Category Archives: Addyson May

Boxing Day 2020

We are all awake and Premier League Soccer is on the TV while Dear begins to make his Swedish Pancakes for us to enjoy for Boxing day breakfast. I can hear the false crowd noise while I create this post. All the photos are from Christmas Day 2020. Our Coast Kids arrived to our home shortly after noon and we enjoyed Dear’s Famous Tomato Rice Soup. Our Colville kids arrived to our home after the little ones woke up from their afternoon naps!

So happy to see their aunts and uncles again!

This “Dapper Dan” found his Baba in the kitchen.

Standing Rib Roast, roasted veggies, creamed corn and Yorkshire Pudding. The Christmas dinner tradition continues.

This year we had our first ever birthday cake for Jesus. Addy requested the birthday cake for Jesus.

Her mommy made the cake and we sang Happy Birthday and this little guy…

… covered his ears. Our singing wasn’t that bad!

Christmas Cracker Crowns all around. JJ ripped his off his head!

The artists at work.

She captured the reason we celebrate. Baby Jesus in the manger with Joseph and Mary by his side in the stable.

Thank you to Auntie LoLo for all the great moments she captured with her phone!

Hope you all had a good Christmas Day…

Twas a Few Nights Before Christmas…

…and a variety of activities are stirring in and out of houses. No sitting on Santa’s lap this year for photos but Santa flew into the Colville airport to hand out gifts to kids. Our grands were there on Saturday morning.

Also on Saturday Dear and our son Dan started installing the siding on the back side of the shop. Earlier in the week Dear installed the back pull up door.

I missed getting outside to get the final photo. They have 3 panels left to go on this side and all the siding will be done. We are so thankful for the help!

Our daughter in law sent us these next photos of Addy and JJ enjoying each other on Sunday. Sibling times like these make our hearts glad!

We had a good trip to Spokane yesterday and found all the things on our list and more.

One of our stops was at the Kiev Market where we load up our freezer with Pelemeni, a family favorite that I’d rather buy than make. While there we bought these lovely Piroshky, two cabbage and one cheese…delicious.

At Costco we filled up our cart with other goodies, some necessaries and a few un-necessaries. I was going to go into TJMaxx but the people line-up outside the store because of “you know what” wasn’t appealing to me and we carried on. Our refrigerators and freezers are full now so no more shopping until after Christmas!

Way down south in California my family was having their annual Christmas Vareniki making day. Vareniki are a Russian treat we’ve enjoyed at Christmas for many years. This year the crew included my two older sisters, one sister-in-law, 4 of our nieces and one grandniece. My mom would be so proud of them all!

My oldest sister Kathy with the finished product which is first boiled and then ready to freeze and then bake in half and half and butter on Christmas Eve. Our family tradition is to stuff these dumplings with a sweet cheese mixture and serve them as a dessert or for breakfast in place of pancakes. We serve them with a dollop of sour cream and maple syrup.

Pierogi and vareniki are actually the same thing. Again, stuffed dumplings, they are common throughout Central and Eastern Europe and most of the old Eastern Bloc states. While vareniki is the more commonly used term in Russia, pierogi are the national dish of Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia.

Today I’ll continue on some cleaning and cooking up some things I can make ahead for all the Christmas meals.

I forgot to mention that for the next two weeks the Thursday Bible Verse Challenge will not be happening. We will resume the challenge the first Thursday in January, January 7th on the letter O.

Happy Days in December…

So happy to report that with the help of our son, Dan, the siding on the front of the shop was completed this past Saturday and Sunday. Now all that is left of the siding is the back end.

When he wasn’t helping his dad Dan was taking his kids on a little snow hike.

This next photo is of a snow hike they took at the end of January 2020.

What a difference a year makes. Jaymison can ride in the sled now!

Earlier last week Dan had some helpers in putting up the Christmas lights.

Our temps have been below freezing for several days in a row which makes these outdoor projects a challenge. We are supposed to have a round of snow blow in tomorrow. I have a luncheon to attend and I’ll have to take the roads slow and steady. Thankful for good snow tires and all wheel drive!

All is Calm…

…and with grandchildren, all is bright!

Here is Addy pleased that she’s earned another badge from Awana. Are you familiar with Awana?

With an unwavering commitment to the gospel, Awana is being used to reach over 4 million kids every week in 120 countries, giving children and youth from every background an opportunity to know, love and serve Jesus for a lifetime.

Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed
In 1950, Latham and Rorheim founded Awana as a parachurch organization. The name is derived from the first letters of “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed” as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15.

Our DIL messaged the fam these photos of Addy who earned a new badge at Awana and then Addy and JJ enjoying the great outdoors. All our past snow has melted and we have more snow in the forecast for Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That forecast shows sunny days on Saturday and Monday. Time will tell if the forecast is correct.

On Wednesday I was able to take our Christmas cards to the post office and send them off. Two other packages were mailed off for two babies that will be born to our extended family early next year.

Dear has made some progress on the shop with all the trims around the overhead garage doors and man door. Our local son will come over on Saturday to make some more progress on the siding.

Since this photo was taken the wrap is up in this front end of the shop, all ready for the siding now!

