Just the right white.

We were blessed with a LITTLE snowfall on January 3, 2009... which is also the date of our third Christmas for 2008. This is a little closer to the 'white Christmas' that people in Washington like to see. I even undecorated the Christmas tree a couple days before and had it sitting outside... just waiting for the snow.

Thanks God, for delivering.

We were also blessed to have almost my entire family come up for the day, braving the threat of snow, to celebrate Christmas since our first attempt was cancelled on account of snow.

For those of you random web searchers who stumble across this here is the rundown of who is who: clockwise from lower left: Tanya, Grandpa Dave, Mikayla, Grandma Margie, Alexia, Steve, Rachel, Emily & Joey.

Grandpa Dave shared stories about me being caught playing on the roof of the house... when I was 5.

The stories quickly escalated to the story about when a stray-cat made its way into my duplex and turned itself into a Tasmanian devil... and it took three of us wrapped up in blankets (for use as body armour) to escort that thing right out the second story window.

After lunch we went back to the house for chit-chat, gift opening and of course, some grown-ups vs. kids Wii Sports.
Here you see Grandpa Dave vs. Mikayla in a Tennis match.

It's purely coincidence that it looks like Grandpa Dave is ready to clobber Mikayla with the remote.

I took the opportunity to show off my book... since it had arrived just the day before (finally). Everyone seemed impressed... except for the dog.


It was great to have all of you up for the holidays. Thanks for coming and hopefully we'll see more of you all this summer!

~E