When we get together, we are so many that the kids sit in the kitchen and the rest grab the dining room table. These are the adults. I think Karen fixed this delicious meal..chicken enchiladas!
One of my favorite pictures! Karissa was so excited over her gift from Taylor (I think Suzanne had a hand in this!) She had made this cake holder by gluing a goblet to a plate...so cute. As if we don't get enough atmosphere from our fireplace, the kids like to find the tv station that has the fireplace burning. Doesn't give off too much heat.
Brett and Jill , Isaac and Max came a little late, but stretched out Christmas for us! Brandon came over too as he is the same age as Isaac.
One unhappy dog...Jack. Didn't get a picture of the other one. When we put down new carpet last summer, I said the kid's dogs were welcome, but they had to stay in the kitchen and sewing room.
Have you ever seen such a sad face?
Jolyn
Remember Christmas mornings and way before time to get up you would hear the pitter patter of little feet?
Christmas morning---knock.knock.knock on our bedroom door...6:30...still dark outside. "Grandma where's the light?" What???
Two "little" girls come in our bedroom with breakfast in bed...grapefruit, french toast, juice, coffee, you name it ....and a computer programed to play Christmas music. They then announced that the grandsons and Shawn were doing all of Grandpa's chores and filling the woodbox and that we could just eat breakfast and...go back to sleep.
Sure...go back to sleep with all that hearty laughing in the kitchen! We didn't want to miss anything, so we got up and joined them. The girls fixed breakfast for the crew. Oh...I forgot to post the picture of Wayne in his pajamas with a cup of coffee. I do try not to embarass my family...too much.
After breakfast.. the bodies were strewn everywhere. Guess Grandpa's chores wore them out. Had nothing to do with how late they stayed up! Memories from 2010 !!!
Jolyn (Grandma)
Christmas on the farm!! The grandkids are lined up according to size..kind of. Eating is always a big part of our get togethers and I am so blessed to have daughters and daughters-in-law that pitch in and help. Because we had just come home from Hawaii a couple of days before Christmas and my brain wasn't fully functional, Janeen, Suzanne and Karen each made a meal! Talk about gourmet cooking! We always eat buffet style and usually the first in line gets to pray. From left to right--Jared Jensen,Tyler Jensen,Tanner Olson, Taylor Olson, Logan Olson, Bryce Olson ,Karissa Olson, Morgan Jensen and Brandon Olson. Did you get the tongue twisters...Tyler, Taylor and Tanner? Course, we also have a Marque, Mari, Morgan, Maxwell and Mike. And Kelsey, Karen and Karissa and...Jared, Jill, Janeen and Jolyn.....and Wayne!
Yes, there is quilting in heaven Hawaii. The shop we found was quite small, but very friendly people and had a very Hawaiaan flavor. I bought a couple of pieces of fabric... to add to my collection ...or to just look at and remind me of Hawaii.
This is basically the whole shop..Wouldn't accommodate a bus load of wild quilters, but I was surprised that the fabric prices were quite comparable with ours. (That does not apply to gas or grocery prices! )
Loved some of the kits, but just don't fit into my country home, so I brought back pictures instead. This should be the end of the Hawaii pictures...maybe.
Jolyn
I don't like to do blogs without pictures, but I don't have a picture of me pulling my hair out! After being at the computer "doctor" for what we thought was a virus, it turned out to be too many anti-virus "things" on our computer! So we're back in business! Pictures tomorrow!
Jolyn
These are just random pictures that I wanted to show and then I promise (kind of) that I won't talk about Hawaii again (except for the one quilt shop I found.) Within walking distance of our condo was an outdoor multi-level little shopping area called "Whaler's Village". Most nights we would walk down there (remember Yogurtland?) and watch a free performance of some kind. Two nights these kids were dancing the Hula. The little guy front center really captured our hearts. They were all really good dancers.
This is our condo to the left - third floor. Was a quiet time of year and I think we were the only ones on our floor until the last couple of days when the Christmas tourists came.
Wayne is walking ahead of me on the way down to Honolua Beach to do some snorkeling. Besides the beautiful fish, he saw an eel and one guy saw two manta rays. I saw his sunburned back after two hours of snorkeling. Also saw a pesky cat that wanted to share my peanut butter sandwich. The beach at this bay was huge rocks and difficult walking. Heard someone say that the last time they were here it was all sand but a storm blew the rocks all up on the shore.
This pictures brings back memories. A little while after taking this, the boys started building sand castles and the girls began one of their own. Then war broke out and they started throwing sand at each other and hollering for the each other to stop. It all ended when one Mom stepped in. Didn't help that we were enjoying it! (Always cuter when it isn't your own kids!) This is on Ka'anapali Beach where we stayed.
The ocean really was this beautiful blue! There were lots of surfers out because of the high waves.
This is taken overlooking Honolua Bay where Wayne snorkeled. At one of the Bays we watched over 100 dolphins playing. Sometimes two or three would leap out of the water in unison. So who counts and says "GO"?
Taken at sunset at the Old Town Lahina Luau. We were celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary.
"Aloha" to Hawaii
Jolyn
As expected there are lots of good things to eat in Maui. Remembering some good fruit from our last trip, we headed out to the Tropical Plantation. The "baby" bananas are called apple bananas. Pretty much taste like our bananas, but are really small. (Price wasn't!)
The little red fruit with the green rubbery hairs is called a rotumba (I could be wrong on that) I love them. I peeled it with my thumb revealing the inner fruit.....
.....it had the texture of a grape with a large almond seed inside. We bought 4 for $1. I let Wayne have one....
This was out at the Ulupalakua Ranch...an elk burger. It was ok, but a little too raw for even Wayne's taste.
Our grandkids encouraged us to try "Bubba Gumps". Food was good and off to our right were open windows to the ocean.
Oh yes, Yogurtland!!! We walked down this little aisle where you could fill your cups (they even had LARGER cups) with a variety of yogurt soft ice creams and then add one or a couple dozen different toppings. Then they weighed them to figure up the charges. They did not weigh us afterwards...thankfully!
And best of all...Hula Pie. Guaranteed to stick to your hips!! It was almost too much for the two of us to finish off just this one piece. almost. The other Hula Pie we ate had raspberry sauce drizzled on our plate.
We did buy groceries and eat most of our breakfasts in our condo. Also a number of our meals..good old peanut butter sandwiches and yogurt and cheese. We get tired of eating out all the time and sometimes just didn't want a big meal.
Right now I could sure go for a Yogurtland Fix!!! We called it our diet dessert as they were fat free. That does not include the toppings. (Nobody mention the calories!)
Jolyn
