Christmas 2011

Kathleen's first Christmas. We stayed Christmas Eve and Christmas night at Grandma and Pop Pop's house this year. It was our last Christmas Eve service with the whole family at Bethlehem UMC - We hope Calvin will be appointed to a church as a local pastor after graduation meaning he will be leading church services somewhere else from now on. We so enjoyed the time with family and we're grateful for all the abundance we were blessed with this year.

Santa Clause did come to visit Grandma and Pop Pop's with wooden toy stacking set and shape sorter. Mommy and Daddy gave Kathleen wooden blocks, geomagnet toys and lots and lots of books. Grandma and Pop Pop were excited to give Kathleen a LeapFrog music table. And Aunt Brandy and Uncle Jason gave her a toy dinosaur to walk behind and ride. Showered with gifts I would have to say it was a big Christmas even though we are always ever trying to keep it simple and remember the birth of Christ is our focus.

Most exciting of all, Grandpa John dressed up as Santa on Christmas night as he has done for at least 4 decades now and Kathleen was able to become part of the annual tradition of seeing "Santa" make a special stop to pass out additional presents at our very own Fender family gathering.

  

    

 

  

 

This Year's Christmas Card

Picture Joy Christmas

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From Sea to Shining Sea

During our trip to Oregon over Thanksgiving we took Kathleen to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time. Calvin's home town is only 20 minutes from the coast and our hotel was in Newport Bay. The coast there is rocky, cold and windy. So it was just a quick trip to see and touch the water then run back to the car to get warm. There is a beautiful Yaquina lighthouse on a rock ledge just up the road from where we're at. 

Wisdom Teeth

This past Friday I had my wisdom teeth extracted. Both uppers and the left lower. Apparently I was feeling so good with the drugs in the "recovery" area of the dentist office that I thought it was a good idea for Calvin to snap a picture for the blog. Seriously I said, "I look pretty good considering huh? You should take a picture for the blog!" And he did. So here is the lovely picture to prove I was drugged and happy.

My mom and dad so generously came down for Friday and Saturday to help take care of Kathleen. They brought me milkshakes and helped me keep the ice packs on. Sunday was another day of rest with just Kathleen and I hanging out at the apartment. I was back at work on Monday good as new! As my good friend (who also recently had her wisdom teeth extracted) said, "Why didn't we do this when we were 18?".... I don't know, but all is well and I don't have to worry about them any longer.