Snowman pancakes

We picked Carson up after finals, so we stayed for this fun dinner.

Owen

It seems fitting to end these posts with the "baby", my last grandchild, Owen.  He was so wanted and he seemed to just complete the family.  He was such a happy, easy going baby, and with a four year age gap between him and the twins, he had built in playmates and babysitters.

Owen was just a toddler when I retired, so I had the blessing of babysitting him every Monday.  The first year, I had three of them at home, but very soon, it was just Owen and me.  One of my favorite things to do with him was to read stories.
We went through the entire series "If You Give a Moose a Muffin"
series.  and of course, with every book came a cooking experience.  We made donuts, pancakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, lot and lots of muffins!







Owen has mad skills at being able to fall asleep anywhere.  Whether it was his toddler bed that her outgrew too soon, his many rides in his stroller, or even on the back of Todd's bike during a ride on Castaway Key on our cruise.  If he was tired, he'd snuggle down and out he went!!

Monday's Memory--Santa

One of the few memories that mom still has is about the Santa hanging on the wall.  Several times this year she has mentioned that she remembers putting him under her coat and walking out of the bank! 
Let's see if I can get the story straight!  We aren't sure of the year, but sometime between  1948-1952, mom was working graveyard at the bank.  This Santa was part of the office decorations.  On Christmas Eve, she figured they weren't going to need him any more, so she hid him under her coat and out she went!
He had a prominent place over the fireplace when we lived on Juniette Street in Culver City.  Mel looks about 3 months old in this picture, so that make this Christmas, 1954.

He has aged better than most of us, still looking good at 65 year old!!

We'll Dress the House

The Stake Fireside was fabulous.  It's a lot of work...and worry to pull this off, but it went very well.  Amy and Todd came this year, and brought mom, so it was really nice to have them in the audience.  This was the 6th Christmas Fireside that I have been over, and they just seem to get better.  No thanks to me, but the Lord always responds and guides me when I ask.  

Holiday Inn

Mom and I went to the Carpenter Theater to see Holiday Inn.  They did a great job with a classic.  I don't know where they found all of the tap dancers!!

Black Friday

I've always been told preparation is how you win!!!

Monday's Memory--Santa's Workshop

Last week Amy and I met up for dinner and to go to a Christmas boutique she had been wanting to visit.  As we rounded one corner I came upon this!!

Oh my goodness!!  The memories came flooding back...all the Christmas projects that I had made in mass to give to family and friends.  I even tried selling some at a boutique, but that was too much work.  Over the years I had made bell ringers, sock snowman, Santa's boots, and of course, batting snowmen.

And of course, mine were much cuter!!  I just love this picture.  I love Todd in his playpen.
I love the icicles on the tree.  I love the Santa boots on the TV.  Did I mention Todd in the playpen?!
I loved it when my front room turned into Santa's workshop.