Merry Christmas 2011

Our theme for Christmas Eve dinner and program was THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS.  The meal consisted of favorite foods from the kids memories--thus, black olives, grapenuts and half and half in memory of G. Luekenga, cracked wheat cereal, and salad.

We also enjoyed Mom's homemade rolls and strawberry jam, whole wheat bread  for our turkey sandwiches.

We rented the clubhouse at the condos for the 46 of us who gathered.

We welcomed Travis's Mom and his 2 sisters.

All the cousins love getting together to play and celebrate

The families exchanged gifts with one another.

Bob, Mitch, and Matt did the technical stuff for our power point slide show of a few of our favorite things.
The grandchildren loved seeing pictures of their parents as children doing some of the same things that continue as traditions--sleeping under the tree, skiing, boating, sub for Santas, picnics, scripture reading, FHE, etc.  They wanted us to show it over and over.  Tammy had made DVD copies for each family.  It was a great event!

The Windstorm of 2011

Trees fell on houses.

They blocked streets and driveways so no one could get out.

Fences blew down.



Roots tore up sidewalks.



This was the EXTREME Makeover home. 

Sunday the community united and loaded all debris to various dumping sites.

Everyone in the neighborhood had all the help they needed.

The lines to the landfill were miles long.

Then they decided to chop our tree down before it fell down!

It came down, limb by limb.