Christmas Tour of our Home

 Merry Christmas!

In the year of Covid we are unable to show off our Christmas decorations like we want.  Instead of a private tour, we will host a virtual tour.  Welcome!

I was able to sneak this one in because there are Christmas cookie cutters on the counter.

First stop on our tour is our 7' noble fir.  We acquired and decorated it a week after the other decorations so we had to wait *patiently* for it.  Or, as Amber constantly asked 'When are we going to get our tree?!!!'

Amber is being extremely care with ornaments this year.  Last year when we set up the tree, Amber broke four ornaments (one that I really valued) with in five minutes of getting the tree up.  Apparently, our admonishment dug deep.

Next up is our mantle.  Not only are we displaying our new stocking holder that Sandi and Amber picked out, we are proudly showing off Sandi's new stocking.  Mom made it for her so we could have a complete family set.

Sandi grew up decorating the stairs with garland and lights.  It's nice to have a house with stairs to decorate.

In the dining room we have a beautiful Christmas village all lit up... 

Taryn!  What are you doing?  Back to bed! (Sorry about that.)

... and a beautiful old nativity set.  Growing up, Sandi was in charge of setting up the nativity set.  It was fun for her to do it again so many years later.  

It took less than a minute for Amber to change it all and cram EVERYTHING inside the barn.  We got her to relax the building code a little and let a few animals out so we could see baby Jesus.

  

In the living room, our piano is very festive.  It not only plays Christmas, it displays Christmas.

 Last, but not least is our little rustic winter scene.

We hope you enjoyed our virtual tour.  It's too dark outside to show our porch.  We decked the pillars in red and white lights for a candy-cane effect and hung large Christmas balls between the pillars.  

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Trick or Treat!

 

Sandi and I (like all parents) were wondering how to give our kids a good Halloween during a pandemic.  Fortunately our church hosted a harvest party in the early evening.  Both got a large bag of candy and it was fun to see all the costumes.  Then we headed over to Sandi's parents for an all-family sleepover. 

A cute little bumblebee and a charming little princess

Sandi's mom got into the spirit by dressing up as a witch and sending candy down her front porch in a cardboard tube.  We were all impressed.  

After a dinner of chili (a Reimer Halloween tradition) with all the fixin's, we took the girls for a walk around the neighborhood to see all the spooky houses. As a bonus, about a dozen houses were handing out candy.  One house went ALL in by creating a front-yard haunted-house.  The experience, capped off by a blue moon, was quite impressive.
 

We also marked the occasion by having the girls sleep in the same room together.  Taryn's only concern was that we leave the door opened a little so she could get out (even though Amber promised to let her out if she needed).  Bummer for Amber that we promised her a roommate all night long and she wouldn't have to be alone.  Taryn, however, had no allegiance to her new roomie and wandered downstairs before Sandi and I went to bed.  Oh was Amber distressed.  I think we will have them share a room occasionally at home so it is a better experience for everyone when we travel.

Final note unrelated to Halloween: the weekend happened to fall on Standard Time weekend were we gain an hour of sleep.  What a miserable idea!  Kids don't know or care about the extra hour of sleep.  It just produces the LONGEST day of the year because kids are tired, parents could give a rip about extra daylight and bedtime on Sunday can't come soon enough.

Pumpkin Patch

We picked a beautiful Sunday morning in early October to visit the pumpkin patch.  

Taryn was really into it and wanted to pull the wagon.  

There was lots to choose from

The girls helped carry out booty back to the car.

We love decorating our porch in autumn (and think we have the best non-Halloween display on our block)

Both Amber and Taryn picked out their pumpkins

 

Happy Birthday Amber!

Our little girl is five years old!

Amber showing off her new twirly dress (she's a good twirler)

 

Sandi made an amazing 3-layer chocolate fudge cake that Amber helped decorate.

 Mad-props to friends who drove to our house to give Amber a covid-style birthday parade Friday morning. She felt really special.

We had a 'big chicken' for dinner that night followed by cake.

All Amber wants to be when she grows up is a princes.

Amber, you are such a delightful little girl.  You paint, dance, color and run with such incredible enthusiasm!  I love how you bless us with your cards and gifts.  You have a very tender heart and a giving spirit.  It is a joy taking you out for ice cream and taking walks with you.  I love how you decorate our house with cut flowers from our backyard and your latest drawings.  I am looking forward to how you will continue to learn, grow and express yourself.

Backyard Wildlife

Our old house had a fairly limited selection of wildlife to look at: cats, squirrels crows and dragonflies.  I enjoyed the dragonflies.

Out new house is quite different.  Since we live so close to a wetland and a lake, the flora and fauna are much more diverse.  Birds I never new existed inhabit our backyard.  On any given morning I am likely to hear Sandi, Amber or Taryn call out 'Towhee,' 'Bush-tit,' 'Sparrow,' 'Junco' and others.  Sandi even keeps a journal of the birds she spots up on our hill.

A few weekends ago while Sandi was weeding the hill, she spotted a real birds nest on the ground (apparently, some birds build their nests on the ground and not a tree).  Sandi initially thought it was a towhee nest.  Today we learned that it is a sparrow's nest because Sandi saw a sparrow laying on the (now 4) eggs.  We will give them peace and stay out of their way.  We may soon hear the chirping of baby sparrows calling for food.

 

The girls LOVED seeing a mallard waddle through our backyard after breakfast one Saturday morning.

 

I still haven't seen any dragon flies.  Maybe someday.

My Healthcare Hero!

Brighton is a very impressive company.  They take good care of their staff and Sandi loves working for them.  Last week, the marketing staff surprised each employee with a yard-sign to celebrate and thank them for their work during this Covid-19 crises.  (Their jobs got a lot more difficult in this environment as they try to keep their patients safe and provide them excellent care.)

Sandi, though touched by this gesture, did not really want a yard-sign out front proclaiming her a hero.  Before she took it to the garage I captured her with her sign.  Babe, you are my healthcare hero!  Thank you for all you do to care for the dying and their families.  God made you for this.

P.S. - If you want to see the sign in living color, come check out our garage.  We will hang it as a reminder/memento of this really difficult season.

Easter 2020 (Shelter-in-Place-Style)

This post will be heavy on photos and light on words (the girls are cute enough on their own).

This is Manny's egg

Mommy and Amber did a great job dying eggs Saturday afternoon

Easter morning: cuddly Taryn, her blanket, my coffee: I could do this all day

breakfast!

Amber enjoying her cinnamon roll

Taryn stealing Daddy's frosting (I mean Taryn just wants to hang out with Daddy)

Taryn's grapefruit

Easter baskets!

My Little Princess with her My Little Pony

My other Little Princess

Both little princesses

Amber sporting her tat's

Beautiful girls!

Happy Easter (from a distance)