Sitting on the landing, waiting for Papa & Grandma to arrive in Bridgeport!

With the arrival of Papa and Grandma on Monday evening before supper, the Strawn house has been a buzz with activity, laughter and a lot of snoring during the overnight hours. 

Welcome, Papa & Grandma!!

After a ride and an all day event of cooking up a hefty pumpkin that gave us 10 quarts of pumpkin puree, Eden's school Christmas program, "Christmas at the OK Corral" was Tuesday night, and millions of people turned out to see it, including Santa Clause.  Ok, maybe not millions of people, but the majority of Bridgeport's population was there, which amounted to a full gym, at any rate.  My little pioneer girl was dressed in one of my old dresses & bonnet, with an apron found in grandma's cedar chest and a coat that initially was sewn for Aunt Meegan. 

Eden as Pioneer Girl

Wednesday, in between running to town and back, I spent the day sewing a Christmas wall hanging while Mom & Dad sat peeling, coring, cutting & bagging Granny Smith apples from Dad's tree on Farnsworth Rd.  This garnered us 21 quarts of sliced apples for pies, tarts, ice cream, cobbler, crisp and anything else I can think of to use them for.  Suggestions are welcome... 

Santa and Mrs. Claus?

That evening we went to church for an LYF sloppy joe supper and made it through the first half of the Advent service before having to leave with noisy & tired children.  We drove around the lake and looked at Christmas lights until they were almost asleep, then struggled to wake them for school this morning, despite the fact that snow was coming down to cover the sidewalks. 

Elia finally goes to Papa...and promptly falls asleep.

Mom & I are busy in the kitchen now making ice cream and hot butterscotch sauce, having walked Elia to story hour this morning with Dad.  Mom went to lunch with Lars at school today and decided to be a good example for the children by eating the food on her plate, even though she didn't really want to.  She decided she could eat a cheese enchilada again someday if she had to.... She's going to eat breakfast with Eden tomorrow, donuts and string cheese.  Dad and Al took Lars to therapy this afternoon in The Bluffs, along with a drive past the race track to show Papa where we go on Friday nights in the summertime.  

Eden will be done with school shortly and another walk to town in the snow will be in order.

Grandma reads a story to Lars

All too soon, Papa & Grandma will be headed back to Michigan, but not before a few more memories made, some Christmas presents opened, and a Sunday dinner with family & friends.