Holidays are Over

The holidays are over.  Our son Samuel heads back to school tomorrow.  Our daughters are back where they were before the holidays.  I think we had a nice visit with all who came and Emily was a phone call away.  

Emily participated in some activities over the phone.  In our traditional round of gift picking on Christmas day, she even took a few turns in the rotation.   First, she picked a present for Mary.  She had already presented her secret Santa gift to Russell Murdoch, disguising the package as being sent from PA.  While she was on the phone, we ate some “Clusters” candy that she sent us.  On the second round, she picked, “That one,”  the “Uncle Joe” gift to me, a rain gauge thermometer wireless set.  I need to set that up.  On the third round, she requested the red present with the bow’ it was a “peace of cake” pan, a cake pan with a peace symbol.  She heard Yoda, our dog, play with the gift she gave him. 

As a family, we watched the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  I thought the movie was slow at first as I almost (?) fell asleep.  At the end of the movie, I had tears of sympathy for the characters.  So, I liked the movie, thumbs up from me. 

Carolyn passed a significant milestone.  She passed her driver’s test.  

On Saturday, January 3, Samuel elected to take the Life Saving Merit Badge course.  It is a 10-week class every Saturday morning from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.  When I signed him up, the lady reminded me of Samuel's growth.  He has taken a swimming class at this location for three years starting with the Webelos Aquanaut badge and then trying to obtain the Swimming merit badge.  Three years ago, he protested going to the swimming lessons that this class provided.  He had no desire to swim.  Two years ago, he caught the vision and almost passed the swimming merit badge; he could not pick up the weight on the deep end.  Last year, he passed the requirements with ease.  Now, this year he chooses to go the extra mile. 

May your new year start well.