Happy New Year

We wish a Happy New Year to our family and friends and hope that you will all have a year of peace and good health.

After our earlier excitement in December, we have been enjoying some quiet holidays.  The girls both sang in the Christmas program at church.  Lacey said that Christmas is "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus," and that Christmas is for sharing.  She also said that having a sister is better than getting toys.  Cassie's Christmas wish list was short because she no longer needs to wish for a little sister.

We baked cookies and Cassie showed Lacey how to frost, sugar and generally make a good mess.  I experienced a brief moment of panic when I thought that they had both contracted head lice.  Then, I realized they had frosting spattered in their hair.

Decorating cookies

We have still been feeding the opossum, crows and other unidentified animals in the back yard.  A few weeks ago, Cassie was taking out some scraps and came face to face with the opossum.  She was thrilled to have her backyard research proven true.  Bill and Dorothea sent a sutffed opossum for Christmas.  On Christmas Eve, I set it in the backyard, with its nose pointed toward the food dish. I sent Cassie out with a bowl of scraps and watched from the window.  I had tied a conspicuous red bow around its neck because I didn't want to cause too much of a scare.  She figured it out and scooped her new child up in her arms.  The opossum accompanied us to church.  Other girls were proudly clutching new dolls and Cassie was cradling her opossum.

The Discovery of the Opossum

On Christmas morning, Cassie was up at 4:19.  I know this because she woke me up.  She smelled like she had been rolling in sugar cookies.  So, although she denied it, I knew she had already been downstairs.  We made her wait until Lacey woke up to open gifts.  Of course, Cassie soon "accidentally" woke Lacey.  We took time opening gifts because we didn't want Lacey to become overwhelmed.  Many thanks to all for the beautiful gifts the girls received and for helping make Lacey's first Christmas special.

The Barbie dolls from Aunt Laurie and Uncle Bob

I struggled to find that perfect gift for Les.  He had only asked for a couple new shirts.  Easy request to meet - oxford shirts, button-down collars, one in blue and one in white.  Regretfully, I wasn't holding my camera to capture his surprise when he opened the   Jerry Garcia neckties.   I was also able to surprise him with the "beer machine." 

Gladis and Julio came for dinner on the 26th bringing with them Peruvian style chicken, salad and yucca.  The girls wanted to make Julio feel at home, so they brought out their "fart putty."  Well, that made him feel like a member of the family!

Julio, Gladis, Cassie and Lacey

The girls and I had a relaxing week.  Cassie spent Monday with Gladis at her apartment, while Lacey and I worked on her slide show.  On Tuesday, we drove to Loudon County with friends to browse some vintage thrift stores.  We found one antique store that specializes in German antiques.  The shop had an incredible collection of dollhouses, including a chalet and a cabin.  I found a matching set of chandeliers made from antlers that would have made a keen birthday present for Dillon except for the cost ($450 apiece).  

On Wednesday, we baked gingerbread boys and ate them for breakfast, much to Lacey's delight.  Wednesday afternoon, the kids from Odyssey of the Mind came over for a work session.  This is a school-related club that I have agreed to coach.  The 6 children involved are in grades 3 trough 5.  They will participate in an academic competition in early March that basically requires them to create and present an original drama.  I know I must come across as a lunatic for having agreed to do this.  But, the role of the coach is minimal.  I'm not allowed to tell the children what to do or to help them with anything they make.  I may question, guide and watch out for their safety.  Lacey is too young to join.  But, she watches and participates in snack time.  As the afternoon ended, these creative kids were in the kitchen stuffing cookies in their mouths, singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and dancing.  As I watched them, I acknowledged that this was precisely the type of activity for which my over-sized kitchen was designed.  Life really doesn't get much better than this.

On Thursday, we dressed the dolls for their annual Christmas pageant and had a couple rehearsals.  (The actual program will be today.)  On Friday, we had lunch with Mirela, Lara and baby Abby, to celebrate Mirela's birthday.  We rang in the New Year with Bob and Doris.  The girls managed to stay awake and are still sleeping.

Here's one final story.  For Christmas, Les bought Cassie a spy camera that is motion-activated and takes photos in the dark.  Les and Cassie have been hooking it to a tree at night in hopes of capturing photos of our nighttime visitors.  We weren't sure what we would find.  According to Cassie's research, opossum's have tender feet and don't like to come out when it's too cold outside!  Here are a few of the awesome photos from the spy cam!

A fox arriving at 12;32 a.m.!

A fox at 3:39 a.m.!

He's looking right into the camera!

Going for the scraps!

Cassie now wants to gets face recognition software to determine if there's more than one fox.

The other day we were watching TV and there was some inspirational/promotional message about setting New Year's resolutions.  Cassie asked me if I was going to make any resolutions.  My answer was easy - No.  I recognize that none of the things within my power to control could be any better.  (Okay, housekeeping is the only exception.)  We will continue to pray for the well-being of our family and friends.  And, we will anticipate time spent together, forming new memories in the coming year.