DECEMBER IS NOT ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Maybe December is MOSTLY about Christmas, but there are other things in the month as well ;’-).

I am fortunate to have good friends, and some good riding buddies. We had “frozen fun” as Cindy says, on many of the days of winter weather so far.

We had some fun in the sun. Even got a windmill without travel to Holland.

A ride along the Lake  Sammamish  Trail is nice no matter the weather, add some sun in December and it is a gift.

Fortunately (for me the gravel hater) the trial is all paved, and this one is a mere spur if one choses to ride the short distance on it. A good place for me to “practice”, or to “face my fear”.

On another day Cindy led us on an annual trek to Molbak’s Nursery for our visit to the giant Poinsettia tree.

One of my non-biking interests (yes there are a few) is going to the theatre with my (best) friend Bill. We were early on this day so took a little walk around Seattle Center.

Enough about those other interests — back to biking. Here we are on a club ride in the cold and damp. Stalwart!

On our ride with Raquel to the lake, Cindy had her bike all decked out. ‘Tis the season ;’-).

For some of us this lunch stop in Snohomish was a discovery. Most of us thought of it as a drive thru coffee shop. Good lunch served here.

Yet another day brought us yet another ride. Our “Jingle Bell Ride” started in Everett for a route through some countryside and lunch at the Snohomish Bakery. A true highlight were these horses. I saw them running toward us and assumed they were interested in us, and coming to ogle our strange looking group. But no, they were playing and frolicking, running back and forth together at least five times! They were such a treat to watch. This was the first time I had seen such play among horses.

These are only a few of the outings I enjoyed this month, and I know there will be many more ;’-)

My nephew Gary posted this photo on facebook from a Christmas time in 1963 of his PopPop (my dad). Brings back all those memories that I will never lose. 

One last item for this post is a quote that I have started to think of on the most dismal day.

I love Maya.

On to a new year now — a new Roaring Twenties!

DECEMBER CAMPING WITH ETIENNE AND ANDRE

The three other grands had all had time with us camping in the RV. Susan was determined that the year would not end without giving Etienne and Andre the same adventure. On Christmas Day we drove to Fay Bainbridge campgound for a day, evening and night full of fun. Then a second day and night at another campground.]

I called this a ‘boat’ and Andre was quick to tell me it is a Pirate Ship.

Both boys spent a lot of time enjoying the Pirate ship. Etienne walked the “plank”. No — Andre said it is a bridge ;’-).

And he should know since he is the pilot.

As I was looking over the other parts of the ‘ship’ I heard a little voice saying ‘you have to lift me’. I was sure that Etienne (older and taller) was lifting Andre (younger and shorter) up to reach something. I peeked around the corner and there was Andre lifting his brother up to look through the binoculars.

I told Andre how nice that was to help his brother reach the binoculars, and he said that was because he has good muscles.

After pirating around the Sound, there were bikes to be ridden.

Meandering down to the beach took some cross country work, but they did it. And found some forts to explore.

During some of their bike exploring, Grandma and the boys came back with a gift from a neighboring camper, and we decorated the van.

After moving to the Kitsap Memorial State Park the next day, we think Fay Bainbridge was our best camping spot this trip. But still,  the boys had more biking fun and a hike to the beach, and a good playground where there were other kids to interact with. 

Night time activity involved reading and doing the ‘Look and Find’ book before bed.

The day after we dropped them off at home we heard from their dad that Etienne was already asking about going camping with us again. Seems even though we had to correct them a few times (rather sternly) the adventure was a success. Though doing some of the correcting was needed, they are good boys and we will want to take them again.

ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Not one — but two Christmas Celebrations! How fortunate can I be!?!? The week after our Rainbow Christmas we packed up to drive to Jenny’s for the family time Christmas Eve. 

Don’t forget to take our Bicycling Santa...

Before Sarah and family moved to California, she and Jeremy hosted the family for Christmas Eve. Before that we spent this family day at Susan’s Mom’s. Now Jenny and Laurent are our hosts so it was off to Indianola we went. Sarah and family had arrived at Jenny’s two days before, meaning we would get to see all the Grands!!!

Jenny’s tree was festive and strewn with the gifts that everyone, including Santa, had brought.

We visited, laughed and talked, kids played and chased and giggled, we took our family walk, and soon it was time for dinner. Ham, homemade cranberry sauce, Laurent’s special  scalloped potatoes, and salads were only a few of the items we could overeat from ;’-).

It is a family tradition that after dinner the kids get driven around the neighborhood looking for Santa. While they are on the search, Santa arrives with all the gifts, and he also stuffs everyone’s stockings. Just as the kids arrive back home, Santa has quickly climbed up the chimney to make his way to his next stop. The kids are a bit disappointed (again) to have missed him, but are distracted from that by a look at all the things under the tree!!!

