Yuletide

It's only December 5th, and we have already had our family Christmas party.  Thank you, ANDREW & ALLISON, for a wonderful time!  

CANDY CANE GAMES

 WINNER, WINNER---chicken dinner:)

        Mary Ann whispers to Nancy that she is worried about Roy!

Oh, yeah!  This is EVERY FAMILY!!

Grinchy stealing---it's fun!

Cigars as an exchange gift are a "first" at the family party.

  

     It was extra special to have my daughter-in-law, Anne, at the party this year!

And little Catherine!!!

Not a pretty sight at this point, but we sure enjoyed the desserts!

Dianne, Mary Ann, Renee

Deborah

Lin give the buffet a thumbs up.

COUSINS

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Small-town holiday doings

Friday, 12/2, the town of Bath held a family Christmas in the park.  My window overlooks the park, so before the festivities began 

(5 P.M), I went over to quickly check it out.

There were two ice sculptures, this one for taking photos.

A lady was nice enough to take this for me.

 A view of Main Street from the park.

 

Horse wagon rides for families and other rides for small children.

None of this is earthshaking---just a small town trying to improve

for the community.  And they did quite well.

                              

Family Trees

Timmy and Kerry's refurbished, 12-foot tree.  Their church discarded it because the lights did not work, and it was (otherwise)  like new.  So Timmy took it, Kerry patiently cut all the lights off (not easy), and voila.  It sort of looks like a White House tree!

Forgot to mention the obvious:  they added new lights.

There are 1200 white lights on that 12 foot tree.

About 100 lights per foot.

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Carol and Jimmy always get a real tree. 

 Carol has a beautiful collection of glass ornaments, many gifts from Jimmy.

Cathy and Jim got an artificial tree last year, for the first time.  It is very natural looking, and has either color or clear lights.  Cathy, too, has many cute ornaments.  Nancy and I enjoy going to her house to see her decorations.

    CORNING held its annual "Sparkle" Christmas festival last Saturday.  Cathy sent me  this pic of a couple of her kids at the event.

                            Vinnie (Erin's fiancee), Bill and Erin.

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The week before Thanksgiving, Andrew and Allison's son, 

Brendan Mayo, starred in Livonia Middle School's production of

Madagascar.

 

Lacey and I drove from Bath to see the Friday night performance.

 Patrick

It was a family affair with Gregory, Sean and Patrick all involved as stage crew.

Allison saved seats for us, and when we arrived we found

Deborah and Dianne already there!  It was such fun!

Instead of FLOWERS, Allison had meat and bananas as after-performance offerings for Brendan 

(the lion) and the actor who played the monkey!

Dianne, Deb and Lacey

 Brendan

Brendan was fabulous as the lion.  I have been to two productions by the Livonia School district and both were first rate!

This number, "steak," was my favorite.  So funny and Brendan's voice projects so well!

Well done, Brendan!

Things like this renew your faith in our youth!!!

CRITTER CORNER

"MONTY," one of the Mayo cats, has figured out how

to climb the ladder to the top bunk so he can sleep with his best bud, Patrick.  Look at those eyes!

Thanksgiving week I went to the Howell Living Farm in

Lambertville, NJ,  with my granddaughter, Catherine.

She loved the chickens!

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At Christmas
A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year; 
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here; 
Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before, 
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for. 
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time; 
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime. 
Edgar Guest 

That's all for now!