Christmas Recap

December 29, 2009

Christmas stuff is all in its bins.  Nicely labeled this year thanks to my new label maker.  Yea! 
Here's how the Halterhome spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. . .

Karen & kids drove to Chandler to see Grandpa Andy who was visiting from Oklahoma.  Here we are at Colleen's lovely house.  She is lucky enough to have enough room for TWO, count them TWO, giant Christmas trees.  And she did them both up fabulously. 

Here's Grandpa Andy with Joyce (Collen's mom).

Christmas Eve, we went to a service at a new (for us) church, Prince of Peace. The candlelight service was lovely, but did they have to repeat the story of Jesus' birth three times in 50 minutes (in three different variations: live, animated video, and in the "children's sermon")? I'm just sayin'.

Following church, we went to Kathy's house for the annual Christmas Eve fiesta dinner.  The tamales were great this year.  And the tortilla soup is delicious every year. 

Grace & Emmie:

Grandma Mary & the AZ grandkids:

The Halters: (I love my flower headband...the flower was part of a gift from my crafty friend, Cathy).

The kids roasted marshmallows outside. . . what a treat.

Tommy & Poppy

We went home, got in our PJs and snuggled up in our bed to read, what else?

The Night Before Christmas.

Christmas morning:

PURE JOY!  Grace got a note from Santa.

By the way, this photo was taken at 5:30 AM, yes AM.  I went back to bed after we saw what Santa left.  Was woken again at 6:30 by two kids who were dying to open gifts.  After they were opened, you guessed it, I went back to bed. 

This photo was taken with my fancy new zoon lens.  I can't wait for a sporting event to test it out.

Even Ollie was a good boy and got some gifties.

After we four Halters opened gifts (and I napped a third time), the rest of the Halters came over for brunch and more gifts.

Emmie in her Christmas jammies.

The Halters brought real southern country ham, grits & red-eye gravy.  We were all stuffed. So guess where I went? Back to sleep.  Not kidding.  I had to rest up for the next round:

The Hahnenkratts. Here is Grandma Joyce (and Grace in her new snuggie)

Grandma brought Julie (the American Girl doll) some glasses to match Grace's.

After an early dinner with the Hahnenkratts, we headed over to Dave & Lisa Binsfeld's to meet up with the Binsfeld family and the Halters.  We had a fabulous day. 

I hope all of you (all two of you) had a lovely Christmas. 
Happy New Year.
Karen

Happy Birthday Jenny!!

December 27, 2009

Today is a day to celebrate. . .Jennifer Holcomb was born ?? years ago.  The whole world, especially me, is  happier, more fun, a little brighter, and generally better off because of this. 
I met Jenny, as I call her... apparently, she is Jen to her Portland friends and Jenni-FER to Gary, in law school.  We hung out a lot one summer when we were both up in Phoenix clerking.  We had fun sunning ourselves and going to dance clubs.  The good 'ol days.  Actually, I much prefer the current "days" to my 20s. 
We both moved to Phoenix after law school and began our "adult" lives: careers, dogs, houses, dinner parties, etc. 

(NYE 1994)

A few years later she and Gary moved to Portland, Oregon.  Oh how sad I was!  I went over to their adorable historic house in Willow and watched as a HUGE moving truck packed up all her belongings and took her away.  Did I mention how sad I was?
On the bright side, I got to visit her in her new old house in the East Moreland neighborhood of Portland (did I spell that right?).  It is an amazing area: old homes, huge trees, very picturesque.  She and Gary showed me the Orgeon coast and Jenny and I visited Columbia River Gorge.  Have I already said that Portland is one of the most beautiful places I've been?  I'll qualify that by admitting that I have yet to go when it rains. . .I've been lucky that way. 
She and Gary came up to Seattle to see Tom and I when we were there on our honeymoon.  I told you she was a good friend... who else would I want to see on my honeymoon besides Tom? Jenny of course. 

1997

We were pregnant with both of our kids at the same time.  We had our boys a couple months apart and then almost three years later, we had our girls DAYS apart. 

1997

I've taken the kids, and sometimes Tom, to Portland about every other year.  The kids love to see each other and Jenny and I talk nonstop, eat, shop, look at houses, and watch movies.
When her family unexepectedly moved across the country to New York, I came to visit her in Portland one last time (or so we thought).  And I made sure to visit her in New York adventure when she learned that was actually not a permanent move.  She treated me to an AMAZING tour of the city and a Broadway show.  Katie showed me the American Girl Store and Nate showed me how the subway system worked.

2007

She and Gary ended up back in Portland.  I took the kids to see her in ANOTHER fabulous old home.  It reminds me so much of their other Portland home that sometimes I forget she ever moved.
I also head to Tucson whenever she is in AZ to visit her parents.  How could you not take a short two-hour drive to see your best friend?  Once I even met her for lunch in the Phoenix airport when she had a long lay over.  We try to see each other as often as we can, which is never often enough for me.
Last Christmas I got a trip to Portland.  It's been almost a year since my last visit.  I think I am due for another one... or maybe she will bring the family to sunny Scottsdale. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNY!  I MISS YOU!
Jenny & Nate at a fun Portland festival.  2005(?)

Katie & Grace with Tucker at the Holcomb's new(then) Portland house. 2008

Grace's Gift

December 23, 2009

As you may know, Grace learned to knit this summer.  She has spent the last two days furiously knitting this "scarf."  She is leaving it out for Santa.  I came home today and found it rolled up next to Santa's cookie plate with this note. 

The note says, "Dear Santa, I made this for you!  It's not green or red but it's the thought that counts right.  Well I Hopppe yoooou liiiike ittttt, Merry Christmas, Grace"

How cute is she? 

Say Cheese!

December 23, 2009

This should have been our Christmas card photo, don't you think? 

