Long Distance Christmas E-Cards

After all the years that I was able to take an extended vacation to Utah/Arizona/Nevada and then Idaho during Christmas breaks, it has been interesting to NOT for this particular holiday. Having Thanksgiving is one thing, but Christmas is another. (In all honesty, it was ... better to have a break this year. I needed it.)

Thankfully, with the immediacy of modern technology, I can still experience it in more real-time than my poor grandmothers could not that long-ago.

A few branches of the tree came together for an early Christmas. Grandmary and Grumpa were able to spend time with the Nevada crew before Kelli and the Kids peeled off to see the paternal step-side of the family.

Grumpa reports with his iPhone photos:
Jed was at work but after soup and crackers we opened the gifts from you, mom, and Idaho family. The following are just a sample of what we saw. Cannon was running a fever, but staked out his spot and spread out. [Your] sunglasses were a hit. Drew loved all your little items and will be using them as soon as he can. After things settled down, I caught one of the cat lover. 

 (I'm sorry Grandmary, but the squirmy twins look like they want to bolt.)

I missed the initial FaceTime request while the parentals were there, but I got to FaceTime all of them much much later that night. I was already make-up free and ready for bed, so we had a FaceTime chat where I had my sunglasses on. (I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can ...)

Sarah and Cannon got sunglasses from me because Sarah had spent so much time when I was there in November wearing mine - I had to! (And if you get one twin one thing, you better get the other one something similar.)

Oh, the smudgies I had to get off of my glasses.

On Christmas Eve, Grumpa sent me photos of the parentals' present to themselves and their neighbors to the south. A HUGE 110ft long fence, so you couldn't see out the back of the house, down directly into the neighbor's pool, hot-tub, and house. They've been planning this and some xeriscaping for years, but somehow they saved enough money on their mission that they were able to afford. Add in some of the exterior/interior renovations they had to make because of the burst pipe, it just made sense.

It's imprinted on both sides, so as Mr. Frost is attributed: "Good fences make good neighbors."

Just so I wouldn't be left out, on Christmas morning, he sent around photos of how the house was decorated this year. They may be making up for last year's apartment-sized Christmas. (Hey, I don't even decorate THAT much, so their decorations can count for mine.)

Actually (as Nathan would say), the exterior decor, particularly the tiny tree by the door, is more for the lady, Doris, across the street. Because it came from her, so it has to be put to use.

 Every year there is loot under this tree, and every year Pop makes comments about how "we weren't going to do this" and "it's all for your mother." But then he's happy to have the loot. Every year. TRADITIONS! (But there was no, I hope it's not what's in the box insider family joke.)

Per Pop:
Mom reading the role of grandparents before seeing the goofy picture of ME. (Good gift, family!)

Dad's gifts. It seems that if you repair a zipper pull with glue you get two new fleeces to cover the mess you make. I am trying to get through the Book of Mormon again and got two large reading books to distract me again.*

Mom's gifts. One of which has to be exchanged for 24" size. Thanks to the little birdie for the suggestion.

End of event! "Beagle" for breakfast and then to get ready for lunch in Zion Park.

[You are welcome, Mom. I listen. Next time Dad, we'll find out the right sizing. But I have to be subtle in my information gathering.]

On "returns" Monday, there was a replacement for the "you know, one of these days, I'd like pearls" half-off-handed comment. 

With interest.

Apparently there was no "next size up" available. Oh shucks darn shoot.

The folks then took themselves to the Zion Lodge at Zion National Park for Christmas Day 2015. While I had to turn on my a/c, there was snow in them there hills.

From Pop:

Just outside the Zion Lodge

There were a lot of visitors from around the world, and lots of people who didn't know what snow was.

 With just enough white to make the red rocks stand out and red/white/blue for Mary.

They took pictures from the car of a the canyon and of a snowstorm coming in through Springdale.

Aside from some complaints about speed limits, needs for new connectors to by-pass around the valley closer to their house, and meal prices, I THINK Dad had a good time. Even though he said he needed a Christmas Day nap.

Who doesn't need a Christmas Day nap? I think it's part of the day.

Hope you enjoyed this Long Distance Christmas E-Card.

~most photos via Grumpa


*Hey, I just realized. I didn't get one single reading book for Christmas. Odd. That has to be rectified.

Happy Anniversary Mary and Max!

In honor of a very momentous year in the now, 48-year marriage of Mary and Max, I present their annual Christmas letter.

  ~ photos by me, by iTouch in August 2015, DC area

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

December 2015 finds us back in Utah after a very rich and fulfilling time in the Washington D.C. area as missionaries at the Washington, D.C. temple. Our service in the temple was very spiritual. The people we met there will be eternal friends whom we miss daily. The "hundred-things-to-see-and-do-in-the-D.C.-are" list that we received when we arrived was not completed, but we did explore some places we had not seen in our thirty plus years on the East Coast--the Baltimore Inner Harbor and Ft. McHenry; Gettysburg; Hershey, PA; Ocean City, MD; Assateague Island and the wild ponies *, to name a few. In July we got permission to go up to Palmyra, NY to see the Pageant and then to Niagara Falls, which was on my "Bucket List." I was not disappointed. [So, you can now assume that Mary is writing this.]

The temple closed August 8 for some major renovations, a month earlier than our original release date. So, we took our time coming home with detours to NC to visit relatives and a week at Topsail Island and to CT and the Cape for a week. ** (No, I cannot get the Cape sand out of my heart.) We then headed West via Interstate 90 with Moscow, Idaho as our goal to meet our newest grand daughter [Jaime]. We made it as far as Mt. Rushmore when we got a call that brought us home by September 13.

