Robert's Birthday!

Today is Robert's birthday. They came up from Provo for a few days. His favorite cake is yellow with chocolate frosting. What is it about that combination? It is just sweet divine goodness (to borrow a phrase from Nic). Natalie did a great job on it. It could have come from a bakery! He wanted all 26 candles on it and blew them out in one big breath. Playing the trombone has some lingering benefits! (once you get to 20 in our house, you only get 3 candles: 1-past, 2-present, 3-future. I'm telling you, this thing was a-blaze!)

He wanted one of his favorite dinners which is homemade tacos, so Natalie obliged. It was nice to kind of sit back and watch my daughter take over and move into her place as a wife taking care of her hubby. The meal was 'delish-ous'. We always enjoy this one.

Happy Birthday Robert! We Love You!

New Years Eve

There is always a lot to do the first day here. Catch up on any laundry we left. Assess what food we have, what we were able to freeze before we left the last time. What is available in canned items. Make a menu to use what already is available and then go to the store to get fresh items. Re-set all the clocks from the random power outages. Give everything a good dusting. Etc.

So today was that day. When we got here last night it was 8* outside and 50* inside. We got the fireplace going and the radiant floor heat on. That usually gets things going pretty well. We had a bowl of soup and went to bed. It was freezing. We woke up all toasty until we got out of bed. We looked at our indoor temp and it was still 50*! What? Well, the boilers in the utility room had blown a fuse and it needed to be reset. Then we found a little leak in one of the pipes that feeds into the radiant system. Okay. That is beyond Duff's capacity, so phone calls had to be made. Yeah. On New Years Eve. We got the fireplace up and going again, and turned on the electric oven and opened the door. We bundled up. The plumber said he knew exactly what was needed and gave it a temporary fix and will have the parts on Friday for us. So now we are nice and warm! In California if we didn't have heat, it would be chilly in our house but we'd be okay. If you lived here you could be in real trouble without heat. We were pretty pleased though that even with no heat our place still maintained 50* during the night. Not too bad.

I am not very rodent friendly and I found a dead mouse in our bathtub this morning. Ughhh. Duff kindly removed the little critter and I cleaned and disinfected twice before I would get in it for a quick bath before going to the grocery store.

Addy and Christine romped in the snow and started a snowman. Lots of laughter and fun. They've played lots of SkipBo with each other and Robert. Natalie broke out the new puzzle Santa brought. We are continuing with the 24 marathon.

Even if we were at home, we would most likely stay in. We are not much for partying. Neither of our parents were very adventurous that way and I guess follow in the same path. We will break out the Martinelli's at midnight and have a toast!

Happy New Year!

Drive, Drive, Drive....

...roads clear. VERY cold though! Lots of snow at our place. Christine brought Addy this time. We had a season 1 marathon of 24 for most of the drive. Addy hadn't seen it before. I remembered a lot (even though I could only listen because I was driving) but I had forgotten a lot too. Duff and Shaun drove together in the truck, and the girls and I drove in the Denali. Got unloaded. Move Shaun into his apartment on Friday.

Off to bed...

Sunday Magic

What is it about Sunday? I was thinking about that this morning when I first woke up and was evaluating yesterday. Things just seem to 'work', you know what I mean?

Church. Good messages and lessons to make you think. Good visiting with friends. A nap. Word Searches. Book reading. Nice dinner. Movie. Mere realized at 9pm she had forgotten her purse in her dad's car. So Christine and I took her over to her parents to get it. We left at 11:50 pm! Richard, Patti and I had a good visit. He left for Pepperdine, and Patti and I continued to talk around the kitchen table and the puzzle they were putting together. Pretty soon, we were all gathered there with chairs pulled up just chatting and laughing away. How does that happen--getting a burst of energy like that late at night? It only took the ride home to get us all calmed down and head straight to bed when we walked in the door.

As I was thinking about it, we did so much yesterday. About the same as a weekday, if you are counting things on a list. But it feels different on a Sunday. A true Magic!

