Lenten Rose

Hellebore is also known as Lenten Rose and Christmas Rose. I have several but none have bloomed for me this early until this year. Most of mine bloom late February and into March.






A flash of color caught my eye yesterday when I was filling birdfeeders and I was very surprised and pleased to find this flower blooming near my patio. This little guy is mostly yellow which is unusual for Lenten Rose. I just planted it this year and since it was a seedling, I had no expectation that it would actually be yellow. It sure brightened my day!

The outside maroon color is much more typical for hellebore. I like the two toned effect it gives. The streaks in the face are good too.

The bonus for hellebore is the deer won't touch them! It's just since they bloom in winter, it's easy to miss them.

Happy Birthday Robin

Another December landmark birthday. We celebrated Robin's birthday during our Christmas gathering at Dwight and Julie's.

Happy Birthday Robin. It's good to have you in our family!

Family Gathering Dec 27

It doesn't get much better than this. How much fun can be had at Christmas. Cousins and sisters are the best toys!









Kenady explains how it is done. Sara and Keylee prepare.













Who needs music when you have giggles?














Julie said this was our largest gathering since we've been celebrating our group Christmas in their home.

Beth and Jim's grandkids.

Beth and Jim's kids with spouses. Scottman is in there too...he just evaded my camera.

You can always find our family congregating in the kitchen. It has always been a nurturing place to visit (oh yeah and eat!)

Dean

Vickie

Molly, Olivia, Daniel, and Robin in the background.

It was good to have Brooke, Jamie and all four kids this year. Kyler has grown so much and has become quite a charming young man.



















Scott and Christine












The younger crowd enjoying time together.


















Kyler and Brooke

Brooke and Jamie's new son was quite popular with the ladies.

Sydney and Olivia.










A great time was had by all. We greatly missed Jamie, Mary, Drew, and Kat and Kai but feel very lucky that so many family members could make it. Thanks so much for hosting Dwight and Julie. Sorry I didn't get photos of everyone uploaded.

Memories

Sometimes the holidays mean dragging old memories out of the closet. In this case, it was a last good bye to the plastic version of an erector set that Chris got as a child. It will be relocated to younger cousins after Christmas. I'm not ready to ask Chris to get rid of the Legos. I think those are keepers. The Construx just has too many little pieces for me to consider bringing out during a slumber party or picking up after. But what a great toy set. Hope Jake and Sam get a lot of good use out of them.

Dean and the Blue Moon

Dean slipped by with a very quiet 50th birthday last year. Comes with having living out of town, and being born in December. I would have liked to have roasted Dean big but it wasn't to be.

Dean doesn't get off this year though!! It has nothing to do with plotting family members. It's a different honor altogether. There will be a "blue moon" on Dean's New Year's Eve birthday this year. How about that!!! A blue moon occurs whenever there are two full moons in the same calendar month. It's very rare...that's why they call it a blue moon.

Very auspicious. Since the blue moon occurs on New Year's Eve, I hope it translates to an auspicious year ahead for everyone.

Margaret

Jay turns 40

I have come to accept my own aging...even if a bit grudgingly. But it's an eye-opener when my much younger brother turns 40. With a December birthdate and being the youngest of eight, Jay's birthday never received a lot of fuss or acclaim. I was a teenager when he came home from the hospital as a newborn in a santa suit.

It still wasn't a lot of fuss, but we tried to remember and honor Jay on this landmark year. Jay and Michelle did an end run to avoid the possible surprise party and invited us all to the house for cake and ice cream. It was great. A nice casual atmosphere and plenty of fellowship and visiting. Thanks!!!

Jay and Sara who "tried" to settle for 2 seconds for the photo.
The cap is a gift Patti brought Jay from Peru. Looks good!

It's reversible with brown on one side and gray on the other. (smirk).

Jay and three of his older brothers.

John, Dave, Jay, and Dwight

There's a story about the cake. It started as two rectangles and was planned to become a layer cake. Turns out it was destined to be cut into a four and an ohh. George is just a puppy...he hasn't learned total control or manners yet.

Thanks Patti for helping salvage refashion the cake!

Patti and Jordan.

It was good to see them!

Cousins chilling after sugar.

It was good to see Robin, Molly, and Sydney. It was a busy day for them with church music schedules.

Monika and Michelle sharing photos. I'm so glad for these sisters in law and their wonderful kids.

Kyle and Sara the lovely and charming tornado.
He's not restraining her really, she is just zanting within his embrace.
















John and Monika's boys just had birthday's too. Can you believe they are now eight and five? Sam reminded me of the photos of dad as a young boy...Sam was attached to one or the other dog all afternoon. Here Sam is with the old gentleman Griffin. Somehow I missed snapping George...he requires a lot of supervision (a LOT) but he is surprising calm and well behaved (when he wasn't under house arrest).














Wallets.
Why did I take a picture of five wallets? Well, Kyle just got his drivers license. So he has a new wallet. Jay got a couple gift cards and we were talking about magnetic strips breaking down and he got out his wallet. Sooner or later, those Elliott men just all had their wallets out comparing them for age and wear. I did have to ask them to pause for the photo because they were quickly being replaced to hip pockets.