santa repair

The base on the big inflatable Santa broke last year, and I attempted a repair, but it didn't hold up.

We also have another identical Santa in the basement that ripped a huge rip. I sewed it, but never felt like it would hold up to any wind or elements.

Anyway, we decided to see if the parts could be combined to make one intact Santa.

Yes.  I mean, it was certainly possible, but what a tedious pain in the butt it was.

And then we plugged him in and voila!

We'll see what happens next year. Worth a try.

And that's the end.

Love, Val
 

friday night

Kid basketball, nice evening, Alicia modeling her new Christmas sweater.

Two games, with a fine victory at the end.

The fans were crazy!

It was a fun night.

Love you kids, Grandma and Grandpa
 

after the snow

It's beautiful, winter at its prettiest.
 

Already this year there's as much snow as normally happens in an entire season.  They say it is good for the ground water, aquifers, all that. Okay, not arguing.  School has been closed, travel difficult, but not today anymore.

The tree has been taken down and it took a couple evenings, but Christmas is all put away again.

So far, 2023 is looking pretty fine.

Love, Val

new years birthday

And this guy, with a New Year's Eve birthday, which is always fun to celebrate--they brought a cake and ice cream, and everyone was happy about that.

Happy  Birthday, my beautiful boy

You are so loved so dearly,  Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

 

new years day family christmas

Today was our family Christmas party, and these  photos loaded completely out of order, but it doesn't even matter.

Everyone brought food and it was a feast.

There were gifts.  It looks like a lot, but it is just because there are a lot of us.  It's not excessive.

John was sick and couldn't be there, and his family is fine, but in order to avoid potentially making thirty people sick, we had both an indoor and outdoor party.  Jay bought a new campfire kettle and built a fire outside.

They ran all over this icy, dog poopy back yard and seemed quite happy about it.  I don't think anyone even wrecked their boots, so that's good.

There's the pooper herself.   She was pretty excited to have all these kids over.

Thankfully it was warm, over 35 degrees, so it was fine to be outside.

All you patient, kind people?

I love you incredibly.

Merry Christmas, Love, Mom and Dad