Christina Gets Married

Dad and I went down to San Diego Temple this morning for Christina K.'s wedding. There was absolutely NO traffic of any kind which is unheard of on a Saturday morning going south on the 5. We have had rain and cold, gray days, but not today! The sun was brilliant and the ocean was sparkling. The water was the perfect shade of slate blue with diamonds dazzling all over it from the morning sun, and the white foam of the waves breaking on the shore. The only word to describe it is breathtaking! Green hills on the east and the beach and ocean on the west. Such a beautiful break from winter.

Christina was a gorgeous bride. The ceremony simple and complete. She was 6 years old when our families moved here. And now all grown up.

Reception: Simple yet elegant. The Evans catered. Turkey, roast beef, roasted red potatoes, seasoned veges, and their signature salad, fruit, rolls, etc. They served Golden Spoon frozen yogurt since Christina used to work there and the Koelliker's aren't real big cake fans. They prefer ice cream ANY day over cake. But true to tradition, they did have a cake and serve it. There was marble and Red Velvet! Oh my gosh, was it GOOD. Her colors were a Christmas red with black and white and the red cake was a perfect touch. They served red velvet until it was gone as that was what most people asked for! I've never seen red velvet cake served at a wedding reception. That's a good one to remember.

1st Birthday!

Happy Birthday little David Cammack. We hope you have a fun time celebrating!

Happy, Happy Birthday David Dear

Happy Days Will Come To You All Year

If I Had One Wish Then It Would Be:

A Happy, Happy Birthday to You from Me!

Gingerbread House

Have you ever built a Gingerbread House? This was the very first time I have ever done one. Oh, I've helped decorate a little here and there over the years. Christine and Meredith took J.T. to see Bedtime Stories and have some dinner and the guys were watching bball and gaming upstairs, so Adrianne and I did the Gingerbread House while we watched The Family Man. I have such a respect for these now. I had no idea how hard they are! They are a work of LOVE. This was a kit that I bought at a local craft store, so the house was already baked, cut, and frosted together. We just had to design and decorate. Even at that it took us several hours. She cut all those green gumdrops into evergreen garland and bushes and I did the icing and we both did the candy decorating.
I learned how to make frosting icicles. It is my favorite part. I am so pleased with them! It took some practicing.

The back of the house. We were going to do criss-cross windows here too, but the red icing got too warm and we were getting too tired. We had so much fun just the two of us doing this. Get ready, family. We think it might be fun to have a decorating contest next Christmas season for FHE! Any takers????

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas morning was rainy, cold, and fun. Mike and Adrianne came by at 7:30 and everyone met downstairs for present opening. Duff got this tshirt from Mike and Adrianne. It's totally appropriate.
Darla was completely into gift opening. How does she know this every Christmas? She ran from person to person so excited. Then the next gift was for her. She totally knew it was her bag. I tried to get a picture with her head in the bag but I couldn't get it. But here she is very happy with her 'loot'.

The Christmas morning aftermath. Side note: We always plug the tree lights in while we open presents. They didn't work! Only the very first strand on the bottom! We worked and jiggled but to no avail. I tried several times a day and -nope- not working. Duff sat there on the floor, looked at me and said, " It's a sign. Maybe we should get a fake tree next year." This is a huge concession on his part. He is a real Christmas Tree fanatic to the core. We have had more trouble with this tree this year. We got it in the stand and it was crooked. We made sure it was level at the bottom in the stand. But it was still crooked. We finally discovered that the whole trunk bends about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom. How did we not see that when we picked it out? We've tried to balance it to have it at least look straight and each time it lasts for a while and then it moves back to the way it was. We have laughed and laughed over this tree! And now the lights don't work! So we'll see how Duff feels next year at this time!

Darla getting warm laying by the fireplace. She loves doing this and there is something soothing about watching her do so. Oh that life could be this simple all the time!

Josh and Meredith took off for the Petersons for their Christmas morning and we set about making breakfast with everyone else. Adrianne made funeral potatoes to take to the Robertson Christmas dinner and then they headed out. It was a quiet day for the 4 of us. We loved it. Rain kept falling and it was COLD. We were going to go and see Marley and Me, but the day got away from us and we didn't care. We had leftovers that we turned into french dip sandwiches. Umm, umm good.

