Game Exchange 08

You can always tell how good a party is by how many times you run the dishwasher.

If you run it a lot it probably means that people had fun, ate a lot, and stayed a long time.

Last night we ran a record 4 loads of dishes. Wow!

Needless to say, we had a fabulous Game Exchange Party!

The boys, toasting the evening!

It was a pasta bar for dinner, Christmas cookies for dessert

The kids loved to help open the games

Our first game was a men-versus-women type of game, so of course before we started we had to see who could strike the best manly/feminine poses.

May the best (wo)man win!

Finally, a REAL snow day

Yesterday we had no school, but easily could have. The paranoid weather reporters were making it sound like an armageddon of snow was on the way, so JFK and St. Francis closed school. Kentridge was 2 hours late. Now, I'm never one to complain about a snow day, but had I not been terrorized into thinking a terrential storm was approaching, I might have actually taken the kids out to do some things rather than be trapped with them alone in the house all day.

Anyway, last night starting about midnight the storm of the century that was predicted finally hit and it has been a white-out ever since. As a result we are ALL home today enjoying a cozy day inside, as well as an hour for Monica and Anton to join the sledding extravaganza going on outside with all of the neighbors.

Earlier this morning, Mr. Penguin decided to hibernate.

So excited to go sledding with Dad!

Chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate for lunch.

Once inside, Monica said, "This has been the funnest day ever!"

Dere Jesus

Monica made Jesus a birthday card for Christmas. Here is what it looks like:

Note the woman in mourning next to a pool of blood and a spear through his body on the cross. Cheerful birthday wishes, huh?

She's still preoccupied... 1985!

What better way to kill some time on a snow day than to turn your daughter into an 80s rock star. It started because Monica wanted her toenails painted. So we "played salon" by soaking our feet in the bathtub followed by me giving her a pedicure. She chose a silver and blue combination... very retro. So then I decided to complete the look by whipping out my old crimper from the 80s. Remember those? Lookin' good, Monica!

Santa

Despite the bitter cold, we braved downtown with the Martins tonight or our annual visit to Santa at Macy's. We also stopped at the window train and then had dinner at Thai Ginger in Pacific Place. Miraculously, Jack did not cry on Santa's lap. He looked a little concerned at first, but pretty soon was smiling and telling Santa that he is "Two!" He didn't actually smile for the photo, but there were no tears. This brings our count of non-crying Santa pictures to 2 out of 6. I guess 33% isn't too bad.

Stripes

Jack was wearing stripes yesterday. Then Monica came home and wanted to change out of her uniform. What is it with kids and matching their clothes? They always seem to know just what to pick out. (Please ignore the messy playroom in the background.)

Snow Day Sunday

Kramer family snow day procedures:

1. If it's a school day, Anton gets up and eats breakfast but puts off showering until the last possible moment he might have to go to work. Upon hearing that school is closed he falls back into bed to sleep for another 2 hours

2. Anton makes a huge hot breakfast. Kids start to get up. Anne keeps sleeping.

3. Anne gets up. We eat breakfast and then lie around in sweats or PJ's all morning, watch TV, read etc.

5. Anton takes kids outside. I brave the cold for 5 seconds on the front stoop just to snap a few photos, then hurry back inside.

6. Put everyone in the bath to warm up

7. Change back into sweats or PJ's

8. The obligatory snow day afternoon nap

9. Graze the house for junk food, call all our friends (this is the part where I start to get a little stir crazy)

10. Hope for more snow so that school will be canceled again tomorrow (by the 3rd day though, I am ready for the snow to melt and not return again until next year!)

Since today's snow day was a Sunday, we honored most of the above traditions although weren't missing any school to do so. We are expecting a few more snow showers overnight, giving us hope that tomorrow will be another cozy snow day!

Nanie and Grandpa's New House

Nanie and Grandpa Kramer moved into their new house on Monday. Here are a few shots:

The outside (a little far away, sorry!)

Monica testing out Nanie's bed

Jack doing a quick toy inventory!

Keri's Birthday

Yesterday was Keri's 30th birthday... which means I get to enjoy 11 days of giving her a hard time that she is a whole decade older than I am- ha ha!

