New Year's Eve

We tried something new this year and had a little celebration of the turning of the calendar. We pretended it was midnight for the kids and dropped a ball on a string from the upper level of the living room, complete with a countdown. Not sure the little ones knew exactly what was going on, but they sure enjoyed making lots of clatter with the noisemakers! Of such ideas are great memories created.

A Wenatchee Christmas

Our Christmas holidays were full and go-go-go as usual, with fun in the snow, precious family all around us, Gustav's, thoughtful presents, a new baby, bingo, non-stop dress up, and just an all-around good time. However, as we sat on the couch on Christmas morning and looked at one another, we realized this was the first Christmas morning in 39 years we did not have at least one of our kids there with us to open presents. The end of an era. They have their own families now and need to start traditions of their own. We understood that. But it was still a sad moment. And it kind of caught us by surprise - until we realized it was SO QUIET. But at least we have the memory of Grandma KR selling out to block that goal in indoor soccer. 

Another Sweet Grandchild - Jones

We had another addition to the growing Anderton circle (December 16th) with the birth of Jones Marshall Anderton to Mark & Laurel - yes, another boy and another blondie. The gang is getting hand-sanitizing instructions from Mark after a long wait in the hospital entry for the big moment when they get to see their new brother. All of the excitement wore them out - but Grandpa and Grandma were able to hold down the fort and get them sufficiently wound up again just before bedtime.



 

 

 

 

Washington State Football Championships

Jon, Will & I did our annual pilgrimage to Tacoma for the all-day marathon of games to decide each of the championships for the various levels of high school football in the State of Washington. It is fun getting together each year for this activity and to spend some quality time together. It is held in the Tacoma Dome.

                            

Thanksgiving in Houston

KR went to Houston (November 14th-30th) to help out with Matt & Megan's new little one, Oliver, and I followed on the 21st to spend Thanksgiving. Brady, Natalie & kids also came down from Austin and we enjoyed a few days over the holiday weekend together. Good times. A highlight was being able to participate in Oliver's blessing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Matt & Brady. We were able to fit in a few home projects and eat some ribs. And the weather was actually quite nice - not too hot or humid.

Of course, we had to continue chopping away at the bucket list and spent a few days up in Oklahoma checking out the back roads. Oklahoma City has a couple of major must-see places in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial (about the bombing of the federal building there - a very emotional place). 

Loss of a Father

As the days pass, I often contemplate the temporal death of my father and how complex and wonderful is the relationship of a father and son. The months preceding his passing, and the experiences I had with him then, and the events of that week in October will stay with me forever. It is sad for everyone to be temporarily apart, yet I feel happy for him. He can again do a lot of things he really enjoys (like read a book or do a crossword puzzle) that had been taken away from him as his health failed. The parting is something we can endure. Why? Because I know his spirit lives and he is still with us. I know it. And we will be with him again. It was, for me, a wonderful experience to enjoy a perfect weekend with my extended family. Everyone did so well expressing themselves in word and song, the weather was perfect, and I personally thought the entire weekend was perfectly matched to the man. I am sure there were many that came away from the experience with a renewed vigor to increase their stride. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Revelation 14:13

Colorado Byways

We have traveled to Utah in our annual migrations so many times and have failed to take advantage of such a beautiful place as Colorado just next door. Well this time we did (October 15th-22nd) and if you want a copy of the itinerary, just let me know. We went to so many interesting and spectacular places - world-class vistas. It was enhanced by the time of year and the changing leaves. Some of the highlights are pictured below: 2) visiting Lonetree, Wyoming and the ranch of my cousin Wade Stephens & his family - we had never passed through there before and it was well worth the visit, 3) Flaming Gorge, 4) Steamboat Springs - as good as Sun Valley, 5-7) Denver - we went to several museums, Coors Field, Mile High Stadium, toured the Hammond's Candy factory, went to the zoo, and had a nice visit with Jeff & Allison - lots of fun things to do and those are cute girls, 8-9) Colorado Springs - Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods - what a beautiful location for a city and campus, 10-11) Pike's Peak - where else can you drive to the top of a 14,000+ peak, 12-13) Royal Gorge - scariest bridge in the world that you can cross in a car, 14) Great Sand Dunes National Park - in the middle of nowhere, but well worth a look, 15) super chicken and super chick, 16-17) Black Canyon of the Gunnison - another out-of-this-world hole in the ground, 18) Colorado National Monument - red rock and more red rock. We are planning another trip to hit the high places in the northern areas of Colorado that were closed already because of weather issues. Check it out!