bella notte

We're still on a baby high over here!  We were excited to have the granddaughters with us over the weekend.  It was supposed to be all three girls, but Claire got sick and ended up staying home.  We filled up every minute with fun.  Friday night after dinner, we headed out in the below freezing cold night, to take the girls to get a treat at Sluy's Bakery and see the Christmas lights in Poulsbo.  It was the same night as the town Christmas tree lighting, so we ended up practically having Front Street all to ourselves.  It was beautiful.

 











Summer loved that the door handle is a pretzel.





































Some weekend memories:

*These girls fell in love with the Hallmark channel Christmas chick flicks.  As a matter of fact, one of the first things Summer asked Calley when we took them home was what channel is the Hallmark channel on their tv.

*Making ornaments with Abby.

*We didn't plan on it, but we ended up seeing The Good Dinosaur, and they've been quoting it ever since.  We discovered Summer especially is an excellent movie quoter---good for our family!

*Making cookies.  Playing bingo.  Picking out all of their wrapped Christmas presents and stacking them in their own piles.

*Having our special belgian waffle recipe for breakfast, and Abby eating an entire cereal bowl full of raspberries with her waffle.

*Friday night we had Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner.  We introduced Summer to my cranberry orange relish.  (shocked that she was even willing to try it in the first place).  Even more shocked when she nearly shouted "THIS IS DELICIOUS!!!!"  And asked for seconds.

* Each girl picked out her own stone (opals) for Grandpa to make them their own necklace.

Honestly, I had days and days worth of things for them to do, but their favorite thing was to play with the Disney character dolls (I have almost every single character, villian, prince, and princess).  Besides that, they wanted to snuggle up in blankets and watch movies.  They were so happy.

You would think that I of all people would have more baby pictures from when we took them home on Saturday night.  But I didn't let go of him the entire time we were there.  Pictures next time, I guarantee it.

so thankful for this brand new baby!

Its a BOY!!!

Lee Allen Soptich

November 25, 2015

3:12 pm

6 lbs. 12 oz., 18 inches



































We're so thrilled about this brand new (and first) grandson!  What a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving.  He is simply perfect.  The sweetest, most calm baby.  He just kept his eyes open and took in everything he saw.  We think he looks like Tyson.  His sisters (who all wanted a new sister) still do not know that they have a brother.  The big reveal will come when they bring baby Lee home today.  Lee was named after Tyson's dad.  We're all so, soooo happy!

friday night (christmas) lights

That big windstorm we had earlier in the week blew off all the (beautiful) red leaves on our japanese maple.  Aha---perfect time to put up some Christmas lights.  I had visualized putting up some big old fashioned bulbs, and also stringing some tiny white lights with them.  As luck would have it, I couldn't find the outdoor extension cord with multiple plugs (outlets, whatever), so I could only put up one strand of lights.  The big colorful ones, of course.  This is definitely better as a two person job, but there was just me.  I improvised trying to reach the taller branches by lifting the light cord up with a broom.  I thought I had done a pretty nice job getting them all swagged just so.  Until I plugged them in.

Oh.

Not so great.  Not great at all.  But it was cold and I was done.  They look so much better in the black of night when you can't see my mistakes.



Yesterday I brought in the Christmas tree.  Today I lugged it into the family room in its usual spot.  Its much more cramped there with the new furniture.  I'll probably have to tweak things around.  Its still in its crumpled state, needing the branches straightened out, but I like just plugging it in and enjoying the festive lights (while watching some BYU basketball on a cozy Friday night).



Keith offered to help me fix the lights on the outside tree.  I think I'll take him up on his offer, but not until after Thanksgiving is over.  That'll give him more time to strengthen up his foot, and give me more time to locate our other extension cords.  It can look cute, I know it will. ( guess its about time to lose that pumpkin on the porch----overlapping holidays for sure).

about halfway there

Here are two views from our sloshy, wave-tossed ferry ride yesterday afternoon, on the way to Keith's third post-op appointment.





Its just a guesstimate, but we're at about the halfway mark in his recovery.  Last week, Keith started using the crutches, and putting weight on his new ankle.  Just a little at a time, increasing the amount each day.  On Saturday morning I made a quick run to the grocery store, and when I came back, he greeted me at the door walking with NO crutches.  I thought he was jumping the gun with starting to walk alone, but he assured me his surgeon said it was okay to do that.  Of course its slow and still in the baby steps phase, but he's improving every day.  Now he has orders to start physical therapy. Hopefully today.  He even announced that he would drive himself there, but I don't think so!  I'd give him a few sessions before I hand over the car keys.  It feels like its been an eternity since he had his surgery, and its unbelievable that we're already at this point.  There's still a ways to go.  He's under doctor's orders not to return to work until January.  I know he's going to make the most of this recovery phase and get that new ankle working perfectly.  He's really excited.

its creeping in

Monday:  took down all the fall/halloween decor, packed it up, and took it upstairs.  Done.

Tuesday:  unpacked, washed and dried the Christmas tablecloth and put it on the table.

Wednesday:  hung up the wreaths.

Thursday:  put out the nativity and made a Christmas centerpiece.











I know I'm trying to get all of my shopping done by Thanksgiving, and I just can't help myself with the decorating.  I have about three friends who are already done shopping or also have the Thanksgiving goal.  Its not any kind of competition, but instead a very freeing feeling of knowing that come December, I will be free to enjoy the month without any deadlines.  But most of all, I want my December to be open so I can be free to give service, and really ponder the true meaning of Christmas.  It really does make a difference to get it done in advance, at least for me.  And . . . just one month of enjoying Christmas is not long enough.