This Santa is probably the same age as me!
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care............

Our traditional Christmas morning pic holding a gift.

We celebrated Christmas three times - at home and then later at Mom's with everyone, then home again with Jim, Sheryl, Trenton and Oliver!

They loved the Bat Cave!

Happiness...

Uncle Jay gave each boy a big box of ping pong balls. What fun they had throwing them at each other in the hallway!

It was nice to exchange gifts with Mom soon after we arrived.

After a delicious dinner provided by all, it was time for more presents.

Trenton gave Greatgrandma the beautiful cardinal towel. Thanks, Sue, for being so thoughtful!

It's a toy clock but also a fun way to learn to tell time - the old-fashioned way.

Trenton and Oliver know what to do with presents.

Little boy - big cream-filled double gingerbread cake - he ate the whole thing! Thanks Aunt Carolyn for bringing some treats.

Cousins from age 22 to 3 can still have fun together.

Happy family!

Thanks to everyone but especially to Mom for a wonderful Christmas gathering.

The Star and The Shepherd

Sheryl and Jim treated us to a nice dinner prior to the boys' Sunday School (evening) program. Their house looks great all decorated for Christmas.
Oliver was the star (not baby Jesus), but The Star! Sheryl got a workout carrying him on her shoulders! He was adorable.

Oliver's antics had everyone cracking up, even Sheryl who couldn't see him!!

It was a cute story about a lost lamb and a shepherd. The parts were well cast and performed and the eight girls who sang were excellent.

Trenton was a cheerful shepherd.

Trenton had a whole pew of family to wave to!

Afterwards this little guy was at the head of the receiving line! What he wanted most of all was to finish up, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat cake.

Trenton's shaking hands with the next person in line. He's so personable, so friendly, as is Oliver. What a nice event.

Fun with Family

Fun on the swingset
Just having fun!

Trenton loves to climb.

Trenton asked for a turn with my camera and took this good one of Oliver!

Oliver took this one!

Ollie took this one, too.

Guys having fun playing basketball during a recent visit. Trenton's ball-handling skills are quite good.

The Storm, the Aftermath and a Milestone Birthday

Over a foot of heavy, wet snow fell all day yesterday. Anything with leaves on it is either bent over or broken off.
Every branch on this maple tree broke off. We were planning on having four either dead or leaning trees taken down this fall and this is one of them. Now it'll take weeks to get the tree guy here. We'll do what we can in the meantime.

This stand-alone dogwood was perfectly shaped, symmetrical, but no more.
John braved the falling branches and grilled ribs for the birthday boy's special dinner!
Happy Birthday, Jason!
This is an early morning view. The branch by the truck passenger side dented the door and tore off the door handle. The Jeep seems to be OK.
See the big leafy branches down along the street? This neighbor also had a tree fall across the road yesterday. It took several people with chain saws to get it out of the road. They did this during the storm, very risky, but necessary.

The lines supporting the squirrel obstacle course broke when the trees bent.

We were very fortunate there was no damage to the house. The biggest trees closest to the house had already lost their leaves.

About four neighbors had trees come down across their driveways. We'll probably be hearing chain saws for weeks to come. It was nice to talk to neighbors we never see. We all share a common problem today.

The plow will come by again soon.

Our neighbor's driveway is blocked! We were lucky, that's for sure.

Just as the guys were finished clearing snow this nice buck and some does walked by out back.

Oliver's Party

We celebrated Oliver's 3rd birthday a week early because Jim will be away next weekend. Can you believe it, three?!
Their house has lots of room to play and entertain guests. Trenton had fun playing with the balloon with everyone.
Oliver had fun with the balloon, too. Here he's saying "Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo" but then the rest of the rhyme is words of his own creation, then the first line repeated. Both grandmas and Aunt Arlene got a kick out this very cute routine!

The boys love the bouncy house. Trenton does flips, rolls, handstands and lots of bouncing!

"Thanks for coming to my Wiggles party!"

Trenton fooled around with his red peppers but eventually cleared his plate, plus ate a big roll AND had room for birthday cake!

Grandma and Pop-pop's CD was a big hit. It has Oliver's name in the songs!

We gave Oliver some cool magnetic cars that climb fridges plus a racetrack. They already had one car and knew how much fun they are.

Uncle Jay gave him a USA puzzle. Oliver knows he lives in New Jersey! Sheryl shows him where it is.

Oliver wanted to listen to his new Wiggles CD right away. These dance move pictures were soooo cute I couldn't leave any out!

Trenton loves to dance, too, but he likes the music of Black-Eyed Peas and other current groups better than the Wiggles.

Jim created Pin the Tail on Dorothy the Dinosaur especially for Oliver. Everyone got to have a turn with hilarious results.

Oliver's putting his party hat on and getting ready for birthday cake.

Taking a deep breath....

Grampack and Uncle Jay set up the race track and the boys started enjoying it right away.

This is our attempt at a posed picture ;-)