Christmas Day

 She's in her stocking up to her armpit

 Santa's rolling in the paint supplies

 She got a 'whore-monica!'

 and wants some lessons to 'play it like Alvin'

 gold coins in her stocking at MeMa Debbie's

 and a Cinderella costume (!)

and a Barbie car!

Schaeffer & Eli: Chicago Fire Department

Schaeffer & Eli walking over to the firehouse

Eli in the back of the truck

SJ & Eli playing firemen in the cab of the truck

 

   the firemen let SJ & Eli go on the ladder! 

(I couldn't help but think Griffin would be jealous!)

 big smiles all around

Last week Schaeffer Jo and I spent a day in the City with Sara, Eli and Jane. The Winklers live across from a Chicago Fire Department Station--who 'happened' to be putting up their Christmas lights with a ladder truck. 

Schaeffer, Eli and I walked over to see the firemen and the truck---they were so kind, the kids not only got to sit in the truck, but also got to stand on top of the truck, by the ladder! Pretty awesome! 

Trimming the tree at MeMa Laurie's house

the 'kid' ornaments waiting to be carefully placed on the tree

 Schaeffer Jo selecting the perfect spot for her ornaments

hanging them with care

big helper Tobi

 the tree trimmed with not a branch to spare!

Each year, our family gathers at my mom & dad's house the weekend after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas tree, decorate Christmas cookies and spend time together getting ready for the Christmas season. 

This year it an especially special weekend, as we were able to bless my parents by getting out their decorations and putting up the tree, as neither of them could physically lift the weight of the tree or the ornaments out of storage. We enjoyed a great evening of being together, sharing memories of Christmases past, and looking to the future with great joy and hope. 

Cranberry Relish

the set-up 

 the ingredients

 Schaeffer and Great Grandma Jean on the grinder

I'm not sure when the tradition began, but every year, the week of Thanksgiving we spend one afternoon at Great Grandma Jean's making cranberry relish. We get out the old hand-crack, the one that was a wedding shower gift for grandma over 65 years ago, hook it on to a stool from Great Great Grandma Ott's house, and let the relish commence.

It's so much more about the time spent together than cranberry relish--although it's tasty too. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without this treasured tradition!

Grandma Grace's Plum Tree

 Grandpa had all the supplies ready to go

 Even sweet Julia was ready for the big day

 The big kids head out first

 Grandpa Jerry 

 the family getting ready to plant the memory-tree

 Grandpa taking the first shovel-full

 Reagan helping dig

 Schaeffer at the shovel

 Grandma Cindy, Briggs and Reagan

 Dory & Ryan

 the kids helping Grandpa pack down the dirt

 Blake bringing over the tree

 each of us tying on our memory ribbons

 Grandpa finishing the last stake

 Shimmering in the sunshine, the memory-ribbons 

& the 3 metal hearts that read: faith, hope, love

a labor of love for a great legacy of love: Grandpa and Grandma 

About a month ago, Schaeffer and I had the privilege of making a day trip to Detroit to help plant Grandma Grace's memory tree. When Grandma died, the grandkids choose to purchase a purple plum tree to plant at Grandma & Grandpa's house to celebrate Grandma's life. I couldn't help but think it would be a great way to remember Grandma in the years to come, and to talk about her with our kids as we sit under the tree and eat the fruit that the tree produces. 

As we planted the tree, I gave each family a length of ribbon to tie on to branches as we shared our favorite memories of Grandma. It was especially sweet for the great grandkids who shared some of the most simple but touching memories. 

On the trunk of the tree, I tied three metal heart-shaped windchimes that read: faith, hope & love. As they blow and tinkle in the wind, we'll be reminded of our great hope: Jesus. Where our faith is: in the fact that one day we will see Grandma again. And why we love: because God first loved us. 

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love." 1 Cornithians 13:12-13 

a lazy day at aunt kate's