John's Letter

(unfinished) Hello everybody!

Once again (this is like a New Year's resolution) I have decided to try and maintain some sort of open letter for friends and family to read about current news and such (especially for those whom I haven't talked to). So, we shall see just how frequent these actually are, and we will take it from there. Click on the hyperlinked (X) to view postings with pictures or just click on the tag for Pictures to see all of the pictures in this blog. Also, when you scroll down, in the last box on the right side of the screen, there are two new features. One allows you to have a pull down menu for viewing other labels (like News, etc) and just underneath that is a chat box. So, if I am online, you can chat with me at anytime you want (without having to set up a chat account). So, try that out! I am not going to save letters as drafts, so I will publish them each time I write. That being said, I will indicate at the top (unfinished) if it is a work in progress.

12.7 Mom Visits & Socks
My mom came to visit all of us and partake in a shopping trip with Kristen, but we all had a filling dinner, and a pleasant evening together, and met up for a tasty breakfast that Saturday before she left. For over a month, Janel and I had been having trouble finding Christmas stockings to hang. We didn't really like anything we saw. At one point as we talked about it, we realized it was because we grew up with homemade knitted ones. That's when we thought, heck, we will just get some cheap-o ones for this year, and ask my mom if she could knit some. By the 18th, we already got them...and they look great! She even made some for Kristen, Adam & Summer too!

12.10 Tree Hunting (X)
This month, despite the fact Janel & I put up a fake tree, we traveled out with Adam, Summer, Kristen, Vi, and the neighbors Barb, Neil, Jake & Kyle to pick up Christmas trees. Setting out in boys/girls cars equipped with walkie-talkies, we were good to go. Upon arrival we picked up some regular kettle corn (yummy) and some with cheddar cheese (not so yummy) and headed out into the thick of trees. Barb & Neil found their tree first, and then Kristen and Vi found theirs. Adam held back some branches for me to cut, but some pushed against the side of my head (which I thought was not a big deal), and there was also another tree stump I negotiated around leaning in rather rough. Well, in the end, the trees needles were so sharp they made some cuts on my ear and face that drew blood! Who knew! Later when Kristen put the lights on, her hands were swollen...they have a super super mean tree this year. The place ties down your tree, and we headed over for free packages of cider and cocoa, and looked at some geese nearby. We left at a good time, it started raining pretty hard. Later that evening (minus Adam and Summer) we had a very pleasant dinner with Barb & Neil. (they already had their tree up and decorated!).

12.12 Bellevue Lights
One Tuesday the siblings (including Summer and Vi) whisked up to Bellevue to check out the Christmas lights at a garden. The place was glowing in amazing lighting feats. There was a little pond with animals and plants (made of lights), various flowers and creatures...including a frog!

12.14 Storm & Power Outages
We knew it would be windy Unfinished portion.

12.16 Christmas with the Smiths
Janel & I agreed this year that we would get each other a new couch. After a charity group turned down our old one, we placed it onto Craig's List for $50. Two people were interested, the first came, liked it and took it on away. College students, so it will continue having an exciting life. Janel's Aunt had given me a horseshoe set...and that should be a lot of fun. On Saturday we celebrated Christmas with Duane, Susie, Jason & Caroline. Duane & Susie were headed for Boston on Sunday. We stopped and toured items that Central Market had to offer...and later feasted on twice baked potatoes, and steaks! Janel and I received a Food Saver and a runner for the hallway! Most excellent! Janel was twice has happy being that her dog De-o-gee was brought over to stay with us for two weeks. She has adapted to the city increadibly well. She is fine on a leash and is quite comfortatble outside (perhapse its because Janel is around). As for Hook, well, he hid from her the first day...figured out that he is safe in the office, kitchen and dinning areas (places where De-o-gee doesn't like walking on slick flooring on her bad hips) and by day four, actually touched noses. De-o-gee had been taught to bark and chase cats, so under supervision, she has been very good.

12.17 Polly & Jerry
Janel's Aunt and uncle came through Sunday night for a Spaghetti dinner, and played multiple rounds of Uno Attack till bedtime. They had an early morning flight to Vegas for the week. They came back at 5am Saturday because there was a traction advisory on the pass, and they had been up late. So, they slept a bit, and successfully made it over in the afternoon.

12.20 Candy Cane Lane
Kristen joined us as we took De-o-gee to Candy Cane Lane to check out that little neighborhood of houses festive decorations for the holidays. They were pretty good (although the lights in Bellevue may have bumped our expectations), and the old neighborhood homes and narrow sidewalks were cool to check out as well.

12.22 Thursd-acation
We tried some of Kristen's pumpkin soup (I liked it, Janel not as much), and then Dan came by for a visit. Adam and Summer came up and we chowed on Pub Mix, wine and plenty of rounds of Uno Attack. In the morning, Dan joined us for a huge breakfast at a little place called Beth's down the road from us. Extremely filling food, truck stop-like theme.

12.23-12.26 Christmas with the LeMieux's in Oak Harbor
We were spoiled once again this year! Aside from the tasty food, family bonding, and gifts, we also played board games and saw the movie Night at the Museum in theaters. We had an excellent time, and it went quickly too!

12.28 Nutcracker & Pat
On Thursday night, Janel, Summer, Kristen and Jen went out to see the Nutcracker, and my WSU buddy (whom has been the PM Drive News Producer for Newsradio 710 KIRO) Pat visited with me. We ate at Red Mill, and finally (after months of him having to wait) watched V for Vendetta.

12.30 Dead Sea Scrolls
My parents stayed the night this weekend and left New Years Eve, after a nice evening trip to the Seattle Science Center to check out the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, which was very cool to see. We also celebrated a quick Christmas gift exchange with my Aunt the next morning.

12.31 Happy New Year!
For the Eve celebration, Janel and I joined our friends Jason & Kiera Jamerson at the Residence Inn (Fairview Ave, Seattle Room 712) to party out the year and watch the Space Needle spectacularly explode us into the New Year. Once we arrived home, we visited with Adam & Summer who were up celebrating with a friend, and then we turned in. Happy New Year everbody reading this, we hope that this year brings you only the best.

Other Updates
The first Monday of December marked Janel's last day for her college class this quarter, and she emailed her final in! Winter break started this Wednesday!

...and that wraps up this edition!