Missing Natalie and Robert who are in Cancun with Robert's family. I am looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing all their stories.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"At the focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph--and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how Christmas began. It is for this baby that we shout in chorus: 'Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King! . . . Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth' ( Hymns, no. 209)."

--Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows", New Era, Dec. 1994

This is what it's all about. We send our love to you for a day filled with the Savior's peace and joy. A day of celebration of His birth and all that it signifies.

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!

Christmas Eve

...too tired. Going to bed. GREAT time tonight! Stay tuned...


Update: Adrianne had to work until 2pm. Mike came over earlier. Mere ran to finish up some shopping early. Josh slept in. Duff went to the chiropractor. I started in on the side dishes for dinner. Christmas music was going. Darla greeted everyone as they came and went. In the air was the feeling of Christmas!

Miss Darla all decked out in her holiday finest. New red sweater, Christmas scarf, and new red bling collar! We had appetizers around 3pm and then headed at 4 to Target to do our 20/20: each person gets $20 and 20 minutes to buy for members of a family that Duff and I 'find' that need some additional holiday cheer. It always takes longer than 20 minutes, and we always go 'over budget'.

Finally time to sit down and enjoy our Christmas dinner. Didn't Adrianne and Christine do a great job on the table? l-r: Shaun, Josh, Adrianne, Mike, Duff.

Menu: Prime Rib, funeral/cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls, butter, jam, raspberry pretzel salad.
Griffin, Katrina (mid-sentence), Christine, Meredith. I think this was the hysterical conversation between the males and females about Twilight and Edward! OH! Did we ever laugh! Katrina is making her point, and I might add, she did a very good job on behalf of all of us 'gals'.

Snowmen and Candles

The Carolers on the mantle.

Hope. One of the great blessings Christ brings us.

The 3 Wisemen bringing their Gifts. What do we 'bring' to the Christ child?

Lots of laughter tonight! Griff and Katrina fit right in. The 3 young couples hit it off so well. What is it about holidaydinners around the table? It seems to bring up lots of famous family stories. They are well known and remembered, but somehow always get retold at a holiday dinner table. Like the one when I got exasperated with Duff over the kids arguing about a pork chop and tossed my plate. Or the one where Aunt Julie flipped everyone off over the honey being on the table. They all involve a frustrated mother/father with kids. I'm glad they are so funny now! Maybe it's because kids like to know that even parents are human too and we can make a mistake and learn from it and life goes on! Last night we were laughing until our sides ached. I think it aids in digestion, right?!

Katrina explaining why she has 2 anniversaries! Okay. See my point. Families love the stories that make us who we are! l-r: Katrina, Christine, Meredith

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus have arrived. We are listening to Santa getting us ready to sing. He chose Jingle Bells and brought the bells to accompany our family 'choir'. Haha! Shaun and Christine answered the call and jingled the bell straps. l-r: Josh, Shaun, Mere, Christine, Adrianne.

He's made his list, and checked it twice! And has brought us a little gift to get ready for tomorrow! Everyone has to sit on his lap. Mrs. Claus hands out goodies from her kitchen.

l-r: Mrs. Alice Claus, Duff, Mr. John Santa Claus

The Claus's with Mike and Adrianne.

Mr. and Mrs. C with Josh and Meredith

Jolly Old St. Nick with his sweetheart and Christine.

Griffin and Santa having a moment!

Katrina so polite with The Claus's.

...and then she thanked Santa by giving him a hug! Santa was so happy and Griff got a little 'jealous'! Not really, but it sure got us all laughing some more! Happy times. Good times.

Santa had to get on his way. Mrs. Claus had some hot chocolate ready and waiting in the sleigh so he would be warm for his trip around the world. Griffin got a new camera and he was snapping away. He is the one who got the group shot of all of us together, so I'll have to wait until he sends it to me. It's pretty cute.

