Busy End of Year

I have not been keeping up with my personal commitment of posting to this blog every day lately. It has been pretty busy with all of the happenings around the holiday.

This has been a memorable year for both the good and the bad. I look back at it right now and recall several moments that were important to me. Even to look in the previous blog posts helps me remember.

Right now is an interesting time for music discovery based on plenty of 'best of' lists that are floating around the Internet. Some really great finds were: Spoon, Gogol Bordello, Of Montreal, Andrew Bird, Justice, Stars, Animal Collective, and Panda Bear. Panda Bear is the most recent one I found and it is really deep with a new sound that is familiar while still interesting.

The Aftermath

Today it was up to me to clean up all of the Christmas goods that we received from Amber's side of the family. The aunts all get together and make an amazing array of stockings and several gifts under the tree. Christmas morning includes more gift exchanges. The last few years we have struggled to get everything into the car. This year was close but we did not need to have anyone carry gifts in their lap or have to resituate seating arrangements.

Most importantly we got to see them and have fun together. The kids really love going there. Everyone is very kind and truly love seeing the excitement and joy children have around this time of year.

Christmas Eve

We just had our family Christmas and it was very, very fun. The kids appreciated that Santa brought them what they asked for. It looks like they each were good this year.
Merry Christmas.

I Have a Hulu Account Now

Memorial

Yesterday was Mom's memorial service. Many people showed up to the church. The service itself was touching. Amber asked me how I felt about the speakers. I liked hearing what other people say about Mom and it doesn't change how I remember her. I would have added that she was so sincere and honest as well as kind.





Today I went to Allen's class to help with a Christmas party. It was fun and I hung out with Kathy Petersen to decorate cookies with the kids. Abby was very shy when we first got there and sat very quietly in a chair at the back of the table. I stood next to her and made sure she was feeling happy.
Allen only spent a few minutes at the table but it was really great to get a hug from him in front of his classmates. I know that will change when he gets a little older.
Ashton also brought home some neat Christmas gifts. She received a gift from her teachers and she was disappointed that it was a truck instead of a girl toy.

Family Christmas

Today was the Gibson family Christmas. Gregg's family was here yesterday but Geoff and his clan collided with some awful weather including freezing fog. We had a great time on the Holley Trolley and then met up for dinner at my Dad's house. We opened gifts and had some fun. Dad read the Bible to us about the birth of Jesus and Geoff convinced him to also read some T.S. Eliot poetry.

Mom's special Christmas gift was also revealed: an historically accurate story of one of our ancestors. Mom also hand made some art to supplement the story. It was almost completed when Mom died so between Karin and Dad they completed the project. It is a very special work. In my Dad's words: "It was Grandma's last art project."

Snow Storm

Waking up this morning and looking out the window I saw that the snow storm that we expected landed. It was punctuated with plenty of gusting wind and drifting. The drive to work at 8 a.m. was not that bad but I do prefer clear roads. The worst thing about driving in bad weather is the other drivers.