Soon I’ll wrap presents. This past Tuesday when Addy and JJ came for a short visit Addy asked, “Baba, do you have a present for me under the tree?” I said, “no, but there will be presents for you under that tree soon.”

I hope all is calm and all is bright at your home!

Fun Finale and Farewells

On Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, before Katie and Andrew hit the road for the west side of the mountains, we all had Dear’s Swedish pancakes for breakfast.

Jaymison was still waking up…

He’s my little guy…I love him so…

Laura got a photo of all the guys with their beards, for the record. Andrew plans to have his gone by Christmas.

Goodbyes to Andrew with the spooky eyes and Katie.

Addy loves her aunties and uncles!

Time for the super heroes!

Outside to expend some energy before lunch and our goodbyes to Josh and Laura.

Our daughter-in-laws. We are so thankful for the two of them and what great spouses they are to our sons. Our sons are two blessed men to have them as their helpmates.

Now that November is over we have been busy pulling out Christmas bins and getting our country bungalow looking a lot like Christmas. How about you? Have you started or finished your Christmas decorations?

I’m adding this post to Rose Chintz Cottage: No Place Like Home weekly event until December 21st.

Next week I’ll share some of our Christmas decorating.

So Much to be Thankful For…

On Thanksgiving day we were thankful before and after we enjoyed a traditional meal with turkey and all the trimmings.

On Friday Josh and Laura flew in.  We had lunch at our home when Josh and Laura arrived as we said our goodbyes to Katie and Andrew who drove to Idaho for an overnight at Andrew’s dad’s home. After lunch Steve and Lana continued on to Idaho for the rest of their holiday. Friday evening we enjoyed leftovers at Dan and Jamie’s.

Me and my little buddy.

Jaymison Joshua with his beloved uncle Joshua!

This is JJ’s expression when we say dessert!

On Saturday the girls did some shopping on Main Street in Colville to support our local small businesses. We all found something to buy. Katie and Andrew returned from Idaho on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday night we had a special meal and birthday cake to celebrate Laura who adds so much love and care to our family. Her birthday is later this week but since we were all together we took advantage of being able to celebrate in person. Auntie Lolo is loved so much!

This little guy enjoyed the singing of Happy Birthday.

The rest of the evening was fun and games!

Saturday was a full day. On Sunday we would be saying our goodbyes to our “Coast Kids”.

Through the Eyes of A Child…

Yes, it is still Fall but here in Colville we are enjoying snow through the eyes of our little ones.

Can you see Addy looking through her snow wall?

Here she is.

We did some shopping at our local Wal-Mart and at a special artisan pop up in town. We found some special items and will return for more items supporting our locals.

Our snow turned to rain and we ended the afternoon with a wonderful stretch of sunshine.

We drove to Chewelah to enjoy a Mexican meal.

As usual our favorite waiter treated us too well with lots of extras that we didn’t order.

We are getting some sunshine on Saturday so Dear will be able to move ahead with some progress on his shop.

Do you have any special plans for the weekend?

Halloween 2020

Our daughter-in-law is creative and doesn’t shy away from hard work. She came up with this idea for the family for Halloween this year. Aren’t they the cutest S’more Family? Love our little Hershey bar (Jamie made the whole thing!) and our little marshmallow. I think he looks like a Victorian boy ready for his baptismal. Rayna even got into the act by being the campfire! They made the rounds to Uncle & Aunt, Granny, Granny Great and ended up at our house for dinner.

Dear was ready for the trick or treaters at the door with his chainsaw hat on. How’s that for creative!? I had a pirates wig on with an eye patch and the kids were not so sure about me…

One more photo for the books. I took my wig and eye patch off and here’s the response I got from our little marshmallow. How I love this look.

Coming in for his hug! I cherish this look and response from him knowing the time will come when he’ll out grow it. Boohoo…

Happy first Monday in November. Hope the time change doesn’t throw you for a loop.

This and That

Thank you to Laura who always remembers the group shot selfie and for taking the next couple photos in the midst.

Me and my favorite eighteen month old. He’s my little guy and I love him so.

Giving a hug to his gramps. Like his daddy when he was little, Jaymison, likes to have his hands full.

Saturday catch up with these photos before I forget them on this last day of October 2020. We have Halloween, a full moon and then before we go to bed we’ll need to turn our clocks back one hour. In the country we have no chance of trick or treaters except for our little grands who will stop by with their parents. They have a costume theme this year that is a fun one and I hope to get a photo tonight to share with y’all on Monday.

Take care everyone!

Friday Snow Day

On Friday Katie, Laura and Addy built snowmen while JJ napped. They went to the garden to dig up the carrots for the noses!

Daniel put on the snow plow attachment and plowed the mile long drive for our travels to and from their home at the top of their mountain.

Our kids are more than halfway on their journey home expecting arrival before dark. I’ll have a few photo loaded posts to memorialize our 4th Annual Hunting Weekend.

The guys had a new experience this year hunting in the snow…

Last year Josh got his buck and this year it was Dan.

Looking forward to seeing what been going on with your blogs these past few days. I’m way behind…