I like not having gutters as they clog easy and route water away from the plants in the front garden. One side effect of taking them off: icicles.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Final Tally
It never came down fast, but it did come down pretty much constantly from Saturday (Christmas) morning until Monday around noon, leaving us with about 8½” by the time it was through: a couple inches of heavy, wet stuff covered by half a foot of fine, dry powder.
Snow-Covered Lane, Boxing Day
On Boxing Day, Fred, Arthur, and I ventured out on a walk around the neighborhood. This is across the street from our house.
Cam at the Christmas Dinner Table
Why does he look like a teenager to me in this photo? Perhaps it’s the grunge-reminiscent plaid shirt, or the seemingly alternative hairstyle caused by the paper hat, or the faraway angst-ridden look in his eyes. Mostly, though, I think it’s from having seen him with Cam and Elena and Libby — he’ll always be the oldest cousin on both sides, the eldest of his generation.
Cam, Ian, & Christmas Dinner
Gramma’s dining room table was more than up to the task again this year — Joanna was just happy to find a tablecloth large enough for it!
Joanna as Mrs. Claus
Nana, Pappy, Auntie Karen, Uncle Arthur, Elena, and Libby came over late in the morning with more presents, just as the snow really started to come down. It continued through Monday morning (about 48 hours, almost non-stop), making the roads too treacherous to venture out on, so we spent all of Christmas Day and Boxing Day (and the nights following) together. Aside from a touch of cabin fever, all went pretty well — no loss off power and heat, as happened during last year’s blizzard (see December 2009), and plenty of food and drink for all.
Lego Train!
Daddy was more than happy to help Ian put this together, though it took two hours and several Ibuprofen tablets for his back. (Warning: Do not click to see the full-size version of this photo if you are at all snot-phobic.)
Joanna Opens her Favorite Prezzie of the Year
We promised to not buy anything too expensive for one another this year. Fortunately, all phones were free at U. S. Cellular the week before Christmas, including the HTC Desire. She spent much of the rest of Christmas Day (and the days since!) playing with it and smiling — guess I chose well.
Ian’s Accordion
Apparently Mom and Dad were on Santa’s “Naughty” list this year. If this is what we get, we promise to be nicer next year! (And we’ll have a year of beginner polka music to remind us of this promise.)
Santa Presents, Christmas Morning
The boys are now old enough that, when Santa brings presents to share, they cooperate on opening them and actually share them. How civil.
Blowing Ian’s Nose
I’m not really sure why Joanna thought this an appropriate subject for a photograph, but wiping the nose of Ian the Snotgurgle became all too common an activity for the adults over the Christmas weekend.
Three Cousins
Elena, Cam, and Ian around the Thomas the Tank Engine “computer,” Christmas Eve afternoon at Nana & Pappy’s.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Naptime
Apparently the Jacksonville-Indianapolis game wasn’t particularly exciting. I believe Cam added the Diego blanket while I was asleep.
Movie Night
So that the adults of the house can occasionally enjoy a meal that doesn’t include preformed gobs of breaded chicken, Saturday nights have become movie nights for the boys — a cartoon, a frozen meal each, and, this night anyway, a tent to sequester them and keep them out of trouble while Mom and Dad enjoy Szechuan beef and noodles.
Snow Day(s)!
Grammie and Grampa had planned to leave on Monday, but the snow and cold came in over the weekend, so they stayed a couple of extra days and, as Cam’s and Ian’s schools were closed, got to play out back a bit.
Racing with Grampa
Aside from opening presents and playing with Luci, Cam was most enthusiastic about challenging Grampa to a game of Mario Karts on the Wii. Unfortunately, Grampa’s driving skills weren’t as refined as Cam might have liked (scary, considering he driving the world’s largest pickup and pulling a giant fifth-wheel camper around). After two races, in which he was unceremoniously decimated by his eldest grandson, Grampa gave up.
Early Christmas Presents
Grammie and Grampa arrived with Luci a couple weeks after Thanksgiving on their annual jaunt through the Southland. The boys were so frenetic in opening presents that this was the best shot I got in the 38 seconds it took them to tear into seemingly scores of gifts, so heaven help us Christmas morning….
Ian Tops the Tree
After returning from Durham the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we did as we usually do and put up the Christmas tree — well, I put it up (i.e., assembled it and plugged in the lights), and Joanna did pretty much all the rest. Except, that is for the angel/fairy on top, which Ian got to put on this year.
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