Friday, December 31, 2010

Whoosh!

That is the sound that has reverberated through my mind all year - whoosh, and it's over!! Really quite the whirlwind and 2011 promises to be even more so. Taking one day at a time though. :)

Christmas was our usual house full of family, 23 of us this year! We should have had one more, but nephew Taylor had to stay in Boise for work. (We missed you, Taylor!) On Christmas Eve, I roasted the turkey and prepared the salmon chowder. How we look forward to that chowder all year long! Then it's candlelight service at church.

On Christmas morning, things start out pretty quiet as the kids don't wake up at 6 a.m. these days - teenagers! All the better for Mystie's family to have their own gift opening. While waiting for my adult kids to arrive, we nosh on cinnamon bread and coffee.

At last we're all together and the gift opening begins.


Knox




Ilse

It takes about three hours for us to get through all the gifts. The last one opened was mine from DH and the kids. They bought me a Nook!

I now have several library books on it and have really enjoyed using it. Thanks to Gary and the kids!!

Lots of merriment followed the gifting, including snacking, cooking, chopping, chatting, carving, etc. This year I tried a new vegetable dish, Bobby Flay's roasted brussels sprouts with pomegranates and vanilla-pecan butter. Really good, and even better the second day! Mystie brought her traditional layered jello and 7-up salad, plus roasted mushrooms and garlic. Quite a treat! And I can't leave out that my sister, Janeale, baked 40 dozen cookies to bring up for the weekend. Yes, almost 500 cookies! Remember those teenagers? Seven of them are boys who inhale them. Janeale is the cookie master, each one is perfectly delicious. :)

The McCleeses hung around until Monday. That evening Geoff, Gary, I, Jim and Paula, drove out to Prosser for a little wine tasting and microbrew sampling. I, the non beer drinker, even had a sampling of three beers/stouts at the Whitstran brewery and actually enjoyed them, although I like my wines better. :)

The Boise Paulsons left Tuesday and it's been kinda quiet ever since. With all the merriment over Christmas, I do enjoy a quiet New Year's Eve and that's just what I have planned for tonight.

To you, my friend, I wish God's blessings of peace, love, and laughter throughout all of 2011!

20 comments:

Lynn said...

Great photos Von! Your Christmas sounded wonderful. Our family has just departed and we are looking forward to a quiet New Year as well. Just some close friends for dinner.
Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!!

Kathryn said...

Your family is so beautiful Von.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas - I love the family stories the best!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Von!!

marylin said...

Je te souhaite une très Bonne Année 2011, où la joie, le bonheur, et la santé seront au rendez vous , pour toi et les tiens !


Amitiés, marylin

Daffycat said...

Such a lovely family!

Best wishes in the New Year!

Sharon said...

Your family is beautiful! What a great gift they gave you. Ilse is just gorgeous! Happy New Year to you and your family!

Dianne said...

Happy New Year to you and your large family! I think with my brothers and me, it's only 13 in our family.
Your photos were all so nice. Glad you got a Nook and you are enjoying it. I wish my husband had researched the e-readers. I got a Kindle for my November birthday, but wish I could download library books too.
Interesting menu items too. I like to mix things up too!

Jacqueline Korteland Boller said...

You can say that again...where did the year go? Happy 2011!!

Shelleen said...

Happy New Year and great pics of the family.

Nancy in IL said...

Von, I always enjoy looking at your family gatherings. I envy your large family. We only have one living daughter, and our group affairs are too small. The teenagers (3) always leave after the gifts are opened, LOL! They get Visa gift cards and cash from us, and it burns holes in their pockets!

I thought your ornament looked gorgeous without the tassle! I would love to receive such a beautiful thing!

You're right about "Whoosh!" This year has flown by and so will 2011. First thing you know, we'll all be worrying about the holidays again, which is what I predicted LAST Christmas. Happy New Year, Von!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 is good to you! What a wonderful event Christmas is for your family!!!

a woman who is said...

Whoosh...my sentiments exactly. I am praying for a slower 2011! Hey about that wine tasting...call us next time =)

Happy New Year and blessings to you and yours for 2011!

Kathy A. said...

Sounds like a great Christmas. The little ones make it so special don't they. I
I have an ereader too - love it!
Happy New Year to you and your family.

Siobhán said...

Beautiful photos, Von! Happy new year to you and your family. Best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity for you all! Enjoy that Nook! :)

barbara said...

You have such a beautiful family, Von! Thank you for sharing such wonderful photos. Wishing you all the joy of the New Year!

Terri said...

Are you loving your Nook?!

Gwendolyn said...

Thank you for letting us peek into your Christmas celebrations! What a wonderful family. The Lord bless you in this New Year!

Lelia said...

Happy New year! Enjoy your Nook. One of my GFs got one for Christmas. She was still learning how to use it last time I saw her.

marylin said...

De gros bisous, et un bon dimanche,
Marylin

marylin said...

bisous et bon week end !op