Week 52 Oregon City - December 23 - December 31, 2024

Ivan and family - Renee, Bjorn, and Magnus) came this week for Christmas and New Years.  They arrived Monday evening.... and the excitement began.

Christmas Eve dinner with sopapillas or Indian Fry Bread

Christmas Day - we did our usual traveling - first to Bev's, then to Travis', to Jessica's.  Warren was in Utah for the week.

Travis'

Ivan's

To the Scott's..but no photos.

We had Mexican food for Christmas dinner - the Indian Fry Bread was MUCH better this time. And then...The Secret Santa Gift Exchange.

Dad gave Natalie a t-shirt, and heated eye nighttime eye pads

Natalie gave Dad a Lego set of a chrysanthemum

Saturday was the baby shower for Haley' new baby boy due in April.  There were about 50 people there.

I made a veggie plate that looked like a lion.

Monday we redeemed the Christmas activity for Logan, Gretchen and Clara - - they wanted to go to the mall, wander around, and eat something.

We ate in the food court - same as last year - Jamba Juice, orange chicken and a Cinnabon.

Warren and Whitney and kids returned Monday night.  Santa had left the gifts at our house....so W & W came here for presents.

New Year's Eve at Jessica's

We cerebrated Copeland's 5th birthday

And...to end the year, the little kids watched the ball drop in New York City.

 Week 51 - Oregon City - December 16-Decembr 22, 2024

Welp!!! -This was  a big week!!!!!  

We bought a new car - a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid!

We said goodbye to the Scion which had been very good to us.

And said hello to the new Highlander!

The Scion had been such a good car - no troubles ever - we only changed the oil and filters on a regular basis and rotated the tires.  We want another car which will serve us as well for another ten years.  Hopefully we'll still be driving in ten years.

This week the our annual Family Music Recital.  Anyone who plays anything was invited to perform.  Even Dad dusted off his accordion and practiced diligently and played Jingle Bells and Away In a Manger.

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Copeland played a piano solo and a piano/guitar duet with me.

Holland played solos on the piano and violin, and she and I played a violin/guitar duet.

Ruby played beautifully on the piano.

Jude went up on the housetop with Santa!

Eric played Fur Elise

Abby on the violin

I did a guitar duet - What Child Is This with Whitney playing the guitar (part) on the piano.

Logan and I did two short guitar duets.

Clara played both the piano and cello

All of the performers and teachers.

Saturday we all did our annual trip to downtown Portland - Max Train -Pine Street Market (for lunch), Saturday Market, and Pioneer Place Shopping Mall.

I got the ramen for lunch this time around - a good choice.

Warren and his kids played with the beavers.

A high school band was playing on the sidewalk and Whitney and Abby danced to a song from Frozen.

The Christmas Tree at Pioneer Place

Sunday was the Christmas Sacrament Program.  Ruby the the Primary speaker.

Abby and Clara were in the youth choir.

Jessica and Warren played beautifully.

Mike Corbin came this week and finished the three upstairs windows and installed insulation in the Mt Hood room!