Look At Those Beautiful JamaKids!

This is a mix of my Christmas card and recap of the holiday... so for those of you who were there, which was all of you, disregard most of the content except the color commentary.

Don't be offended by me saying it was the Christmas that lasted forever. It really lasted a long time, which is great. But our kids and their families came and went so fast it makes me dizzy.

There were lots of trips to the airport. Adriel came in on the 22nd, Lasha on the 24th, Naarah and Jason in on the 29th. Adriel missed the new baby by leaving for England on the 27th, Joe left on the 3oth, Jason left on the 2nd at 7 a.m., Lasha on the 2nd (evening) and Naarah left January 6. With all that driving we fit Christmas in when we could. Adriel went to London to be with her main squeeze, Joel Fonnesbeck. What the heck kind of name is that.
We enjoyed Christmas Brunch with Grandma Mae, She also blew in and out to see GG the day Naarah arrived, (that was fun). Norm and Gina were here for a great dinner of Pork and saurkraut. I was able to see Grandma Ethel the weekend after Thanksgiving. So it was a family filled holiday. The fun didn't stop at Christmas Eve. We spent Christmas day at Carol and Tom's (thank you very much by the way) and had two sets of Hansons over for New Years day. They wanted to meet the baby in person and see Naarah in motherhood. Well, the Fonnesbeck called Dennis on New Years day. Man talk I guess.... yeah right, guns, trucks, engines...

Well anyway. More on that later... Keep August 12 open. The girls already have their dresses picked. They are commissioned to find mine.. I hate shopping and can't seem to get out of the 80's. That about sums it up.

Except, we had a great time with all of our family and got some GREAT shots of the grandkids. Beautiful each one. I can't believe how blessed we are. Gabe. ShamSham, Ava and GG. Gorgeous, kind loving kids born to wonderful parents all. What a delight. So, that's our fruit. I look at my girls and their spouses and the kids produced... and wow. They are all fruits.
:-)

Wish I would have wrote down some of Gabe's comments. And Shammai. What funny kids. They all are so well behaved and have great humor. Ava seems to actually work at six months old to try to make me laugh. She lays there making laughing noises to get my attention. You should see her brother take care of her, it's so cute. When he isn't busy with something, he walks over to her and pats her head or hugs her and kisses her in such great big brother style. He's five now and very smart. Sham Sham copies everything he says, including, "I'm Five." Eh, Eh, says Gabe, "yes I am, Says Shammy, and on and on. They bicker like an old married couple, but they enjoyed every minute being together. We were all amazed at how much they got along for not seeing each other much. They are great cousins.

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday. But there was more activity and action around the old forty acres than we've seen in quite some time. I am exhausted. If I wasn't so busy with work, but that's important too. It all makes the world go round. We all agreed that we had a wonderful time together.

The most rewarding part of all for me is seeing my daughters and their husbands have fun together.
Even with all the fireworks we had in our marriage while we raised our kids, they have learned somehow to be kind and loving to each other, gracious and forgiving and tolerant. I think we've all kind of learned the space thing and the importance of it for all of us independent sobs. It's that kind of harmony, diversity and unity (the diversity and unity was added for humor folks) I longed for, even if our family wasn't all that harmonious all the time.

But really, Naarah, Jada, Lasha and Adriel, I love each one of you for you because of your great individuality, vibrant personalities, drive, passion, humor and simply for all that each one has become. You have all become strong, loving and accomplished women. It's so great. Each one also loves each other with great passion. Each one brings such unique things to the world and to love each one so much is amazing to me. You each amaze me. Thank you. (tearing up here)

With our family all over the place, I am just happy when we can be together. It is a mission all in itself, but we try to make it work. The best part is we have really learned how to have fun together.

Got lots or photos, gained the right amount of weight for a holiday and am thoroughly exhausted. And with that, I'm not quite ready to get back to normal because normal just ain't all that hot. The highlights include dreaming of gutting my office, kitchen and my closet. I need to get a life. But for now, I am just trying to get organized and just don't know if I have the energy for it.

Acutally, I spent four hours yesterday gutting my office at work, cleaning out files... took the tree down today and put the decorations away. So, my new year is justabout to begin. More on my resolutions in the next blog... Welcome 2006... I'm 8 days late already.