We all went back to the living room and had our program about the real reasons we celebrate the Christmas Holiday. This year we tweaked it a little by having each person or couple contribute. So we started with Mike and Adrianne who read the quote by Howard W. Hunter about mending a quarrel, forgiving someone, etc. Then Shaun read a story about The Gift of Love and helping others. Meredith and Josh did a presentation about a story that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Christine played a Christmas song by RachelRicchio that Sister McD. wrote a few years ago. It was just the right touch. Then I had a Christmas quiz for everyone. We all learned a lot of things that we thought we knew, but didn't!

Griff and Katrina were next with a story from the Friend about Mr. Jinks Hands Out the Holly. It was now time for Duff to read the true Christmas Story from the scriptures. The spirit was strong. We moved to the family room where we watched Mary Did You Know, and yes I cried like I always do! Then we knelt and Duff offered our family prayer. He thanked Heavenly Father for His son and all our blessings specifically and then asked for individual blessings for each one of us there. What a sweet experience.

Next up: Dessert! Griff and Katrina were in charge of that. Lots of holiday goodies.

The guys did the dishes, each taking their turn at the sink washing! Thank You men that we love! and we girls headed upstairs to my very holiday messy bedroom to wrap up the gifts for 'our' special family. We kept hearing towels snapping and laughing coming from the kitchen, but I guess in fairness, we had our own female bonding going on upstairs too!

G & K got on the road for home arms filled with leftover pretzel salad, shrimp, rolls,and a jar of jam, and we took off to make our delivery. Shaun and Christine and I got to run up to the door this year. They ran one way and I ran the other, and I had to wait until they retrieved their surprise to get picked up, so I hid between the next door neighbors two cars. The neighbor across the street came out and did not like what he thought might be a menopausal prowler. I stealthily made my way across the street and explained that I was a 'good will toward men ambassador', and it's a good thing I did, because he had his cell phone and was just about to dial 911! Family Car #2 came by and I hopped in for the drive home and we had a good laugh as I explained what was going on.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Joseph's Birthday

Today is the prophet, Joseph Smith's, birthday. I was thinking this morning how fitting it was that he was born just 2 days before we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

" Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it."

I have never had the need to question his role as prophet and the restoration of the gospel. For some reason I have always known it's truth deep down inside my core in a way that is not easily explained but strong and foundational. I have a testimony of Joseph. I have a testimony that he did see God, the Father, and God, the Son, in answer to his humble prayer. I'm grateful to take a moment and remember him today.

Guess Who "Came" To Dinner?

Yes, it was Griffin and Katrina! Love those two! They met us at sacrament meeting and enjoyed the great program with us. It was our first time to finally meet Katrina, and she is just adorable. Griff, you scored. She is amazing! They got married the day after Mike and Adrianne this year in February. They were supposed to get married on the same day, but a major snowstorm came and they had to scramble to change it to the next day because all the roads were closed!!! They just made themselves at home. They kept Duff company while the rest of us finished up with church. I love it when people feel comfortable in our home. Katrina kicked off her shoes, curled up on the couch in a blanket with Darla on her lap. She is missing her little Bella doggy. She just carried her all over the house! and Darla loved every minute of it. Griff shed the suit coat, loosened the tie and untucked his shirt.

We popped the lasagne I made in the morning in the oven. Katrina and Griff got the Christmas plates out of the hutch for me and set the table while I got the garlic bread and salad going. And of course, the football game was on and the guys were loving that. We sent them on their way right after dinner as Griffin had a music session at 6pm. Griff is a music composer, writer, recorder, mixer, you name it he does it, in Hollywood. We were teasing him about remembering us in his acceptance speeches for the Oscars, Grammy's, etc. Shaun told him he could mention that he gave up the last piece of garlic bread so Griff could have it! Haha! But we are looking forward to Christmas Eve with them!

Love you guys!

Are You Ready For Christmas?

This is one of my most favorite Christmas pictures. One day I'd love to have a large framed one hanging in my home all year long! Today was a great day. It just flowed from one thing to the next and was full of the Christmas spirit.

