Just Like a Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Episode

Yes, we had a very nice Christmas at Mom's house (Hant and Uncle Jay's old house).   Almost every year, Hant and Uncle Jay would make their yearly trip to Arizona, well before Christmas, so most of the time, their house was closed up for the winter.  But, on the rare times that we were all able to be together for Christmas, Mom and Hant would have their traditional sip of Creme de Menthe,  and then giggle at themselves after their drink.

While the little, old house can only fit about the same amount of people as a hotel elevator can hold,  we still enjoy getting together and making our own family traditions - even if the tradition is one that only Kathy and I enjoy, (hey, it's still a tradition).  We pull out our cameras,  loaded with fresh batteries and lots of memory cards,  and recruit some victims . . . I mean our children, to record the Christmas festivities.

Now, while Kathy's earlier blog about "photo time" (SEE HERE) read like a Mister Roger's Neighborhood episode, (which did make for good reading, by-the-way,  but it really didn't go that perfectly.)   Now, I will say, she didn't follow us outside so she missed hearing all of the whining from the boys, "No, not picture time again, blah, blah, blah."

Here's how the photo shoot really went:

This is where I said to the boys, "now, just start walking."  They thought it would be funny to start walking in different directions, instead of walking towards the camera!  As you can see by the smirk on Jay's face, and Ryan and Justin laughing in the background, that messing with Mom, the photographer, was way too much fun!

O.K., now we have Ryan saying, "Hey, aren't we old enough that we don't have to listen to her anymore?"

Hey, Ryan.  You weren't listening to me anyway!   But the shoot was much better that way.  So thanks, guys, for goofing around with me and doing your own thing.  I was able to capture your personalities, which made for great pictures.  And besides, wasn't the Mister Roger's show boring, anyway?

Like an antique postcard.

This picture reminds me of one of those old postcards from the turn of the century. Of course they didn't have all the ugly signs, phone lines and old vehicles that had to be cropped out. But the message it emanates is timeless.

May this new year bring you many blessings and peace on earth. Happy 2011.

It's never too cold, and your never too old.

 

When the occasion arises that we can have all our busy children together, it is an opportunity for a photo session. So what if it is in the 20s. And so what if they are in your 20s.  No sense in fighting it. Jay, Ryan and Justin have learned to just relax and go with the flow when mom says "It is photo time." 

Nice work boys!

Carrying on the family tradition.

One of our favorite memories of Christmas was Grandma Phoebe's mitten tree. She made a pair of mittens for every grandchild each year. As time passed, and the number of grandchildren, and mittens, grew, she never seemed to regret starting the tradition. And even with painful arthritis, she soldiered on each year creating these cherished treasures.

Now the tradition is carried on by her daughter Bess, who lovingly works throughout the fall and winter months making them for Phoebe's GREAT-grandchildren - all 85 of them. (Those under the age of 18 anyway). Pinned along with each string of mittens is a picture of Grandma Phoebe, so she and her Christmas tradition live on in the next generation.

Our wishes for you this Christmas season is to be filled with the joy of similar traditions and warm memories of the people who made them special.