Anyway, we celebrated with Mexican food and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for dessert (Keri's favorite!)

After dinner (and while the cake warmed up a little so we could actually cut it, dang those things are hard!) Anton and the kids put on a mini-talent show. Kyle had learned "Silent Night" in sign language at preschool, so he performed while Anton played his cello and Monica added in with some ballet moves.

Happy Birthday, Keri-Cauliflower!

OCD Boy?

Jack is infatuated with his cars, and even more so: lining them up. He does this in the hallway, in his room, on the couch, on the floor, sometimes he even lies down as he places them to make sure they are just so... And god forbid anyone disturb his perfect alignment. He gets VERY upset!!!

Creative exhaustion

I have been putting off writing this year's Christmas letter. I was waiting to feel the spirit move me with just enough sarcastic humor to make the letter everything it should be. But I realized I couldn't put it off any more, so last night after the kids were in bed I punched it out in about an hour. Whew! I'm spent!
Look for yours in the next week or so. If you don't get one I probably don't have your correct address, so if you can send me an update that would be great.
Merry (early) Christmas!

Fall Search 08

We had a wonderful Search weekend. It was honestly one of the best Searches I've worked on. We had two great leaders and a hardworking student team and crew to lead our 88 participants. As usual, the weekend had its quirks and funny moments, mostly at the expense of Father B who spent most of his time telling jokes or snapping a hundreds of photos of every detail. Too funny!

There's really nothing like working with young people and watching them grow on their faith journey. I don't know how I got so lucky as to have a job like this.

And they actually pay me to do it???

Is it June Yet?

Busy week around here with the Search retreat coming up this weekend for me... and about a hundred 17-year-olds. I love Search, but with the days being so dark, the weather getting chilly, and being so busy at work... I have been thinking a lot about Queets and the Pier and Taps (these are all camp terms, in case you couldn't tell). The good news is we are already signed on for next summer.

But while I pine away for Hood Canal during the winter months, I rest assured that McNellis is holding down the fort:

Check out Mike's blog at http://www.campparsons.com/assistantcampdirector'sblog

TURDUCKEN!!!

We had an amazing thanksgiving this year. After various ups and downs, it turned out that EVERYONE on my mom's side of the family was able to be present. I can't even remember the last time the entire family was together. Nana Gunn had a pacemaker put in on Wednesday, which we thought might throw a major wrench in the system, but in the end she felt well enough to attend, which was a reason in itself to be thankful!

Our matriarch, making her grand entrance

Anton learning the fine art of homemade gravy from Mom E, the expert

Monica says, "C'mon, Dad! This gravy thing is easy!"


The dinner took a little longer than planned, so Jack had his version of a thanksgiving feast a little early. (Cheese quesedilla and banana slices.)

This year's Thanksgiving adventure came in the form of a turducken, which if you don't know is a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. We ordered it in early October from the meat market at Pike Place and picked it up on Wednesday. Anton put it in at 8am Thursday morning (it's so dense that you're supposed to cook it longer on a lower heat) and it was barely ready by our 5:30 dinnertime... but in the end it was delicious!
Searching the net for info on how to cook this three-bird wonder was rather amusing. Some people go to great pains to document the process minute by minute, such as this site, while others merely crack turducken jokes, like this one which had us all in stitches.

Wow.
Anyone hungry for some fowl?

Family portrait


The 5 cousins


Never too old to be silly!

T'Giving Feast

Here are a few photos that Mom K took when she helped at Monica's school with the "Thanksgiving Feast." It was apparently QUITE the event: the kids made the meal, costumes, and had a great time!

Ella's Baptism

We were honored to be chosen as baby Ella's godparents

and Saturday we celebrated her Baptism!

Amy with the little miss... so sweet!

Monica and Jack testing the water for Ella (literally!)

The world's newest Christian surrounded by those who love her!

Girls' Weekend

After Ella's Baptism Saturday I jumped on the ferry and jetted up to Port Ludlow for a getaway with girls from work. It was a late late night of wine and laughs... who knew eight teachers could be so much fun!