We had our Christmas sacrament meeting program today. We could have all gone home after and been truly upifted. The program, music, narration was full of the spirit. The program began and finished with the big question: ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

That is probably the most asked question during the holiday season. I know I ask it regularly. But the answer that was given today was the best I've ever heard!

We are not ready for Christmas when our list is crossed off. We are ready when we feel the Savior's love and are at peace.

Gee, and I was doing so well with the 'list'! Haha! All that said, I have felt a different feeling this year. Not so hectic, I guess. Less stressful. We slimmed down our gift giving by 1/2 at least which uncomplicated a lot. Less to buy, less to wrap, etc. We didn't go to every party we were invited to and spent more time at home with family. I started early in the fall putting together and gathering presents. We've watched more Christmas movies and I've had Christmas music on 20 hours a day it seems! It's just hard to make a bad mood last when Christmas music is playing, don't you think?! A new Christmas story daily. Prayers increased.

So: Are You Ready For Christmas?

(Duff moved wrong and his back is out again. He stayed home today, which is soooo not like him. Griffin and Katrina came down from Hollywood and went to church with us and had dinner. Christine's friend, Alex, went to church too and is spending today and tomorrow with us. Cute girl from school. Koelliker's came by with our favorite gift from them: Brett's homemade fudge. A few years ago they started bringing us some other gifts for Christmas, which we loved, but we all agree: the fudge is the BEST gift from them! We all sat around the fireplace getting warm, laughing, talking, helping Christina decide which shoes she wants to wear with her wedding dress on Saturday. Love that girl! Christine and Alex made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. It was so good. What is it about yellow cake with chocolate frosting? Hard to resist! Today is also Quincy's 11th birthday. I clearly remember the day she was born. It was a Sunday, just like today. Brett called in the morning saying he was taking Kim down to the hospital. Could I come and help get the other kids ready for church and take care of them for the day? Yes. We got the call that Quincy had arrived during dinner. Brett gave us a list of things to get from their house and bring down. We had to take 2 cars of course with 11 kids to get down to Mission Hospital (ours and theirs)! She was the cutest little thing. All wrapped up in pink. You could pick her right out--she just looked like a Koelliker in that nursery. They brought her out to Kim and it was sweet to watch their family meet their new little sister! More rain is coming tomorrow. Yahooie!)

The 12 Days of Christmas

When I was growing up, we sang this carol as part of our family Christmas Eve program. My dad even made a large flip chart to aid us with the chorus. There is a lot to remember! Kristin made a flip chart for Natalie and Robert as her family tradition gift so they can carry it on.

But this is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

I got an email this week and I found out!

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So here is a history lesson for today! Now we know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol!

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

Christmas Countdown!

It is the last Saturday before Christmas! Here is how we spent ours. How did you spend yours?

• Phone Calls


• Cleaned out under the bathroom sink. (I just went to put something away and looked at it and decided I couldn't deal with it for a moment longer. Everything came out, went through it all, threw some out, rearranged some and put it all back. Much nicer!)


• Cleaned up kitchen.


• Showered.


• Mike and Adrianne came over.


• Mike and Duff took the grocery list and did the shopping.
  
• Adrianne, Christine, and I WRAPPED! Boy did we get a lot done! I started out wrapping too, but then I moved to box 'prep' and brought them to the girls and they wrapped them. I'd go back to the bedroom and do more prepping and bring them out to the wrapping station. Christine has officially joined the wrapping ranks this year. I'm so glad because Nats always saved 'my bacon' in the wrapping department and now she's married and off doing her own wrapping! A big shout out to Adrianne and Chris. The wrapping is almost all the way done. We turned on the original Miracle on 34th Street and enjoyed that while we wrapped.


• M & A brought their wok and we cooked up some fried rice to have with the leftover mandarin chicken from the boat parade last night that we brought. Um, umm, yummy.


• During this we watched the Las Vegas Bowl. Sigh. BYU had some great opportunities but in the end didn't pull it off.