The call was to inform us that the water pipe bringing water from the street into our utility room had burst above the shut-off valve for the house. (That valve was closed). Our neighbor who walks his dog discovered water coming from under the garage door on the afternoon walk. He called our friend who had keys. She rushed over and called our son [Jed] who drove quickly from Mesquite [Nevada] and then called us as we sat enjoying Mt. Rushmore. We told him to call the insurance company and ServiceMaster was here in an hour. We got home to torn out carpet, twenty fan/heaters roaring, and major decisions to make. Three months later, new flooring throughout and a clean house. Now, to convince Max to go on another mission!

The grandchildren grew and thrived while we were gone. Drew is nearly 11; his twin brother and sister are three. The Moscow kids are nearly ten, eight, and six, and Jaime is one. We did get to see her at ten months when we left the mess here for ten days. FaceTime is a farmily-connecting tool we love.

So, what do we do now? We started our service at the St. George temple December 3 and submitted our paperwork to serve for another year at the Home Storage Center the first of January. We need to be busy with enough time to explore our beautiful area, work off the weight we gained from all the missionary parties, and help our neighbors. We are grateful for all our blessings, you being one of them for enriching our lives. May 2016 be good to you.

Love, Max and Mary

~photo by me, November 2015

* Hey, that's on MY bucket list. No fair
** And, hey, I visited for a few days in August to help clear out a lot of stuff. A LOT of the stuff. A CAR FULL OF STUFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MANY PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING ALL THE STUFF.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! 47?!

 Once upon a time, there were two crazy young kids 

who decided to get hitched and start new branches of the family tree.

 

 Somehow, despite an early marriage separated by the Navy, geography, and challenged by money, youth, learning curves, moves, college, budgets, oil embargos, and three kids, they survived and thrived.

First 5 years, then 10, 20, 25, 30?! 40!?

Here they are last year, having made it to 45+, surviving Christmas with me,

Skyping with the kids, and sneaking up on 46.

Happy Anniversary, you crazy kids. Sorry about the boudoir pix.

And they wonder where we got our silly from?!

Max and Mary Mission Update: Moving

I don't think Grandmary and Grumpa have lived in an apartment since I was a wee toddler, which is over 40+ years ago. They have perhaps gotten a wee bit used to living in a house, and more recently, gotten used to a house with a larger bathroom - and, in the UT house, TWO bathrooms. Oui?

As a NYC-adjacent apartment dweller of MANY years, I have gotten more used to some of the things which the folks are re-experiencing. At least the apartment is furnished - so they didn't have to haul major furniture and appliances.

Read below:

E-mail updates from Dad on Friday, 9/26:

We were awake early with people upstairs moving around, the trains in the area, and getting used to a new place. We found the mall and picked up a few odds and ends to help us settle in.

Most of you know we got here Thursday evening about 3:45 and had the truck unloaded by 4 PM with the help of about ten people.

We have all but two of the 11 bins unpacked as well as the suitcases. Things put away, dishes washed, and Mom is doing laundry now.

I slipped out this afternoon and took a few pictures of where we are staying.
Below is the front of building 18 and we are in apt. 103 we are on far side of building.

Picture below is of the apartment door. Apartment 102 to the right and 104 to the left. Mailboxes are in the foreground.

We have the west facing, back windows so stay warm, I have on AC and a fan this afternoon.

I would rather park in the back of the building and come in a back, ground-level entrance. The front has three sets of steps going down.

Looking into the front room from doorway. Two chairs, couch, and the living room is done. Dining room has nice table and chairs, and makes it so we don’t have to have big group to dinner.

 Looking down hall and seeing part of kitchen with large walk-in pantry.

Fridge is behind the light switch along with some more counter-tops. It was about 4:15 PM here and we had been out shopping this morning.

Down hallway past closet and shelves on left you see door to main bedroom. Door way to the right goes to small bedroom. 

This is the small single bed room with a desk for the computer and printer, places to put clothes and a good closet. West facing windows as well.

This is the hardest part of the apartment - an RV size bathroom with tub and shower together. Too tight for two.

I am standing in the walking closet, looking at the west facing windows with another set to the left above the two chairs. We think these two chairs and one in the living room are left over from another time. The bed is a king being made by pushing two twins together and putting a foam to cover the valley in the middle. Maybe next year they will be putting in a new queen instead.

Looking from my side of the bed toward the closet and hitting the mirror with the flash. We seem to have room for most of the clothes that arrived but leaving winter coats in a bin for a while.

With my back in the corner of two windows looking toward bathroom. Mom has to remember to go left now instead of right with her eyes closed at night.

This last shot is back into the living room from bedroom. I am wondering why they didn’t put pull-out couches in the living rooms.

J just flashed an email back after getting the first batch of photos. Yes, we have picked up the computer printer, TV, and a little food. Larry the Cable Guy will be coming in the “Late Morning” to hook up the Direct TV receiver we brought with us. He seemed to be as disappointed as I am that the Receiver is not HD. Mom thinks I need the TV, but she needs the noise to cover some of the building group.

Anyway we are pooped out today and glad that Saturday is allowing for a little more down time.
 
I think we are going to make it even if I look and feel the youngest ones we have seen so far. Bless the people that are here, and pray they are still here in the morning.
  
Love you all!