Christmas 2008

Day 2 - December 27

Back to friends and family here.

December 26 (Fri) - Snow, snow, snow
December 27 (Sat) -Christmas at the Murray's
December 28 (Sun) - Church; Big melt (no pictures)
December 29 (Mon) - ...or not. (Another storm, melt, etc.)
December 30 (Tues) - Lunch with Mom and Dad; Time with the Holmans
December 31 (Wed) - Trip to Seattle and Sunriver
Jan 1 (Thurs) - Family day at the condo
Jan 2 (Fri) - Skiing!!!! at Mt. Bachelor
Jan 3 (Sat) - Trip back to Seattle
Jan 4 (Sun) - Back to DFW.

 

Due to in-laws, the Murray's celebrate Christmas on December 26 - usually. Due to the foul weather and family members unable to get to Spokane, Christmas was pushed back to the 27th.

Most important events: 1) Mom actually let me cook the turkey! (She stresses every year, but wouldn't let any of the other cooks in the house take over.) 2) We all helped Dad unload the ton of wood pellets. (The heat their house with a wood pellet stove.) With a group of us it took less than 10 minutes. Hope both of those end up as long time traditions.

 

 
During our traditional Christmas pageant, Laura (my "big sister") portrays the Virgin Mary.
Ok, nix that. Susie (my "little sister") got Laura this scarf in Europe this last summer.

Susie (my "little sister") collects Jim Shore Santa figures. I'm not sure how many she has right now, but, as you can tell by the smile, not enough, yet.

This Santa has Noah's Ark at the top of the apron, with animals following the path up to the ark.

 

 

Matthew (Susie's husband) getting exited about
animated Superman movies.

Matthew's daughter Renee. I don't remember which of her most favorite presents this is.

 

 

Matthew's daughter Tici (Laticia) getting some drawing supplies.
She also got a lot of clothes and, most importantly, a new mp3 player.

Laura loves babuska dolls. Babuska dolls are also known as nesting dolls. Each time you open one, there is a smaller one inside. Laura has loved these since she first saw them at an Aunt's house as a small girl. I bought her first one in Russia when I was in high school. She has been collecting them ever since. Now that she has more than plenty, we don't buy them anymore. However, I found this Babuska doll checker set at an antique market in Seattle and thought it would give her a game AND, of course, more babuska dolls (these don't open)!

 
Not totally sure why Coleman stuffed this mouse back in high school, but it has been in a beef jerky can in the house for years. FINALLY, Susie decided this needed to go back to its owner. And, yes, Coleman seemed very happy to be reunited. Weird...
Susie and Dad went on a river cruise this last summer. In Budapest Susie bought this bird knocker. The woodpecker is on a spring. By pulling on the rope (at the bottom), it causes the bird to be slammed into the piece of wood, causing a loud "knock". Some people in Budapest apparently use these like doorbells.
 

 

Gee, Dad, what great knockers!!!

(Dad got a bird knocker, too.)
Mom and Renee perusing Mom's new bird book. I think Mom's collection of bird books is bigger than Susie's collection of Santa figures and Laura's Babuska dolls, combined. (Or maybe that's just my perception...)
  

Next page - December 28

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