Except that Ollie isn't in it.  : ( 

Dogs are frowned upon at the country club. 

Plus,  it wasn't taken until December 12. 

So this is your special treat for reading my blog.

Now maybe my friends who gave me a hard time for not having a "family" photo will be happy. 

Merry Christmas!

On a One Horse Open "Sleigh"

December 21, 2009

On Saturday, Grace, Emmie, Tommy and I went on the carriage ride at ACC.  Poor Tom was home nursing the flu bug he caught.  Most Christmas seasons since Tommy has been about 3, we've gone a carriage ride around the golf course at ACC.  We have hot cocoa or hot apple cider and bundle up on the carriage to see the Christmas lights on the houses along the golf course.  Sometimes it is really, really cold, but not this year.  It was about 55 degrees.  Oh well, we still enjoyed the lights and had lots of giggles.  And I still wore my new hat. . .it's Arizona, when else will I be able to wear it if not this month???

Here are a couple photos. Our horse was named Leo.

Hey Now, She's an Allstar

December 20, 2009

I hope you know that the title refers to that song by Smashmouth . . .it's on the Shrek soundtrack.  It makes more sense if you do.   If not, just trust me. . .
Sooo,
Grace made the soccer all-star team.  Woo Hoo!  Go, Gracie. 
The all-star game was Saturday.  (Woo Hoo! No more soccer till September!!!)
Her all-star team won by one (the only) goal in about the last 20 seconds.  There were four Melonheads (her team name).  Here are some action shots....she's in white with a red headband.
I have yet to figure out how to crop photos that I upload from my new camera (another grrr for me...it's jsut not as much fun when I have this cool technology that I don't know how to use.  That is what I'll be doing tonight. . . playing around with the camera and my stinky uncooperative computers.  I bet I wouldn't have these issues with a mac.). 
I digress, back to my little all-star:

A Smile

December 20, 2009

I have not been posting as much lately because (a) my computer stinks is driving me mad . . .the keyboard sticks so I have to type each letter fifteen times before it shows up.  Grrr.
And (b)  I have been busy, busy, busy and grumpy, grumpy, grumpy (in part because of (a) above). 
So on Friday afternoon ... my first day of vacation which started off so nicely (see my last post), I was waiting in the school turnaround (a very long line of cars), and this cute pup was sticking his head out the back of the car in front of me.  Awww.  How cute.  It made me smile.  Dogs have that effect on me.  Maybe things are starting to look up.
I hope you smile today too.

Merry Christmas to me and Chicken

December 18, 2009

Today I start my two week Christmas vacation.  Yea! 
Boy did it start off right.  Tom was around this morning to meet the pool guy so I got to sleep in.  Heavenly.  He fed the kiddos, took Grace to the bus, and got Tommy off.
Ahhh.

OK, now the chicken...
I roasted a chicken on Tuesday for dinner.  It was very tasty, but my house STILL stinks smells like chicken.  I've tried the room spray.  No good.  I am thinking of having the oven self-clean itself, but I'm afraid that will bring back the chicken smell.  Any ideas to get rid of the roasted chicken smell????

Off to get ready for a lunch date . . . I love vacation!!

The Christmas "Letter"

December 15, 2009

Every year as I address the Christmas cards, I think to myself that I should write a longer note.  I never get around to it . . unlike my dear friend Jenny who fills up my card every year with a lovely handwritten note which reminds me why she is so awesome.  Not that her note says she is awesome; it's the fact that she handwrites in my card that reminds me . . . get it?
Anyway, I have never written a Christmas letter.  We get a few each year.  One in particular from another law school friend is always hilarious; I look forward to it each year.  He should write for Letterman or something. 
Since I sent out those cute blog cards, I KNOW you all will be flocking to read this (ha!!) so I am going to blog my "Christmas letter" of sorts this year. 
Here goes:

A summary of the Halterhome in 2009:

Tommy began lacrosse and loved it (he's #1 below).

Grace, Emmie, Abbie, Aunt Kristin and I visited the American Girl store in Los Angeles.  Santa brought all three cousins a trip to the AG store for Christmas 2008 . . . what are the odds?!  We also spent a day playing in the ocean.

Grace played softball.

Tommy's baseball team won the Arcadia Little League Majors Championship.

Then he played on the Allstar baseball team!

Tom gave me a trip to Portland for Christmas which I took in February.  I had a fabulous visit with the Holcombs.  Portland is one of my favorite cities.  You should visit it if you've never been there.  I didn't take any photos though.  Sorry.

We went skiing with our friends, the Bettins and the Massimis, in Tahoe, CA.  It was the kids' first time on skis. They loved it and can't wait to go again this spring break.
Look at that amazing view of Lake Tahoe!

We got to spend much of the summer in Flagstaff at Poppy's house.
The kids golfed ALOT
We had cousin Max out to visit from Ohio

Emmie also spent some fun time in Flagstaff with us.

Abbie also got to come from Ohio for the 4th of July.

We had to say farewell to 352 Lee Doyle at the end of July. 

We really miss it.

Tommy went to camp in California and then on to see Aunt Fissa in San Diego with Kathy and Emmie.

Grace and I left Daddy & Ollie in hot Phoenix while we visited Jennifer's family in Vermont, with a side trip to Lake George, NY. I've decided I am living in the wrong part of the country. It is way prettier out there, although Flagstaff is pretty close (although it needs more lakes).

Tommy got a cell phone for his 12th birthday!

I learned to surf with my neighborhood pals in La Jolla. 

Tom took his annual golf outing with the Wintergalen brothers in Tubac, AZ.   I have yet to see a picture from this event which is now about 13 years old. 

Grace took up volleyball and played soccer

Grace got braces.

And Ollie is still obsessed with the tennis ball.