Christmas - 2007

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin; glad tidings for Christmas And a happy New Year! It's that time of year, carolers are singing with holiday cheer!!

Yes, it's that time of the year, again. Rocke and I can visualize all of our friends busy in their homes, humming or singing Christmas songs and decorating, baking delicious homemade gifts for family and friends and what ever else they're doing to get ready for the holidays. What a wonderful time of the year!

Rocke and I didn't do any decorating for Christmas this year, since we were going to be gone. When Christmas Eve arrived, we were ready with our baked goods and gifts for everyone.

We were going to spend Saturday, December 22, with the Ross and Ryan Warren families, but when Rocke woke up on Saturday morning he was not feeling well. We had to call Ross and let him know that we wouldn't be able to make it to the family Christmas get-together.

Sunday, Ross and Heather called to see how Rocke was doing. He was feeling better, so we invited Ross, Heather and the kids over for a small quiet Christmas celebration. What fun to have the grandkids, Austin and Sydney over to open their gifts.

Austin was happy to see his Spiderman scooter, something he really wanted. Ross got it put together for Austin and off he went riding around in the house. Sydney got a Disney Princess scooter, complete with helmet and safety pads. Hers was a little more complicated to put together, so Sydney had to be patient and wait until Ross got things figured out. Finally, she was able to try and ride her scooter around the house with Austin.

Monday Rocke was feeling better, so I packed up the car and we drove over to The Dalles to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Michael and Sylvia. Michael had smoked a turkey, made smoked baked beans and a peach cobbler for our Christmas dinner. Rocke and I made scalloped potatoes to go with the dinner. After Sylvia arrived home from work we all sat down and enjoyed a delicious dinner, while we visited and caught up with currents events in our lives. Close to midnight we gathered around the Christmas Tree and opened our gifts.

On Christmas morning, we enjoyed Christmas breakfast with Michael and Sylvia, relaxed, and visited with them until early in the afternoon. We were enjoying ourselves and hated to leave but Rocke and I had to load up the car and drive back to Portland, to get ready for our annual New Year's trip out to the Oregon Coast.

When Ryan, Sarah , Zach, and Naomi came for their visit with us out on the Oregon Coast, we had Christmas with them. Zach and Naomi were excited and had fun opening their gifts.

Rocke and I enjoyed watching Naomi open her gift. When she saw she had a doll, her little mouth made an O and she said, with excitement in her voice, "Ohhhhh, baaabeee". So cute! She seemed very pleased to add another baby to her collection of dolls.

Rocke and I got a "WOW" from Zach when he opened his gift and saw that he had a Hot Wheels Spin City Playset, along with some Hot Wheel cars. Zach had his Dad put the playset together so they could spend some time playing with his cars.

Another year and another Christmas enjoyed by all.

We've already started making our Christmas plans for 2008. Rocke and I have reserved two condos in Leavenworth, Washington for a week. This beautiful town in Washington State has a bit of the Alps. A Bavarian village smack dab in the Cascade Mountains of Washington? It is true! Leavenworth, WA would not be out of place in Switzerland, Austria, or the south of Germany. This charming mountain village is just a few short hours east of Seattle. We're going to Leavenworth to enjoy the quaint shops, German cuisine, Christmas activities, laid-back atmosphere, and Christmas with our family next Christmas..