Christmas 2025

Another Christmas here and gone.  Sam (and Paige) got home on December 18.  As Jayleen and I drove to pick them up from the light rail station, we were reflecting on how this was their last Christmas break.  No idea where they'll be next Christmas.  Holly and James drove up on December 23.  Their lives will look pretty different next Christmas too.  It's so comforting to know that in this season of change, the reason we celebrate remains the same always - our Savior came to this earth for us.  Emmanuel - God with us - yesterday, today, tomorrow and always.  There was a lot of loss this year among my friends and family so when I got to hear the Hallelujah chorus sung twice (Katie's choir concert and our church's candlelight service), "And He shall reign forever and ever", meant just a little something more.  

An intense game of Settlers on Christmas Eve.

Getting ready to open presents.

So fun to have two extra kids opening gifts this year.

Holly asked Paige to be a bridesmaid and she said yes!

James, Holly and Sam all got inflatable paddleboards.

Katie wrote an awesome poem letting these two know what we are doing for her graduation trip in March.  It was so fun watching their reactions.  In typical fashion, not much emotion from Sam but lots of drama from Holly.

Paige left early to spend time with her family but here's the rest of my gang.  

Appetizers and games after.

Christmas morning before church.

We spent the day at Paul and Carissa's house.  Carissa is a great hostess and always has a beautifully decorated table!  

A fun day of food, games and fellowship with our Washington family.

Love this one of Brad showing off his "Dirty Bingo" gifts!

And this one....Katie got a manicure set the night before so she was doing nails all day.

Not a Christmas pic.  Look at the super cute stairs Gary and John are working on in the barn!  I've always wanted a spiral staircase! 

And that's a wrap on 2025.  See you next year!

December Days

John got me tickets to see Lion King in Seattle for Christmas this year.  We went with friends the first weekend in December.  Took the light rail into the city, checked into our hotel and headed across the street for a wonderful (and expensive!) steak supper.

Then to the show!  

It was amazing!  Not my favorite musical but definitely the best costumes and the "puppets" were so incredible you sometimes forgot they weren't real animals.

Work on the little barn continues.  Not quite sure what we're going to use it for but it's going to be cute!

Katie had her last Christmas choir concert at LC.

Aunt Sally joined her on-stage for the "Hallelujah" chorus that is traditionally sung every year.  Her and Uncle Gary are two of her biggest fans and rarely miss an opportunity to see her perform.

We had our youth group Christmas party complete with a gift exchange and a gingerbread house contest.

And THIS happened!

I told John that evening it was seriously one of my best mom days.  We had such a fun time!  Holly looked beautiful in everything she tried on but when she found "the one" it was truly magical.  Her future mother-in-law even flew in (all the way from Florida) to go with.  It was so much fun to get to know Candy.  It is evident she loves Holly which makes me really thankful and it makes it not so hard to "share" her. 

Celebrating at Cheesecake Factory.

I dug out my dress from the attic and had both girls try it on.

James came up to see his mom...and Holly.

Taking Candy to all the important Lynden sites.

Katie (and friends) all gussied up for a dance.

And for the lighted Christmas parade.

And finally....me.

That's all that needs to be said.

November in pictures

I've heard for years that salmon spawn in our creek but I've never actually seen them.  This was the year!  So cool!   There were three of them and my neighbor explained that one was laying eggs, one (he called it "the jack) was trying to eat them, and one was chasing the jack away.  I could have sat there and watched all day.

Katie had the last cross country meet of her career.  In true November fashion, it was cold and rainy but she did great.  She had a great last season but was also happy to be done.

I love watching the races but I'm kinda ready to watch her do something indoors!

I love getting these pictures after John and Katie's Thursday breakfast dates.

Our dahlias lasted way into November this year.  This was the last of the blooms.

Katie had senior masquerade at the skating rink.  Her and her friends went as characters from the movie "Trolls".  

Thanksgiving at the Feddema House this year.  Great food and fellowship and a lot to be thankful for this year.

I love this picture of Amy watching us from outside.  She got so hot she needed to go out and cool off!

Cheryl had a great game planned for this year.  We made turkeys from balloons and "raced" them down a string.  It was a big hit!  Sadly, my turkey did not win.  Photos curtesy of Harvey who had my phone....pretty sure I deleted about 350 turkey racing pics. Love Aunt Sally's face in this one!

Back home, we decorated the tree.  I used to buy the kids an ornament every year but being nearly empty nesters, John and I started a new tradition of buying one on vacation.  This is a bourbon barrel from our Kentucky trip.

James is a good sport but being the Bears fan he is did not appreciate being forced to put the Packer ornament on the tree.  

You can't make me.

Yes, we actually can.

I'm only doing this because I want to marry your daughter.

You better not accidently-on-purpose drop it.

I'll stick it was down here where no one will ever see it.

Sam and Paige spent Thanksgiving in Wisconsin.  They stayed with Aunt Elaine, had lunch at Sunt Sue's, and spent a day playing tourist in Green Bay.  No game for these poor college kids but Sam still wanted to show Paige one of his very favorite places - Lambeau Field.

Katie had a cute little package put together asking Katie to be her maid of honor.

She went to give Holly a hug and then said, "Wait a minute, maid of honor?!  That's the really important one right?!"  It was pretty cute.

John and Gary have started work on the little barn in the back yard.  It's fun watching the brothers work together and get excited about a project.

She loves Keith.