An Eden Surprise

We had a wonderful time this Christmas season visiting with family, seeing some movies, and relaxing. Last week, my parents treated Jake and I to a fun evening of dinner and a chamber choir concert at a cathedral in Denver. It was great to get together and the music was spectacular. We have done this outing the past three years, and it has become a fun holiday tradition. 

Unfortunately our trip to visit Martha and Dick was delayed a couple of days due to snowy weather conditions, however we had a sunny drive through Colorado and Utah on Monday. For three days in Eden we enjoyed spending time together, eating fabulous meals, helping scheme a floral surprise, listening to Christmas music, catching up with Max and Corey and meeting their nice friends from BYU, playing lots of games and working on craft projects, looking at books, and general lounging about. 

The time we spend to together is something I really cherish and look forward to. Next summer will be so much fun to all be together to celebrate Martha and Dick’s 50th wedding anniversary!

I hope you all had a joyous Christmas too. We wish you have a wonderful New Year filled with many blessings. We love you all!

Christmas NH

Dreams do come True

Can't thank you all enough for the wonderful Christmas present you gave to Daddy and me. We will be counting the days until July 19 when we all will be together. It was a great surprise, and Jake and Max were very good secret keepers! Jake had asked me earlier in the week if anyone had made plans for next year for a Schickedanz get together and of course I said "no". He seemed genuinely disappointed, as was I. So it truly was an unexpected moment when we entered our bedroom to find a path of yellow petals leading to a vase filled to overflowing with 50 roses. I cried. And the loving note made me cry more. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know that it is a major deal for everyone to arrange their schedules, but I so appreciate it. And Daddy does too :)

We are looking forward to next July, and will try to think of lots of fun things to all do together -- and work out the "lodging"!! Obviously we will need to find sleeping places in the near vicinity for one and all to be comfortable.

From what I gather from the Christmas phone calls it was an enjoyable day for all of us. The New Hampshire "gathering" (except for Ben who was sick), the Beaverton Schickedanzes, the SF Schickedanzes, the Birmingham Learys and the Lakewood DeBaltzos. It was fun here in Eden with Jake and Clara, and Max and Corey brought another couple from Provo to spend the day here. Not much emphasis on presents, but lots of good food and Trivial Pursuit (Jake's favorite). Trivial Pursuit is one of those humbling experiences for me. I obviously know very little trivia but have a lot of deep thoughts :)

May 2014  be  a joyous year for us all!
Love, Mom

home again home again hippity hop

Here we are, having survived the 4 day drive across the USA. Snow was an issue in Buffalo and in Michigan, but otherwise the roads were dry and we had a great time chatting the time away as we drove.

Our visits in Sanbornton, Madbury, Lakewood and Birmingham were thoroughly enjoyable. Went WAY too fast! We made frosted sugar cookies with Johanna, Alice, Gus and Emmy, sang Christmas carols (especially The Twelve Days of Christmas), got to see Christmas trees in each home. Very Christmasy. Then there was the random book reading, cross stitching (Alice and Johanna like to make x's) and family dinners.

It was especially fun to see Abby and Ben's new home (exterior only) and wander through the great bookstore in their town of Exeter. It will be fun to stay with them next time we are in New Hampshire.

Great being with Lexi and family --- Thanksgiving was especially nice with the Learys there too.

And then it was a true refuge to be with Paige and Greg et al when we started our drive beck home. The weather was truly frightful and it was so nice to be able to stay the extra day when we just couldn't drive through the snow.

Fortunately the rest of the journey (once past Michigan) was easy -- dry roads and sunny weather. It is very nice to be here at home. We have gone through the stacks of mail with bills and Christmas cards. It will be so good to sleep in our own bed tonight :)

Hope all of you are enjoying this pre-Christmas. I know that Sean and family have had colds -- hope the rest of you are healthy and that the SF Schickedanzes recover in time for Christmas celebration. Jake and Clara arrive here on Saturday -- very exciting! And Max and Corey will be here Christmas Eve and Day. Very adult Christmas here in Eden :)

In my heart you'll ALL be here for Christmas!
Love, Mom

laughingwinneblog

Trying another way, mom said the video doesn't show up on the previous post. 

http://vimeo.com/80438040?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_campaign=7701&email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfDFiMzgzMWFhNzM5NTFhY2I3Yzg4NWVkMWQ3YzUwOGY3ODg4fDE3MzIwMzc3fDEzODU1MjcwOTJ8NzcwMQ%3D%3D#share

winnecostcoandlaughingblog

2013 has been big, but it's flying by.  Quick question, is Winne or the turkey bigger?  The turkey can't laugh like this though: