Post-Holiday weekend

I'm at the stage of Christmas break where I'm not quite sure what day of the week it is but I do get to sort-of sleep in tomorrow because I'm taking the day off and that's all I know.  Oh and Wyoming plays in a bowl game tomorrow so it must be Monday.  Reina asked me how many more days of vacation she had left and she still has six.  SIX DAYS! 

Our weekend was a hodgepodge of fun activities and chores and winter-y weather.  On Saturday, Glenn went duck hunting, Will had batting practice and I baked a bunch of cookies for church.  The weather was frightful so it was a nice day to stay in.  Reina beat me in several games of Trouble - her new favorite. 

On Sunday, the weather cleared up a little bit and Will and I headed down to Denver for the last Broncos game of the season.  We (mostly) took Glenn's advice and bundled up in snowpants and carhartts so we stayed warm.  Will decided to forego his snowboots and his feet got pretty cold.  He's going to love that memorialized that little tidbit on the blog.  The Broncos won, we had fun. 

Obligatory mom/son selfie

 Today, we made hamburger out of the moose, elk and antelope that Glenn and Will shot this hunting season.  It was a long day of meat grinding but we got it all done.  It's nice to start the new year off with a freezer full of meat ready for dinner. 

Glenn had a little stalker checking out his handiwork.  

Camera pictures from Alaska

I'm trying to write as many posts as I did in 2018 and I only have a few more days to hit my goal. I was looking through some of the posts that I started to write this year and never finished and discovered all of these Alaska pictures. I'd made a photo book for the Pauley grandparents to thank them for the trip and I guess I never got around to blogging about it.  So here are some of the highlights for blog posterity.

We left Seattle on a Sunday afternoon and cruised all day Monday.  The weather was usually in the low 60's or upper 50's and it felt great to us after a hot July in Cheyenne. While on the ship we spent a lot of time watching for whales and we got to see so many!  It was really cool.  

Glenn whale watching and Reina modeling.

It wasn't quite 60 degrees the morning that Will and I sat on the deck and read books and watched for whales.  Glad we had our cold weather gear! 

I took many photos with my Canon but these are the phone camera versions.  Our first stop was in Juneau where we had most of the day to explore Alaska's capitol.  We found a small city museum that had a little area for kids to explore and they loved it, even the tween.

Will pretending to process fish - he even put on the apron.  Well, he was using the fish as a weapon to cut other fish but he was having fun.  

Sun setting as we left Juneau

It looks like these are all of the camera pics that I saved.  We also visited Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria BC and I feel like there's someplace else that I'm forgetting.  It was a terrific opportunity to see such a beautiful part of our planet and spend lots of quality time with family. 

While just about everybody else on the ship was viewing the Hubbard Glacier, these two monsters were swimming.  Yes the pool was heated but the air was not warm.  They didn't care.  

Merry Christmas 2019

Another Christmas is winding down and we had a really nice day.  The kids mostly respected our 6 a.m. wake-up time, Reina came in at 5:56 a.m., close enough.  We opened our family presents and then the rest of the Hansen/Fry clan came over for breakfast and more presents.  After everyone left, the kids played with their new electronics and Glenn and I jogged and then napped.  It was a delightful day.  

Here's my annual interview with everyone to memorialize the highlights of their day.  

Will:  His favorite present was Madden 20 and he and his friends have big plans to form a franchise. I know what each of those things means in the real world but the details are a little fuzzy in regards to the Xbox.  But he's having a great time.  

Glenn's favorite part of the day was the church service last night.  He says he also really loved brunch and the tripod that he picked out himself.  He's also really excited about his new GPS and a shirt that I bought him.  I think he added that last part because of the increasingly negative look on my face as I type this.  

Reina's favorite present was an Echo Spot that Glenn picked out for her.  Reina has been talking to Alexa all day and frankly the rest of us are a little thrilled that she has another "person" to ask questions - "Alexa how old is the oldest person in the world...." 

Lucy is considering this the Christmas of Footwear.  I unwrapped slippers, cowboy boots and some super comfy flats today.  Now I have to decide which ones to wear to work tomorrow. I guess the slippers are out.  

