Hmm - do I detect a theme here?

Or is there a "goofy gene" somewhere in our history??

Back to where it all began

Love those cousins loving each other!

Holiday musings

I'm either getting old or tired or both, but I just haven't gotten around to blogging much about our really excellent holiday happenings! We are all agreeing that this may be the best year ever - and I think it's because everyone really got into the swing of things and shared their time and talents - and look what we got - a Terrillific time indeed!!

A big thank you to Hannah who suggested a Terrill Family Talent Show - what a great show it was! I can't wait for next year's - how can you top Hannah and Robbie doing "Moon River" on the guitar and melodica!!

Dawn treated us all to manicures - that always makes a holiday special!!

She wanted to thank us for all our help with Jonah - which was certainly sweet of her - but we all agreed that it was a privilege to spend those hours in their home!! And memories of Jonah did brighten our holiday celebration.

It's always fun to see a grandchild "grow into" the playhouse - and discover how much fun it is to stand in the windows and tell everyone to look at you!

We started a new tradition and went to the temple to see the lights and Visitor's Center. After we went to McDonalds for hot chocolate - and other delights. This will probably become a tradition too!

Maybe I can scare up the energy to post a few photos each night - I was feeling a bit melancholy when everyone started leaving - Phoebe on Sunday, Hannah on Wednesday, Eliza on Thursday - everything looked so blank with all the clutter gone.

But since school started for me on Wednesday, I didn't have a lot of time to mope around. Today I had to stay here all day and wait for the delivery of the dishwasher and microwave - so I tackled a few cupboards and drawers.

Now the trick will be to see if I can find anything!!

"When the family gets together . . " at Christmas time!

We broke with tradition and had the Terrill Family Party on Thursday the 29th. (It has usually been on the first Sunday after Christmas, and it includes Claytons and Terrills!!) It was well attended - over 60 people were there - we loved seeing the Doug Terrill family, represented by Janae and Telare, the Kreitleins, the Dunns, Mom, Mary, and Donna, Scott and Farah, Frances and Dee, the Cieslas, Greg Smith and his family, all the Harry Terrills, Grandma Terrill, and we were glad to be joined by Marjorie and Hal, Blanche and David Card. It featured carols - led by Eliza, piano courtesy of Hannah - with page turning services by Noah! We enjoyed The Candy Game - thanks to the Kerksieks - and a very competitive pinata bashing session! Thanks to Harry Francis and Phoebe for some great soups. Thanks to all who brought appetizers and candy for the pinata. Thanks to Bonny for tons of hot, fresh bread! And we ended the evening with hot fudge sundaes - it was such a fun evening, I took no pictures, except the one below!

Bonny's familyspent the night - since we were heading for Clocker's Corner the next morning. Phoebe and David have been staying at Harry and Dawn's.

Everyone agrees that the the "new look" at Chez Terrill is great.

• The crowd was bigger than usual at the racetrack - it was a long haul to wait for breakfast - good thing it was warm and beautiful. And we had good company - and fast horses!
  

Later, when we went to the cemetery to visit Jonah's grave, Eve was at gymnastics and Sully was in the car sleeping, so I've made it a point to include them in other photos on this post.

Theo remembered the racetrack from last year!!

Here we are at Jonah's gravesite. With all the grandkids except Eve and Sully. I commented that I wanted a shot of all the grandkids at his grave - and someone commented that maybe we would note that often there is someone missing from a photo op - but never missing from our hearts!

Every shot had Annika's face blocked by the star!!

So here's her lovely curly-hair, missing teeth photo!!

We did pull off a family photo of Mom, Dad and kids - all with our matching sunglasses look! Dad and I could not ask for greater children!! We love being with all of them together - and with their spouses and children too - we truly have a "quiver full!"

Jonah's headstone was just installed this week - they did a lovely job. It is sweet to remember this little boy who means so much to our family.

"It's beginning to look a lot like a kitchen!!"

The cupboards are still in the painting process - the cold weather slows down the drying time. But we don't let a few undried cupboard doors stand in our way!! Dawn and Arcelia came today, and we made a significant dent in the organization process.

