So big . . .

Sweet Claire keeps growing and growing.

Here she is at one of our fun babysitting dates.

She's about 8 months in these pics.

 

 

 

She has stolen my heart!



Lax bro

Parting of being a senior is have a lot of 'lasts' - sigh.  Here's Chap at his last home lax game, bidding farewell to a high school sport that he's loved - and done very well at.

Yeah Huskies!!

 

 

PS - Daren and I don't usually wear matching shirts.  But this particular game was honoring Coach Sig - a wonderful coach from last year who died suddenly of heart disease at the end of last year's season.  Sig had a big impact on our boys - and it felt good to honor him and his family for one night, while supporting efforts to beat heart disease.



Oompa Loompa!

The best stage production of the year goes to:

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!!!

Marcy had a great time, along with lots of friends, performing as an oompa loompa.  The show was terrific - among the best we've seen done by a school.  I especially enjoyed watching with three cute great nieces - they make everything more fun!!

 



Friends + Dogs + Hiking

Daren and Marcy love hiking.  Daren and Marcy love dogs.  And Daren and Marcy (and everybody else we know) love the Birds.

So, put 'em all together, and you get the best outing ever.

 



There she goes again . . .

That Marcy - she just keeps getting straight As!!

Only this time, she was also given a unique Cornerstone award for excellent scholarship as well.  She's a keeper.

 

 

And, clearly, I'm not the only one who's impressed.

 

 



Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

One of the best parts of Daren's job is his need to travel to interesting and varied locations.  He's been to parts of the world that he never dreamed he'd go to - and, honestly, some I'd never even heard of! 

A benefit of this travel that I wasn't expecting - but have been so thrilled about - is when some of these new friends and colleagues have come to the U.S. and we can have them in our home.

Such was the case one winter evening when we had these delightful Bhutanese men come over for dinner.

We learned about their country, their language, their customs, their education system, their government, their families.  And they were interested to know about us as well.  It was an evening to remember!

 



Country Mouse, City Mouse . . .

Christmas break afforded us lots of opportunities for some good walks in a variety of places.  Sometimes, a walk in the country (here we're on the C&O canal) is the perfect activity . .

 

. . .  while other times, the sights and lights of the city are the perfect spot for a fun walk!

 

 

 

(If said walking wears you out, nothing says you can't stop for a little goodie along the way!)



December birthdays 2012

 

Marcy turned 12!!  She's delighted to be attending Young Womens now - and is becoming a beautiful woman!

 

She had a fun party with her friends - they made blankets, made a little music, and made lots of goodies.

 

 

We're thankful for all these sweet girls.

 

Max also had a birthday - and is now sweet 16!

 

It's been a family tradition to have some sort of surprise on your 16th birthday.  Max's surprise - a kidnapping - complete with mask and tether - by Chapman who took him to IHOP where he was led through the restaurant looking like a captive.  When he removed the mask - the place was full of his great friends.  Marcy and I tagged along and enjoyed the fun!

 

Happy birthday Marcy and Max!

Christmas 2012

 

Christmas this year was noteworthy from 2 vantage points:

1.  We had everybody home together - hooray!!

2. It was our first Christmas without Gram.  Boo.

 

To aid in helping Christmas seem cheery without Gram, and because her apartment was still going unused, we set up our tree in her living room and cheered the place right up!

 

After stockings and presents, we enjoyed a fun day at home, complete with the annual bottomless feast that lasts all day.  Lots of extended family came for the afternoon and evening and a merry time was had by all.

Merry Christmas!!

 

An evening in Bethlehem

After a lovely meal in Bethlehem - cheese, pita, grape juice, olives, fruit, lamb (and shrimp - just for yumminess), we enjoyed our annual ritual of acting out the nativity. . . .

 

 

A well-cast wise man

 

Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus

 

lamb and angel

 

3 'wise' men

 

angel visiting shepherds and their sheep in the fields of Bethlehem

 

"For unto us a child is born."