New Years Eve 2006: Went to church, ate at On the border, napped, went to the zoo lights, sat in the car and watched the 9pm fireworks downtown, stayed up until 12am and watched the ball drop at Times square, bed! Bethany and Joel made it till 12am, Grace almost made it and Hannah was nowhere near 12am.

Got out to the store to try to get another shovel, but they’re all out.
We got around fine, they plowed the streets again this morning, but our driveway was snowed over from the plow when we got back. I started to dig a trench for the fort, but it will have to wait till tomorrow to finish. The snow is very light and not sticking well. I was able to make another snowman. This is a disgruntled snowman:

I think he’s mad because he knows the squirrels are going to come and eat his nose and buttons. Here’s the tree in the backyard.

We never got more snow last night and today it’s sunny. The storm moved east instead of north, so highs in the 30’s lows single digits the next few nights and then lows in the teens. So 14” + 28” from last week – about 15” of melt means enough snow left to make a fort and sled.

I don’t care if we got 14” of snow this morning, I want wings. The good buffalo wild wings, Asian zing and honey bbq. So we shoveled out the driveway and took off for the mall. The snowplow (amazingly) had come down our street once and spread sand. This was a mixed blessing though. Because the plows were doing residential streets too, the main streets were bad. They were the same as out street! So, I don’t know if I want them taking time out to do every residential street, but I did want wings and we wouldn’t have gotten out if they hadn’t plowed, so I guess it’s okay for the other streets to be crappy. Even the freeway was less desirable than last time; I didn’t see 1 plow the whole time (I guess they were in the side streets.) Those wings were good, I could have eaten 2 more sets, but the kids were bored by then. I like going there sans kids, and then I can eat as many wings as I want. Oh, well.

No snow after 12pm and we might just get a few showers tomorrow, so I’m drawing up my design for the front yard. I’ll tunnel around the yard and then use the snow brick maker to wall up 2 sides. After that I’ll poke a few window in and then go work on a disgruntled snowman. The New Year’s Eve concert at church is cancelled until Jan 5th, darn it; I was looking forward to that.

Grace is doing much better with her eye swelling; it’s still very bloody in the whites thought. To make matters even more complicated she broke her glasses straight through the middle. I’m going to wait until after her Thurs. appt. to get them fixed since she may be getting a new prescription anyway. Thank goodness kid glasses have a lifetime breakage coverage. Hopefully they have Dora ones again; otherwise she might end up with a new frame design.

Hannah has some new words, bowl, doh (for do-nut), Dora, mallow, meow, wow, bow and whoa. She’s been using wow and whoa a lot every time she sees Christmas lights. Man, I have to get on the ball for Joel’s fencing and air patrol, plus the Girl Scout stuff and snow camp and Bethany’s worship dance. Also Bethany’s b-day party will be on Jan. 13th and I have to decide quickly if I think there won’t be any more snow so I can get the pony lady to bring a riding pony…I wish I could tell the future. We’re going to the stock show on her real b-day (8th), and all the b-day talk has Grace telling me what she wants for her party (a visit to tiny town with just family and a Dora cake, easy enough.) Better to plan 6 months ahead I guess!

Well,we tried to beat the snow, it was forecasted to start about 12pm and it started about 10am. We went by wal-mart to get essentials (real ones this time) and so did everybody else. Not that I needed it but there was no more hamburger and the cat food aisle was out of my hairball control formula;so Sampson gets regular and hopefully won’t lick himself too much.

We’re supposed to get another 12-18” by Sat. and this time I believe them! I started to build a snow castle and snow tree, but I stopped the castle partway. I figure we’ll wait until this storm stops and block off the whole front yard (yes, I found the brick maker, oh that reminds me I’d better go get it before this snow buries it.) So we have diapers and juice and new toys to keep us busy through new year.

Grace had her eye surgery at 11:15 am today. It was about an hour long. They cut 2 muscles on her left eye and 1 on her right eye. She was kind of wacky in recovery from the anesthesia, but was ok. She got to pick out a blanket for being so good, it’s a patchwork quilt on one side and striped on the other, she also got a foamy glass case. She was pretty doped up the rest of the day and cranky. Here’s a blurry pic, but you can see she’s looking straight without her glasses and her eye isn’t crossing.