• Cold, cold, so we have a fire in the fireplace. Oooo. Cozy. Now we are watching the PBS special of David Foster's concert. Amazing. I want to know: how do you find out in advance where they do these concerts? We would LOVE to go to one in person. We've decided that we all want to go to a Michael Buble concert someday. Anybody want to come along???

Light As A Feather Pancakes

We smelled this scrumptious aroma wafting up the stairs this morning. A cold Saturday morning begs for a hot breakfast. Christine had her BH&G New Junior Cookbook out and was serving up some Light As A Feather Pancakes. These are one of her specialties. For a 14 year old, she is pretty dang good in the kitchen. She called up that breakfast was ready. Quite a nice surprise for us! Light As A Feather Pancakes

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk (or soured milk)

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Put flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Stir until combined.

Crack the egg into the other mixing bowl. Beat with the wire whisk or fork until yolk and white are mixed. Add buttermilk and oil to egg. Beat with the whisk until ingredients are well mixed.

Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Stir until dry ingredients are wet. The batter should be somewhat lumpy, not smooth.

Heat griddle. Use 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Turn when bubbles form on top. Cook for another minute or so on other side.

(This child's cookbook is awesome! The pictures are complete and wonderful. The directions are very clear and precise. If you have junior cooks in the house this would be a really good gift for them)

Kelland is Having a Birthday

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday Dear Kelland,

Happy Birthday to YOU!

21 years. Where does it go and why does it go so fast? We hope your day is awesome.

100 Years Of Cheer

Wrapping, wrapping, and now off to Balboa to meet some friends on their boat for the Christmas boat parade. Details and pictures to follow.....

We had a really fun time! It wasn't as cold out on the water as we thought it would be. That's not to say it wasn't cold, just not as cold as it could have been. We pulled out of the slip at 5:45 sharp so we could get our place in 'line' for the parade. The sights were amazing. Christmas music was playing from the individual docks, homes, boats, yachts, etc. There are no words to describe the lights. We saw them everyway you could imagine on homes and watercraft.

Inside the salon. Diane coordinated a potluck Chinese dinner. It hit the spot. l-r: Kristen, Darcy, and Janis H., Geralene B., Donna A., and Diane.

Barry H. and Duff chatting up the bowl game tomorrow night. Barry is a died in the wool Ute fan. That's a bad word in our house! Haha!

This is the yacht in front of us that we followed during the parade. The theme this year is 100 Years of Cheer. So all the watercraft had to decorate around that. I have to learn how to take better pictures and /or get a better camera, because this absolutely does not do it justice.

This one was completely decorated with conical Christmas trees that changed colors. This was when they were changing from purple to blue. Then they went to red and green. It was breathtaking.

Another boat in the parade. Notice the big snowman on the top. When it was our turn to pass the judges, we all yelled "Merry Christmas!" through the speaker system.

Happy Holidays. The lights from the boats reflected off the water and everything shimmered.

Christine brought her friend Chelcie B. (left) l-r: Chelcie, Kristen, Christine.

Captain Mark gave everyone the opportunity to man the P.A. system! But you had to put all your heart and soul into it. So the girls were doing some FANTASTIC caroling. They sang their hearts out a capella. You also had to greet everyone on the docks and boardwalks. I was surprised at how many people come to watch the parade. The whole harbor was packed. They cheered for all the boats.

This was pretty unique. It is an old fashioned outrigger. Check out the little platform in the middle. They had a sound system and played the most random songs. But the songs were peppy and kept the paddlers in sync with the rythm! Every so often they would rotate the rowing crew. These guys went around the entire harbor!

Thanks to our hosts, Diane (our cruise director) and hubby Mark (the Captain). Today is their anniversary. 28 years! We had a great time!

Concert and Tree

We had a grand evening! Tonight it was Christine's Orchestra Christmas Concert. They really are quite good. The only picture I got. There's a whole other side to the right.
Since we were 1/2 way there, we went over to Mike and Adrianne's to see their tree. They were so excited to have their 1st Christmas tree. They did a beautiful decorating job. Adrianne has all their holiday things out and it is festive and fun.
She has had these bubble lights packed away and was excited to use them. They are quite FUN!