Santa was in such a hurry to leave, he neglected to close the fireplace screen, and did not have enough time to put ALL the presents under the tree (a few for the kiddos).

Dinner has been eaten, clean up is done, Santa has been here — let’s open presents. Santa’s helpers — Laurent and Jaydon hand out the gifts around the circle.

And everyone digs in — one at a time so we can each see what Santa brought.



Opening stockings and playing with new toys rounds out this happy day, and gradually everyone departs for their next event — other family visits or (in our case) preparing to take Etienne (5 y.o.) and Andre (3 y,o.) RV camping on Christmas Day.

But first, I MUST get in a ride on Christmas morning ;’-). A short distance brings me to Indianola store and the long pier into the bay.

On the return home I needed to take a couple of house decoration photos. This flamingo being my favorite.

The pink flying pig was a close runner up though. Somewhere — maybe Germany my friend Suzanne tells me — the pig will bring good luck for the New Year.

And what better display for a waterfront neighborhood than this trio.

Bike ride done, Susan and I would now depart with all our camping gear at the ready!! This post being long enough, I will post a few photos from our adventure with the boys in a separate post.

ANOTHER JOYOUS RAINBOW CHRISTMAS

For almost 20 years, our gang has gathered for a weekend in December to celebrate this holiday together. We have spent weekends in a number of venues, and this year it was Glacier Peak Resort in Marblemount that saw us celebrating. 

And this year was the rainiest two days in the history of here! We each arrived in hard pouring rain, went to bed in hard pouring rain, awoke to the same hard pouring rain, and took a walk. Our bikes would not see their riders on this Saturday.

We tucked bikes away for another day ;’-(.

We got ourselves situated in our accommodations — camping for us, cabins for others and dived into our traditional Friday night Pizza dinner.

Rudolph came...

And Santa’s elves (Lizette and Shelly) brought a tree to light up the festivities...

Breakfast up at the cafe provided ample food the next morning and Kathy especially enjoyed her pancakes...

After breakfast, as it continued its downpour, walks were planned and everyone got into their walking gear.

Susan and I opted to do a shorter walk than some, and our trail started very near our campsite and the cabins. The River Trail. Lots of moss.

Lots of puddle lakes to maneuver. 

I didn’t know what this next thing was, but found it rather pretty — and interesting.

I later learned from Maridee, who learned from a learned person, that this is some form of lichen that grows in the trees and then falls to the ground. It is filled with nitrogen and feeds and replenishes the soil and surrounding trees. 

Once back from our walks and having our individual lunch, it was time to gather for the start of things.

Our tree, as it turns out, had not been complete earlier, so Lizette began adding the rainbow chain to it...

Shelly felt that Lizette was not doing QUITE right, so she jumped in to help...

NOW it was ready... gifts and all.

And then our annual gift exchanging could begin.

Maridee attempts to explain the rules for this year's gift exchange at Rainbow Christmas. EVERY year the coordinator begins to explain the “rules” of the gift exchange. EVERY year there are tons of questions from everyone waaaay before the end of the presentation! It takes a long time to finally get it down!!!

Some of us pay rapt attention to Maridee.

And soon the gifts begin ;’-). Kristin is pleased with her pick of presents, an apron made by Vickie.

But Maridee is quick to make the steal.

Undaunted, Kristin finds a good one .. the favored mug...

...but that gets stolen twice and Kristin gets a different gift.

Kathy and Kristi (and Tango) patiently wait their turn...

Eventually all gifts were opened and we needed a break before dinner. Plus there was a Washington Huskies football game on t.v. that Susan and Carol would NOT miss. We all went up to the lodge to watch the game, set up stockings and get ready to have dinner.

The Huskies win their game against Boise State.

We watch with different emotions!

And THEN it is time for our stockings,

Kathy is not sure what this thing is... and Susan says Maridee looks like she is knitting without the needles.

And we all get our second annual buff, which can be worn in many different fashions.

All this fun, and we had not been able to ride our bikes due to the record breaking rainfall! Alas, on Sunday morning. Kristin pulled five of us together for a short ride to the Fish Hatchery and back. We were so happy!

At the hatchery I spotted one (of many) tree with that lichen-like stuff hanging from it.

And one of many buildings that are gradually being eaten by the weather and nature.

This is a long post, and I thank Lizette for being our fine historian with many of the pictures included in my post. It was hard to cull them and choose only a few. Must also thank her for our annual buffs!!! ;’-)

Until next year, this is a Happy Holiday post for and from all the Rainbows.