We went to squeeze and got her a blueberry freaky tiki (don’t ask) for dinner since she was supposed to stay off solid food for today. I have this gel I’m supposed to put in her eyes twice a day and that’s going to be a challenge. It doesn’t like to drop right in the eye; it likes to stick to her eyelashes. I guess I’ll get better at it with each try.

Well, I’m getting old. I fell the other day and bruised my knees, then this morning while taking out the trash I fell again. This time I landed right on my back, I just laid there cursing like the dad in the ‘Christmas story’ movie and lying helpless like Ralphie after Santa kicked him down the slide. Then I got up and took assessment. 1 bloody elbow, 1 twisted back and that’s about it. I’m sure I’ll feel it more later.

Well, we built our snowman, see the cowboy hat and rocks for eyes. We had a carrot for a nose but some busy squirrels took it. I was going to put another carrot out, but I don’t want a hoard of squirrels in my yard looking for a handout.

Oh, we did something really cool last night. After we had a nap we went to look at Christmas lights in HR. The first house was ok, but the street was so icy and bumpy I though we’d never get back to the main road. The 2nd house was the one we saw last year. This guy has a ski lift, Santa and reindeer circling a pole, Santa coming in for a landing, a choir of angels moving from side to side on the roof, a slide and more. They even built a snow tree and put lights on it. After that we decide to go show Grandma the capitol and courthouse buildings downtown. And here’s the cool part: As we got closer to the courthouse we could see throngs of people walking around, taking pictures…it is pretty lit up but there was something else there. A big nativity scene right in front of the courthouse! So we stopped and got out with the video camera and saw the manger scene and the lights up close. I think that might be a new tradition, after seeing a few lights going down there to se the nativity scene, sounds like a good idea.

Today we went to wal-mart and let the kids spend some of their Christmas money. I got the call for Grace’s surgery; of course it’s tomorrow (and we have to drop Grandma at the airport in the morning.) So we’ll be splitting up in the morning. James will drop Grace and me at the hospital downtown and then cart Grandma over to the airport, make sure she gets on and then drive back to the hospital. Grace is scheduled for 10:45am and Grandma’s plane leaves at 10:30am………so a bit of a stretch but we’ll make it.

I’m going to make some snow candy a little later; we’ll see how that turns out. (1 C molasses, 1C brown sugar. Boil to hard crack stage, dribble onto snow, eat!) Tonight we’re going to eat at the mall and sit by the fireplace, a relaxing day.

Here are pics from White fence last night. It was snowing again and Grandma was sure we’d get stuck there (not that it would be bad, they do have food!) So we left after we ate and slipped home.

Here’s the driveway this morning, James shoveled quick after we got in last night, but we still got another layer.
Here’s the kids after ripping through presents this morning:

I made a pecan pie, fudge, gingerbread cookies, sausage stuffing and eggnog from scratch. The turkey is in the oven and the acorn squash and yams are baking. The ham goes in next and soon we’ll have a feast to eat.

After that we plan on making a giant snowman with a cowboy hat and maybe sledding down the hill.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

OMIGOSH! I was wrong; you can’t have Christmas without food. The only delivery to King soopers last night was beer. No one’s having yams for Christmas, they have to eat organic carrots and radishes and wilted lettuce. There’s no more chocolate!! There’s no more flour, sugar or eggs, we got the last milk and the almost last yams. I have my food, but dang! (And yes, the green beans were gone, but most people must like cream of mushroom and not fried onions ‘cuz there were plenty of fried onions left.) Grace and I were standing outside singing to prospective buyers “There are no more yams, but plenty of hams, hope you like organic carrots and lettuce, ‘cuz there’s no more bananas and chocolate….” Anyway here’s my Christmas poem that has nothing to do with food:

CHRISTmas poem

In a lowly manger He was laid,
God’s only Son a newborn babe.
Pure light shone from a star above
And rested on the babe with love.

“God with us, Emmanuel,”
Cried the shepherds as they fell.
A silent night now burst with sound,
And people came to gather round.
Awestruck when angels choir loud
Sang praises with their heads bowed.
“Come with us,” the angels sang,
“Come and meet the son of man-
Who comes to bring new life to you,
And by His blood your sins are through.”

God’s Son lies here after nativity,
A newborn babe for all to see.
He is God’s Son but also man,
And is born to reveal a plan.
Whereby sinners are washed clean
And become children of the King.

Oh, Happy day, Emmanuel!
Sing God with us, we all will tell-
Of the day Christ was born to all;
To save us from the sinful fall.

