At Last--Christmas Day



A Christmas Eve pageant at Remick Farm and the Tamworth church (where Simon fell off the pew--but unhurt--and wanted his own lighted candle but was dissuaded by one with a battery in it).



The delight of filled stockings!




Unwrapping




David demonstrating the kazoo

Page/Bethel photo




The big giraffe with the kindly eyes




and--exhaustion.

Long Wait Until Christmas!

 

Yes!  The weather's been 

 

a little fierce:  very snowy and cold.  And it seems like a LONG wait until Dec. 25th.

 

 

 

But we were able to find an almost empty bounce house place in North Conway where the kids ran and slid and climbed and bounced for hours.

 

 

 

It was great.

 

 

 

Then taking Malcolm out to breakfast on Dec. 24th--also an almost empty restaurant (arriving 5 minutes before it closed)--Gwen loved this car that the waitress let her play with.

and she drew this picture.--self-portrait maybe?

Christmas Party

 

 

ArtWorks of Chocorua put on a gala Christmas party on Saturday night at the Bliss's home.

 

 

Gwen and Simon came,

 

 

 

 

didn't know what to make of Myles' mushroom macaroons

 

and were dazzled by the array of desserts.

 

 

 

Simon even managed a semi self-portrait.

Chocorua Activities

It's been snowing, sleeting, raining, overall grey outside and not great for sledding or snowmen.  So we turned to inside activities...

 

stickers on the feet (but not on that furry foot)

and forehead.

 

 Reading,

a rowdy game of Old Maid  (what are the rules?),

animals and Barbies on the rug,

 

and --getting out and about -- a haircut in North Conway.

 

Finding the Christmas Tree

 

Two days in and it's time for the clan to search for the perfect tree...

 

 

First, putting on the gloves, the boots, the hat,

 

ready for the cold.

 

 

 

 

Spreading out the search.

 

 

 

 

Wow!

 

 

 

This is it--slightly thin but still majestic.

 

David and Gwen start the trimming.

 

Voila!

Last Day at Burbank

Jess decorated the outside tree,

Maddie helped to put up the big Christmas balls,

 

and the yellow house once again looked gorgeous for Christmas!

 

A few days later and back on the east coast, Theo drove to Bill and Lenore's Trim the Tree Party

 and got to see Hilary, Mike, their very sweet Charlie, and a baby bump.

 

Right afterwards it was on to Logan airport to welcome the Panama Pages!!

Burbank Special

 

Burbank went all out on Sunday with a special train rolling through the metro station decorated to the hilt and carrying Santa and his helpers.

 

 

First there was face painting--Hello Kitty for Maddie,

 

 

batman for Max,

 

 

and the happy face of Mom looking on.

 

 

Other activities, like kissing, on the station platform waiting for the train.

 

 

 

And then it arrives!!  Full of lights, music and holiday excitement.  Ray Burbank!!

Saturday in Burbank 

started with

 

serious Christmas ball preparation

and tree trimming.

Followed by mouse ornament decorating with DongWei who came to lunch with her husband ZangLi, one of Toby's students in Beijing who is now studying at UCLA.

And finally grandparent babysitting while Sam and Jess caught some Christmas parties.

Good day!

Our First Day in Burbank

 

 

We got to go to Maddie and Max's school--in Max's class holding hands and a little sweet mugging by Maddie.

 

 

 

Then on to choosing the Christmas tree at the local Y--

maybe too tall?

 

 

 

 

or too wide?  How about the needles?

But it's just right!  

And everyone's (really) happy.

Happenings

 

 

Renovation of north room is finally underway -- making it into a studio for me (although Toby would like rights to it too!).

 

 

 

Four windows will go in here--looking out to a great view.

 

And  --  no. this isn't my photo but one from the Audubon Guide -- an ermine (weasel), white as snow just like this one, skittered across the stone wall outside our kitchen yesterday, went into the barn.  I can't get my camera out fast enough for these wildlife events!