I guess I should say that Dawn made a significant dent in the organization process - since she is definitely the Organization Queen!! I knew it to be true, but seeing her in action was inspiring. Arcelia of course is just a dynamo - doesn't seem to get tired!! I was one fortunate woman today!!

I am loving my pull out shelves!!

And the increased number of shelves that I have!!

A small miracle occurred - the cabinet guys called and said they had an opening for us - and so now the countertop is in. Nathan Miller comes tomorrow a.m. to install the faucet.

And hopefully the cupboard doors will be in condition to be hung.

A lot of the clutter is disappearing - well, it's not really disappearing - it's taken up residence in the family room and my little office. But it is progress!

I wanted to use the blanket chest as a lamp table - seemed like our new floors and paint just didn't go with my Michael's flimsy plant stand that has served as a lamp table all these years - but Dad wasn't sure. I persuaded him to give it a try. So tell him how great you think it looks!!

It's hard to get the whole room in one shot - but it is starting to feel like home once more!!

The stove and fridge are in - the microwave, vent hood, and dishwasher are in transit somewhere. Dawn even alphabetized my spices - she is one top-notch organizer - she should be in business - but maybe then she wouldn't enjoy it as much.

Phoebe, David, and kids are in town - at Harry and Dawn's - camping out in the attic-playroom. Let the wild rumpus begin!!

Not much to report!!

Christmas Eve was fun and very low-key - so low-key that I forgot to take any photos! We had a nice dinner at Harry and Dawn's house - joined by my mom, Donna and Mary. Also Greg, Miella, and Kevin. Noah spent Christmas Eve at our house so that Santa would know where to find him!!

One of his favorite gifts - in fact, I would go so far as to say his absolutely most favorite gift - was the 40+ year old sterling silver mustache comb that Dad gave him! (I gave it to Dad over 40 years ago - before shopping on the internet came into vogue - and even before catalog shopping came into vogue. It was featured in a Woman's Day article about "unusual gifts for the man in your life" or something like that. So I called up Neiman-Marcus and ordered it. It went well with the sterling silver razor I ordered the next year. But alas, Dad no longer has a mustache - and they no longer make the razor blades that go in the razor, so the one will become a museum piece, and the other is happily hanging around Noah's neck!)

I coerced Dad into hanging some pictures on Christmas Eve - I said, well there are no Santa chores to do, so let's do some regular chores!! It can be your gift to me - along with the faucet for the kitchen sink!

Things are taking shape - slowly, slowly - and the workmen are here this morning in the kitchen. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Christmas Eve - 2011

The holiday season can now begin - we have a Popcorn Cake from the Cards. Whatever will we do if they ever give up making them??

This is going to go down on record as "The Year Without a Christmas Tree." We are still in disarray - although if you've been hanging out here much you will see some progress. Harry commented tonight, "It doesn't feel very Christmasy without doing any decorating." (What does he mean? There are poinsettias on the porch!!)

The painters were here today - but they didn't accomplish as much as we had hoped they would - the job is just more tedious and time-consuming than we had counted on- because they were working hard all day. They are painting the cabinets - so the fronts had to be removed, sanded, and primed. And the rest of the kitchen had to be masked. Until all the kitchen goods get back in the kitchen - and quit taking up all the space in the guest room, family room, garage, etc. - it's going to feel chaotic. I had hoped to spend Monday putting everything back - that may not happen though.

We did wash the living room windows and curtains. Put the blinds back up. Arranged the furniture. Dusted the floor and furniture. Unpacked my Garnet Hill ottoman - which I love btw! Not sure when I can get Harry to hang the pictures - I'm not so anxious to fill up the walls, but I am anxious to free up some space on the floors!

Here is Noah's Christmas!! Even had to buy a stocking - I was not about to haul down boxes and unpack more stuff! And our tree has a star!!

Harry brought me a lovely bouquet for our anniversary.

It is actually festive around here - carols on the stereo, Christmas cards piling up in the basket for your reading pleasure when you arrive, I'm wearing my green and red earrings, lots of tangerines to eat.

It will all be fun to talk about next year!