White Christmas in Plymouth

Tuesday bowling crew

Heidi stayed to join us, before heading back to MD on Wednesday

Look at Neil's style!

Uncle Jim came by to see us at Merri-bowl

Christmas morning music treat

Sisters

Our white Christmas

Jake is in 8th grade and my, how he's grown!  Heather is a senior.  Jess will be 21 in April I think.

Ollie just turned 3.  Jessica and Anne have temporary physical custody for now.  His mom is a neighbor.

Anne introduced me to Splendor - what a fun game!

Aaron and Kristina came over awhile.  This tells it all about Aaron - what a fun-lovin' guy.

Gary's other kids were missing - Sara joined the navy so is at basic training.  Phillip and Lindsey went to see her on Xmas Day in Chicago.

Heather, Jake, Anne, Jess and Ollie

Colleen and Mark

Colleen's picture of us.  Sorry neither of our kids and their families were there with us, but times change.  I remember how odd it felt the first time we went to Plymouth without our kids once they were out on their own.  Now we're used to it, and there's not enough room at Grandpa's house for them all, with just one bedroom available for guests.  

To Dollywood we go, with Claire, Easton and Folks

Teacup time at Dollywood on Thursday, Dec. 22.  We had 3 free passes that we used to get Claire, Ryan and Carrie in with us.  Easton is free till he turns 4.  We need to take advantage!

We loaded it down so much it wouldn't spin.

Ryan n Easton in the flying elephants

Easton's first roller coaster ride - he kept his face buried in Carrie's sweatshirt the whole time she said.

Trying to fit into the seat belt so she could ride too - to no avail.

Claire n Easton flying high in the bee

Ah yes - my favorite ride became Claire's too!

O Holy Night show with Claire.  Easton slept in the stroller outside during this one. We woke him up to get him out of the stroller when we got in to see the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" show.

The Wild Eagle coaster and another one behind it that Ryan and Carrie enjoyed.  Once I get past the first drop on the Wild Eagle, I love the rest of it.  It's so smooth - you feel like you're soaring with the eagles!

About to experience the Scrambler for her first time - she liked it!

We sat on the 2nd row in the middle (reserved seats!) during the Christmas in the Smokies show that Carrie and Ryan saw too.  They came in a bit after it started after enjoying several roller coaster rides while we went to 3 shows and some rides with the kids.

It was such a perfect day for Dollywood - with temps ranging from upper 30's at night to 50 for daytime high.

Carrie took these great pictures of all the lights on the buildings when we were in shows with Claire & Easton.

Claire n Easton stop in en route to FL for Xmas

In their new Xmas PJ's

Claire actually asked me if I wanted to get any pictures of them by the tree in their new PJ's.  She is well trained!

Future concert pianists

Enjoying what they found in their Xmas stockings (minus the yellow monster truck)

Out for our walk Friday, Dec. 23, while Easton napped

Some fun Claire and I had making a Christmas tree from some ingredients we were putting out for haystacks

The sz. 4T overalls we got Easton a year ago - still a bit long, but the flannel lining looks cute rolled up.

December Happenings

The first weekend of December we had Kinsey and her sister Courtney over for Sabbath dinner, along with Tyler, Jeremy's cousin.  The girls went with us to Sunshine Bands at Morning Point too.

Tyler

Courtney

Terrie came over Friday a week ago to play some Settlers again at last.  It had been weeks.

Last Sunday evening we took some family pictures of the Clubbs up on the Promenade at SAU for them to send in Christmas cards.  This was one of their favorites.

The photographer and his assistant

Connie & Roger came this weekend.  We enjoyed playing Zoomeron last night awhile.

Connie and I dominated the game series.

Randy took their picture after church Sabbath by our tree, that she used on FB for a nice Christmas greeting.

We drove around Mtn. Shadows enjoying Christmas lights Fri. night.  Thanks, Connie Hunt, for the list of Best Lights in the area.  The best was on Daugherty Lane off of Standifer Gap Rd. where three houses were really lit up.  I didn't think to take pictures there.

We went to hear the Metropolitan Bells Christmas Concert at a church in Cleveland and loved it so much we went a week later to hear them again at a church on E. Brainerd, where the picture below was taken.

The conductor sat down during this song, showing how well they can do without him. They are fabulous.

Roueche, the conductor of the Roueche Chorale and Orchestra, that we enjoyed again this year for their Christmas Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Fri., Dec. 9. This little girl was an amazing soloist.