Christmas 2015 - So Long Awaited, So Soon Gone

The Christmas tree has been patiently waiting for the long anticipated Christmas Eve.

It finally arrived and the gifts were exchanged.  It was so special having family home with us this Christmas!

Rob's family loves books and it looks like it will continue in the next generation.

This one knows how to make short work of the wrapping... no saving paper or bows with her.

One special gift she got from her brother was a Snow Globe.  She had gotten one in Alaska but it met an early demise.  She said how much she loved it, but "Mommy won't let me snow it."

Oh for flexible joints like these kids... notice he is intensely putting together a Legos project.  When  did Legos get so complicated? 

Calico Critters made a big hit with this one.  She has been wanting that triple bunk bed. 

Here is an invisible rocket that some super hero flies in. 

Papa had to get on the floor to get their vantage point.

So here's to an wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  My how we wish these rascals were closer, but we hope to be able to drive to see them instead of flying 13 hours.  

Ginger Bread Tea Cakes

One of the traditions the Grands love is decorating a ginger bread house.

Of course, in this day it is already baked and just has to be glued together.

It was fun seeing their ideas take shape and how they shared in putting on the decorations.

They seem pleased with the progress. 

It is taking shape. 

The final walk through.  Yep, they are satisfied. 

Papa even got a small piece.  No, they didn't get to eat the whole thing.  I wonder what month (or year) it was baked, as it had a taste similar to how cardboard smells.  Oh well, it is Christmas and we do strange things. 

Tutu recruited them to put powdered sugar on the Russian Tea Cakes.  Hands had to be scrubbed and no licking fingers until all the cookies were covered with that powdery sugar.

Then it was time to lick.  M said that it was the best cookie he had ever eaten.  I agree.

Winter Wonderland

For kids from Hawaii, this morning was an answer to their prayers.  E said: "There is snow everywhere you look!"

I have been surprised at how much they like going out in the cold and now the snow.   

Of course, it isn't below zero by any means.

This week brought the flocked Christmas tree that Tutu has always wanted and now has a real excuse for getting. 

How can a little thing like a Christmas tree bring so much joy? 

Tutu discovered that she had given most of her ornaments to C and they are somewhere in storage waiting to be delivered to the new home in Abilene.

Papa is no fool... he convinced the Grands how much fun it would be to scoop the drive.  

The snow was perfect for making a snowman, so that is what they did.

Here is their first real, official, snowman, ever. 

But E was quick to point out that it needed a hat and a scarf which was dutifully supplied along with a carrot for the nose.

Now, there you have him or her. 

A fine looking specimen if I do say so myself, and I do.  Maybe it is my hat, but I see a resemblance, don't you? 

C came in to tell us that the two of them were rolling a giant snowball.  What was  fun was to see them working together on the big push.  And what would have made their Daddy really proud, was hearing what they were saying as they pushed this beast of a snowball along to give them fortitude to continue.

See if you can hear what they were saying in the video below.

Good Sports

I'm not the brightest bulb on the porch, but something seems wrong with this collection of pictures. Can you spot the problems? 

From tropical paradise to northern prairie; from lush green grass and beautiful flowers to brown grass and no flowers; from four time zones and 3800 miles away, to temperatures not 80 degrees but 8 degrees and snow; yet these two troopers are making the best of it.  They can't wait to go outside each day.  Maybe I'm just old but I am having a harder adjustment than they are.

All good things come to an end and so my Hawaiian time with my favorite grandkids has come to a close.  I left for home with a 10 pm flight so we had tome for a dinner at a favorite restaurant.

This group welcomes the gobs of tourists who were arriving for a dinner cruise on the ship behind them.

Most of the tourists arrived in big buses and soon were on ship.

Dinner was near the water and the kids had to do their coloring first of course.

The sun was bright but we enjoyed it knowing we probably won't be back this way any time soon.  It snowed in North Dakota the day after I arrived at home.

The sunset was very nice. 

And the pizza was good.

Did I mention the pizza was good? 

The Aloha tower in the background has welcomed tourists for decades, but that night it bid me farewell to the Hawaiian Islands.  Great memories and some good pictures to remind me of the Islands in the cold North Dakota winters.