Roise Christmas

Here are a few pictures from our traditional Roise Christmas celebration yesterday. I'm sorry I missed some people, and I didn't get a pictures of the spaghetti.

Here are Grandma, Jean, Grandpa, and Dad (from left to right).

Sisters (in-law).

Here's the obligatory pinochle game. I think the Dave Roises, as is typically the case, bid high and won.

You can always count on Jon for some antics-- being a dad has just provided him with new vistas of possiblity.

This is the rightful owner of the pacifier above. Also in the picture are my cousin Maria and Jon's wife Victoria (I think that's the back of Anton's head).

We all met up at Jean's (she's coach) basketball game in Grand Forks on the 22nd (the rest of the celebration was on the 23rd).

The most wonderful time of the year....

Here are a few catch-you-up pictures from the last week or so.

Winter Graveyard

Christmas Presents

Here are a few pictures from our Idaho present opening.


Lewis got some play tools and a tool box.

Ingrid got a Fisher-Price barn, some animals, and some people. Lewis got the tractor and a few other people and a couple animals. I had one of these barns when I was a kid-- I remember climbing into my crib on it.

Michelle is sucking the shoe from Aunt Rose (we used Rose's presents for our "Christmas Eve" opening). Thanks, Rose!

I think this pictures illustrates why things can be noisy and exciting around here.

Putting them to work...

This picture is also from Inge's birthday. This set (ironing board, iron, and vacuum cleaner) has a story, and as you can see, we put them straight to work.

Happy Birthday Inge

Here are some pictures from Inge's birthday which was this past week.

Here she is blowing out the candles. We had a joint Birthday party with her friend Payton. Payton blew her candles out as soon as we were done singing. Inge took a little longer.

Crystal (Payton's mom) brought some gloves for the girls to wear, along with their fancy dresses.

Inge and Payton examine the play food that Payton and her family gave to Inge.


Pizza for lunch. I think she liked it.

A Sabbath Picture

This picture is actually from last week. We're going to be busy tomorrow, so this might be the only picture I get to post.

Jubilee!

Hannah finally has a (-nother) little sister:














She made a leisurely entry into the world. We're all excited she's finally arrived. Congratulations, Bentons!

Ubuntu

I'm posting this picture with my computer running off a booted Linux release that runs off the CD drive, if you want it to. This is Ubuntu, and so far I think it's cool. Blogger works as well or better than Windows.

Sunday Icicles

Christmas Tree Decorating

This is the first ornament Claire gave me (before we were married).

I'm showing the kids the Noah's Ark ornament (from Grammy and Grandpa).

Inge can now place ornaments.
It was snowing *WHILE* we decorated-- wow! Thank you, Lord, for snow this Christmas.

Candy canes were the favorite ornament-- especially for Lewis.

Hannah Says

So, Hannah says: "You know, the thing I'm gonna remember most about this house is kids on the toilet. Kids on the toilet, singing."

And the comment rings true, because just thirty seconds ago Inge barely got out of the way in time to let Lewis take her place; and from the bathroom right now proceeds (over and over again, and getting higher every time) the chorus from the Little Drummer Boy, with a few extra pum-pum-pums thrown in for good measure.

Excerpt from The Parent's Giant Dictionary of Scenarios

Unhelpful Solutions, on Proposing:

Child in bath: "Mommy, my eye hurts. Can you bleach it?"

First Person Plural Pronouns, on the Unclear Use of:

Child at dinner, apropos of absolutely nothing: "We haven't lied to Hannah and Anoma in a while. That's a good thing."