Holidays at a Backwards Glance - Part 2

On the Sunday evening before Christmas we acted out the Nativity.  As you will see from the pictures it wasn't the most reverent performance, and it didn't help that I was scrambling around the room trying to capture it in pictures (none of which are great quality), but here they are.

Geoff's mom, who is valiantly fighting an aggressive cancer, agreed to play the part of the innkeeper.

Adele played Mary with Jacob as Joseph

Under the piano bench was no more suitable for our Mary than a stable-cave way two millenia ago for Mary, the real mother of Jesus!  (Baby Jesus wasn't supposed to be coming out...)

It was hard to stay serious with Bailey as a sheep.  And then there is Geoff as the angel in the background holding a light behind his head for a halo.

Adele looks very engaged...

There are the three wise men...and something wrapped up in the background...

Christmas Eve is also Geoff's brother Christian's birthday.  We had a tractor parade and caroled around the property.  This was a great memory, followed up by genuine Swiss hot cocoa, and a bonfire where everyone took a turn to say what they loved about Christian and me, a Davis birthday tradition.  The night was thick with love and unity - a beautiful Christmas Eve.

After a reading of A Night Before Christmas the girls set up a sleeping, no waiting, place in the laundry room.  They were up giggling and playing all night, according to several ear witnesses.  Ahhh, to be a kid anticipating Christmas morning...

After a big Christmas brunch we opened presents.  Geoff's family sleeps in on Christmas morning (torture for our girls) so we got to the business of gifts around 11:00.  With so many of us it took about three hours!

The rest of our stay was filled with movies and talking and Tango yogurt.  We did some yard clean-up and endless kitchen clean-ups and tidying!  When seventeen people are sharing a space the logistics of it all takes a chuck of time and energy!  I also got a pedicure from Em and a facial from Heather.  I was spoiled.

One day we fit in a hike to Clark's Hole on the American River.  One of the girls had the crazy idea of getting in the cold water.  Tennie and Ceci went first.  They counted down and charged into the water...

...and then after going all the way under they hightailed it out again, screaming about pins and needles.  We got it on video but swore not to post it.  It will be included in the Davis Highlights.

Natural consequences...

After watching Tennie and Ceci, Bailey and Adele (mostly Adele) were a little nervous.  Not having warm clothes to change in to were Tennie and Ceci's main dilemna, so Adele and Bailey stripped down to their underwear and ran in.  We witnessed the same shock and rush out of the water.  Adele, dripping wet, exclaimed, "That was the worst decision I've ever made!!!"  A few minutes later she wanted to do it again.  No pictures of the streakers.

Tennie went in twice.

Good times.

And now we're home, back to the cold winter of Utah.  Geoff and I have been cleaning out our paid storage unit once and for all.  Ahhh, good riddance monthly payment for STUFF!   And we've cleaned the house and are ready for a new start in 2014.