Christmas Joys 2008

A Christmas montage that Jesse put together - Grace, and Grant, our cute little Michiganites - we miss you so much and love talking to you on the telephone.

Our annual get-together at Maddox for Mom's birthday. That's me, Doug & Ann, Mom & Dad, Shellie & Kent, Linda & Jon - Ray's taking the photo. We got together for the first time last year, and we decided to make it an annual event. We realized that it was the first time we had all been together as grown-ups, without all the kids along, and we quite enjoyed the uninterrupted visit.

A group project! Ashton received a Tyrranusaurus Rex for Christmas - and it took a lot of expertise to get this little puzzle together! Ray, Brittany, Ashton, Ethan & Cory

Ethan and Ashton admiring the final product.

Cute little Hunter - 10 weeks old and he is over 13 lbs already!


Ashton went over to the neighbors and jumped on their trampoline this fall and every day since he has wanted to go over to "jump!" Now he can work out in the garage - at least until spring arrives and the tramp can go into the back yard.

Curious George Christmas





Special hugs on Christmas morning! Ashton & Grandma Sandy

Hunter - keeping an eye on all the presents . . .

James & Charlie playing with the LBG at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

The day before Christmas, we went up to Logan to see Ethan & Megan and deliver some gifts. Ethan gave us a tour of the Space Dynamics Laboratory on the Innovations Campus. I enjoy how he lights up as he talks about Physics!

Ashton - working on some mashed potatoes for dinner . . .

The first Christmas in nearly 30 years that we haven't had children at home for Christmas - now they are all married, we have to share them with the in-laws . . . and this is the year everyone was going to be away, so Brittany & Cory invited us up to their new home and we had a wonderful time, playing games, eating way too much food, working on the finishing of their new basement and enjoying two cute little boys. We had a lovely Christmas dinner at Cindy's home, Cory's mother and we even got an afternoon matinee movie in on Christmas Day - that was a first for us! We went to see "Seven Pounds," a movie about the ultimate gift! We recommend it!
Ashton, Papa Ray, Hunter & Grandma Sandy

Ashton, Brittany, Cory & Hunter in their lovely new home

December 2008

Culinary Corner - Christmas Tree Preservatives

It's that wonderful time of year and if you decorate a real, fragrant pine tree, here are some excellent recipes to help preserve the tree and keep it fresh, longer.

Tree Preservative #1

2 Aspirin per foot of tree (use unbuffered aspirin only, not Tylenol or Advil)

Fill container with the apsirin and 1/2 water & 1/2 7-up (not Sprite or sparkling water)

Replace every 2 weeks and replenish with water everyday.

Tree Preservative #2

2 gallons water

2 ounces liquid Chlorine Bleach

2 ounces surfactant (Basic H or surfactant can be purchased at a garden center)

2 cups light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon borax

Mix together. Saw several inches off the bottom of your tree if it has been cut and left standing in a tree lot without water. Put the mixture in a bucket and let the tree stand in mixture until you are ready to take it in the house and decorate it. Place the mixture in your tree stand and replenish with extra mixture each day as needed by the tree. ***There is a note on this recipe that this mixture also helps as a fire retardant - but I do not know the authenticity or reliability of that statement. I've used this preservative in our tree stand

Tree Preservative #3

2 gallons hot water

2 ounces liquid chlorine bleach

1/2 teaspoon borax

2 cups light corn syrup

2 pinches Epsom salts

Mix together; stand tree in mixture. Replenish with extra mixture each day as needed by the tree.

Autumn Leaves 08