Christmas 2010

Here we were Christmas Eve 2009

Jacey and Kaylie

Grandpa's shock amuses Clay and Janyll while Michael awaits his turn to open a present.

Chris, Jacey and Michael - where's Jennifer?

And here we are Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Cactus on front porch

Merry Christmas wreath from Jude

Santa and Christmas tree lording it over the nativity scene

Jim, Jen and Chris

Janyll models hat from Clay

Dimly lit, Clay and Janyll..nothing personal


Janyll demonstrating my new exercise equipment from the Holinsworth's

Michael, Chris, Clay, putting together Michael's games.  Professor Birmingham (Janyll) is instructing.  Dominican University in San Rafael re-offered her a teaching position that fits her schedule; she said yes and so adds to her already impressive resume.

Our Professor

Jacey enjoying some of her favorite Christmas gifts; Elmo snuggy and aviator glasses.  She's grateful for a "cool" aunt and uncle who pick just the right gifts.

 Me, no doubt telling a story

 Jim watching Michael and Janyll playing soccer

We've had a very blessed year. 
Jen and family love their new home and are enjoying the new heating/ac unit; if not entirely thrilled with the necessity of having to replace the old one.
Clay also had news.  The company he works for is closing and I think they were told on Thursday (Dec 24) or at least very close to Christmas; however, he was offered another job on the same day, which he accepted.  We all rejoice!

Happy New Year

P. S.  Stan just sent picture from their Christmas celebration today.  Mom had changed her mind about going when he arrived at the nursing home to pick her up. He talked her into going.  She stayed about an hour and a half and when he took her home she said, "this will probably be our last outing". 

Stan and Mom - Christmas 2010

Thanksgiving, Weekend, Clay's birthday

 

Thanksgiving Day: Taken from my front porch, before taking train (partway) to Cameron Park

Jen picked me up in Folsom at the Iron Point station.

 The Holinsworth's hosted

Chris, Jen, Jacey and Michael

 Chris checking on the turkey

The cook gets company

Kelsey, Clay, Jeremy and Jacey

Jacey mugging for camera

 Jim and Janyll don't disturb Jeremy's texting

Clay and Chris

 Jacey with Aunt Janyll and Uncle Clay

and turkey



 Janyll, Jacey and Jennifer

Michael slays the dragon, Hunter

Kaylie and Abigail play Pet Shop

The Birmingham's: Jim, Jen, Liz and Clay

Hunter, Kelsey, Abigail, Becky and Don

 Jeremy, Kaylie (never keen on being photographed), Janyll and Clay

 Meanwhile, back at my house for the weekend, Kaylie decorated my tree and wrapped birthday presents for her mom and dad and took this picture.

She decorated a cake for her dad

and cupcakes: the pink figure is Clay, so says, Kaylie.

 We made a gingerbread house, our first; my last;

pictured here with pictures of birthday guy, Clay

Dad and Daughter

 Clay and Kaylie and Jim, at our very small birthday celebration

Jim, Clay, Kaylie and me.

Clay helping light his 31 candles after Jim and I burned our hands. We started lighting candles on outside, then inside.  At that point, our concerned son, took over the lighting. 

Kaylie and Grandpa

I was cooking for Kaylie and Jacey on Saturday morning and while I ran to get the camera, the melting butter horse lost a hind leg.

The Weekend November 13 - 14, 2010

Sunday, Nov. 14

Clay (James) completing the Big Sur Half Marathon in Monterey.

http://www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org/

Clay, Janyll and Kaylie enjoying the 17 Mile Drive

Here's Clay after completing the SF Half Marathon this summer.

Saturday, November 13

It's a perfect fall day but I'm still out looking for signs of fall. 

The trees in Fremont park are trying to change color.

No color here, but I've added, "how many ways can the capitol be photographed", to my stroll today.

West Entrance to capitol with Cathedral spire and Elks Bldgs in background

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1887

Architect Brian Clinch based the towered west façade of

this Baroque style cathedral on L’Eglise de la Trinite in

Paris, completed twenty years earlier.

Elks Building, 1926

The fourteen-story Elks Building was

for many years the tallest building in

Sacramento.

I see color

and always pretty flowers, but looking a little tired now

This is the same tree I spotted a few weeks ago and called it a pyracantha tree.  It has no thorns and the leaves resemble oak leaves.  I was told by another park visitor while we were both admiring the tree, that it was not a pyracantha.  So I'll call it, "pretty tree with orange berries".