We had a great time watching the little cousins unwrap presents and jump off the stairs.  We ate delicious mostly prepared by Uncle Matt and everyone was stuffed by the time the morning was over.  The pets were also spoiled this year.  Coco got a head start on the festivities by opening some cat presents in the middle of the night.  Soxy was equally delighted with all of the wrapping paper and cardboard boxes and we realized that this might be her first Christmas in a house.  She made the most of it. 

Cat toy Christmas

Yep, it's still dark out.  This was taken right before the unwrapping frenzy began.  

Reina and her new Sven-from-Frozen2 jammies

Will surrounded by Christmas excess 

Will and Glenn picked out some new running tights for me.  And a big bag of chocolate.  

Reina surrounded by Christmas excess 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

It's beginning to look a lot like something

How many times have I used that phrase as a blog title in December?  More than once I'm sure.  With less than a week left until the holiday, it's definitely looking like Christmas.  The tree is up and while Coco rearranges some of the ornaments daily, it's decorated.  Most of the presents are bought, none of them are wrapped but that's what the weekend is for.  I've started sending out Christmas cards and the big packages have all been mailed.  Tomorrow is the last day of school for the kids for two whole weeks and Glenn and I are winding down our work days for the rest of the year. We are all ready for a break. 

The day we bring the tree home is Coco's favorite day of the year.  She and Tootsie carefully inspected this one.  

At the beginning of the month, Vicky and I volunteered at Christmas House.  This was our first year volunteering together and it was a lot of fun.  We worked in the tea room in the morning and then served in the house in the afternoon.

Vicky and a sample of some of the tea room wares.  We didn't bake most of those goodies but we had fun serving them up.  

That weekend, our Aunt Mary from Minnesota came out for a quick visit and we packed a lot of shopping, eating delicious food and hanging out.  It was a great way to start the holiday season.  On Saturday morning, we dropped the girls off at the church program practice and Will was at baseball practice so the girls and Everett went shopping downtown.  We walked into our favorite local kitchen store, Everett took a look around and announced that he was all down shopping at this place.  Oh buddy.

Just two cousins hanging out at the mall 

I bought an indoor snowball fight kit on Black Friday and couldn't wait for 12/25 to open it up.  Much hilarity has ensued but I think the cats are having the most fun.  

Pictures from last month's holiday

I was looking for some pictures for the Christmas card tonight and found pictures from Thanksgiving that I never posted. (I actually just typed 'Halloween' and now I need to see if I ever posted those pics.  Sigh.)  Anyway, we had a lovely Thanksgiving this year.  We drove to Aunt Vicky and Uncle Matt's house with a pie, rolls and some cranberry sauce and feasted on all of the trimmings.  It was delicious as always and we had a fun time hanging out.  The weather was unseasonably cold so when we came home, we curled up next to the pellet stove and watched movies and football and started Christmas lists.  It was a nice start to the holiday season. 

Each Thanksgiving with all four cousins, I've tried to snap some good pics for the grandparents.  This year, I gave up without much of a fight.  It was not the day for picture taking.  Maybe we can recreate these in a decade or so.   

Reina, the cat, Everett in an almost chokehold, Will trying hard and Ainsley.  

Okay everybody - just look at the camera for one second!  The cat cooperated this time.  

I love watching baby/preschool cousin eat with a giant spoon.  Don't bother asking if he wants a smaller one.  He's a big kid!  

I can't wait to do it all again in 10 days.  Ten! 

Pictures of Reina singing exuberantly

Last month, Reina's class put together a pageant to honor Veteran's Day.  They sang a collection of patriotic songs and recognized the various branches of the Armed Forces.  It was a lot of fun to watch and we always like to see Reina singing. 

Look at that grown-up girl! 

One of the songs was sung by battery-powered candlelight.  

Belting it out.

Time for some choreographed flag waving to "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Reina had a speaking part - I think she spoke about the Army  She nailed it - spoke confidently and didn't trip up.  

When I was a kid, I had a tape player and one of the tapes that I owned featured Mickey Mouse and friends singing a bunch of patriotic songs.  Whenever I hear "from the halls of Montezuma..." I instantly think of Goofy and Pluto and Mickey.  But I still know a lot of the words so I can sing along with the Fifth Graders every year.  We love watching Reina sing!