For this day He’s born from a virgin womb-
And soon would rise from an Earthly tomb,
To reign on high by His father’s side,
To greet us with His arms open wide.

Oh, Happy day, when our Lord arrived,
A newborn babe by His mother’s side.
Oh, Happy day, when He came to us,
A time long ago, the first Christmas.

Grandma Carberry made it up here fine. We’re going to eat at White fence farms tonight and I’ll load pics then. Merry almost CHRISTmas!

Added:
It started snowing again at 1:30, Grandma was giggling like a kid “Oh, look at that, looks like a Christmas picture!” Hopefully it won’t snow too much too long so we can get out tonight.
Here’s the backyard still:

Grace and Bethany’s hair-dos from the b-day party yesterday:

and Hannah’s do:

Im so behind, here’s the rest of the Jesse tree advent stuff:

Habakkuk Waiting Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19 Stone Watchtower
Nehemiah Return and Rebuilding Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 City Wall
John the Baptist Repentance Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30 Scallop Shell
Mary The Hope for a Future Luke 1:26-38 White Lily
Elizabeth Joy Luke 1:39-56 Mother and Child
Zechariah Anticipation Luke 1:57-80 Pencil and Tablet
Joseph Trust Matt 1:19-25 Carpenter’s Square or Hammer
Magi Worship Matt 2:1-12 Star or Candle

Dec 24
Jesus Birth of the Messiah Luke 2:1-20 Manger

Dec 25
Christ The Son of God John 1:1-18 Chi-Rho Symbol ( I used the Alpha/Omega symbols)

………And people of Denver, please, no one is going to starve if you don’t have green beans, yams and marshmallows and for goodness sake stay out of the mall. Please drive on the left side of the road (the snowplows can only do half of the right side and when you are in it and hovering into my fully cleared lane I want to hit you.) Yes, you need to slow down on the ramps when you are coming off the freeway at 70 mph and no, not everyone goes when the light is green. Stop braking so fast and slow down gently so you don’t hit me. Don’t assume I am turning right just because I have the go ahead and quit doing donuts in the parking lot.

Some of you Denverites looked sane, but I am wondering why you parked a 1/2-mile from the mall and wandered through drifts of 4 feet to get inside, do you really need that last toy/jewelry/cologne/shirt to make Christmas happen at your house? Quit hogging the eggnog people, there’s enough to go around. Be aware that now that the snow is melting and we have 15-degree nights that it’s freezing into ice, yes ice. That’s why you keep slipping and I swear one of you is going to run me down as you slide your car all over creation.

Why don’t you just stay home, you will live without marshmallows and that last TMX Elmo that everyone’s fighting over, I promise. Maybe you should walk to the store to get your groceries instead of driving, take the whole family! People thought we were cute trekking to the store, someone even took a picture. So Denver, drive safe and slow down and please don’t crush my snow cave!

Or where I find myself acting like Charles Bronson in the ‘Great Escape’. (Only with snow, not dirt and there’s no Germans, just little people pulling on my feet.) Digging my snow cave with a spoon while snow pours on my head and I push it behind me and then kick it out. I dug for 2 hours off and on and got a 5 ft deep, 3 ft wide and 2 ft high cave. Pretty good I think, the kids agree.

My neighbor across the street thought I was funny playing in the snow, my next door neighbor thought I was slacking because I hadn’t cleared the sidewalk yet. There are plenty of people on my street who haven’t cleared their sidewalks yet and I had half of it done. He used his snow blower to do his side, and then waited until I had cleared mine with the shovel and came down the sidewalk with the snow blower, why not just do it for me? He dug out 5 houses to the street from their driveways, but not mine! I must have made him mad, or he’s weird. Oh well, I don’t care I finally finished the driveway and sidewalk and then went back to business.

Bethany and Joel dug a two entrance tunnel to their cave on the other side.

Hannah wasn’t to sure about going in the cave by herself, so she sat around and ate snow.

I took her for a sled down the street and she thought it was funny when I slipped and fell, ouch! I finally decided that 5X3X2 is big enough; I am the envy of the neighborhood kids!
My snow cave is the best!

Hah!
I wonder why nobody else was out digging in the snow? Could be they are too adult to do something that silly…….or maybe they are jealous and wish they could play in the snow like me. Live it up people when am I going to get 2 feet of snow again? (Maybe next month? We could do this once an month till April, that would be great!)