Rise and Shout

The cougars were out. We were fortunate to see BYU play a few times in our neck of the woods over the last several years. Lonny and Jonathan went to the Armed Forces Bowl with family friends from Tulsa. Here's Catherine and her friend with Cosmo.

And Mary Kate and Cosmo.

BYU barely pulled out the win over Tulsa. Lonny was texting me during the game about how horrible it was. Only the final score matters so all's well that ends well. Lonny thought the military honors were impressive. Jets flew overhead and a military sky diving team dropped into the stadium. Each branch of the military was honored, medals were awarded and people were sworn into military service during halftime. I don't think they were taking volunteers at that point but maybe they got a few recruits after the game.

Lonny, Jon and an old friend that we miss very much since moving to WA.

So, this is Christmas

Every year I want to be obvious about what we are celebrating. I would love to have December 1st arrive with the decorating, shopping, wrapping, sending, and card writing completed. This year was different. The moving, unpacking, traveling, house selling, retiring and distance from Lonny curtailed some early holiday preparations.

We only had three weeks between our return from Thanksgiving until our departure for Christmas. Twenty one days of dance recital, The Nutcracker, Choir concert, a new calling, visiting, shopping, card making, baking, partying, cleaning, packing and Emily insisted we decorate for Christmas.

It definitely was more festive with the tree, although it stood guard over only 2 presents. The presents were under Jen and Jon's tree.

We had the traditional Christmas Eve where I am always reminded of the blood, sweat and tears that made this piano performance possible.

This year Kirsten played too. Her mom is her teacher. Emily played a guitar solo but you will have to take my word for it, no photo.

Then came matching pajamas.

For the kids too.

Colton is in this picture, it's not that Max has four feet.

Now you see him,

and then Max is done.

Emily took over,

then Colton was done.

And just so typical for Christmas morning, Santa had already come and gone. We missed him, so we went to Church. The presents waited for our return.

Max and his zoo. And his mullet.

This is some serious business.

Colton and his train attire and his train track.

Emily got a present or six as well. We didn't get to see Geoff and Alayna much since we had them for Thanksgiving and we have to share.

We sure did miss them. They were so close. At least with the other boys a visit was out of the question.

I hope you dance.

The holidays wore some people out.

But not this big guy.

We loved our Christmas with these people. It was nifty.

I think I will address the 2012 cards now.

Time Flies

This scene may look eerily similar to the ice skating photo.

The tall gray building on the left (behind the crane) was Lonny's workplace for the past 16 years. It was boring looking inside and out. It may look familiar though because it was just a smaller version of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The same architect designed both.

Lonny's birthday meant more this year than just that he was one year closer to the age of a tree. Once we realized he could and should and would retire at age 55 it meant leaving work and leaving Tulsa. Emily had her heart set on being a Jenks lifer. Kiddos that attend Jenks Schools from kindergarten through graduation are honored as Jenks lifers. I think Lonny and I always knew we would not stay if he was not working. So Emily is not a Jenks lifer. We are telling her now she will graduate from Lima High but that is another story for another day.

So Colton had cake

and Lonny retired.

A former employee of the Magellan Midstream Partners.

The door to Lonny's office from the lobby.

By now his name has likely been removed.

The books with his name that he did not take.

Lonny showing off his view. This is the view of his office that was the on the front page of the business section of the Tulsa World a few years back. The article was about how the building staff turned on or off certain lights to make a picture using the lit windows at night. There use to be a photo of Deception Pass Bridge on that wall between the windows and I recognized the picture in the newspaper as Lonny's office. And then I thought what the heck, why is Lonny's office in the paper? I don't know why they chose his office to photograph. It was kind of messy at the time.

So no more Tulsa skyline out the window looking southwest

or south

or down to the plaza being renovated.

And no more sitting around the table, talking business, eating peanut butter and jelly. Actually that never happened, I am sure.

Lonny tried to slip quietly out of town without any fanfare but there was one last dinner at the Summit Club. They gave Lonny some oars for his kayak. The legal department partied as well and gave him a scooter covered in yellow caution tape.

Proof that one person's trash is another's treasure.

And a retirement wardrobe of shoes,

shirt (in the loosest sense of the word),

and shorts. Lonny would not consider trying it on. I think it was a wise decision.

I'll be home

for Christmas. Or so they say. I guess it depends on where your home is.

We did go downtown to ice skate. It was a beautiful day, not too cold.

Emily showing her enthusiasm for mangled ice. The Zamboni did make a run at smoothing things over once but the results were fleeting.
Kirsten had eyes for a new partner.

But her mom said, not until you are 35 missy.

That's only 29 years to wait.

Jon was only mistaken for Russian the one time.

Colton looks all sweet and innocent but when he bolted half a block to the street corner Granny had to reenact the tortoise and the hare.

Max did not run anywhere.

Well, until his daddy tried to P90X him.

Then the running was futile.

The holidays are never complete with out the headstand contest. Emily lost. Her cartwheel though was a smidgen better than Lonny and I's but darn I can not find the pictures of that.

Then there was bowling where you take off your own shoes and store them on the table people eat from and then slide your feet into the same pair that 3000 other bowlers with smelly feet have worn. Bowling is only for the health conscious.

Max wanted to play.

He watched the technique.

He wasn't that impressed. These two still use bumpers. The two gals in the middle.

It was pathetic.

And no, Max does not have his Grandpa's eyes.