Nick Dreams of Sushi

My son in law celebrated his birthday last week.  My daughter had mad reservations for us for a late lunch at Wasabi, a sushi restaurant downtown.  All this happened before it snowed, the weather turned bitterly cold and she got sick.  Also, Ray and I are not big sushi fans. 
However, after everything was sorted out, we decided to head out to eat with the healthy portion of the family.  It took us a half hour longer to get there, but since the weather was so cold and so awful, the restaurant was not busy at all.  I imagine they were glad to see us.  Ray and I had noodles and everyone else ate sushi.  We had ordered chicken dishes for the kids, but Wyatt is going to be a sushi eater as well and he helped his father clean out his Bento Box. 
Now Andrea's birthday is tomorrow.  her dining wish is Burger King; what a difference!

First Sledding Day of 2014

When I was a child, we were given a sled for Christmas.  It was ages before we were ever able to use it because it did not snow.  We gave Wyatt and Andrea sleds this year, and the weather cooperated and provided snow for kids to sled.  The temperature was only 15 degrees, but with the sun shining it was tolerable.

Christmas 2013

We had Christmas twice this year since the Blomberg's went to Florida for Christmas.  Amdrew and Theresa received seafood from Florida.  We got wine.  A good time was had by all.

New Years Eve

We had a fun New Year's Eve Party last night with the family.  Andrea was dressed for the evening in her ball gown.  There were plenty of snacks and board games to be played.

New Years Day project

There is little doubt in my mind that I will probably post several things tonight and then nothing again for the rest of the month.  December was busy but not hectic.  The Christmas shopping was done without a lot of rush and stress.  This was also one of the seasons where I have been updating and refurbishing the Christmas decorations.  Now, I would like to decorate all year around, but I just don't have it in me to keep putting things up and then putting them away.  That is why I like Christmas, I put the decorations up and everything stays up for at least a month.  I have time to enjoy them.
We have had a wreath to put over the garage door for several years, but it wasn't quite big enough.  Ray wanted it to surround the light, not hang under it.  All the ready made wreaths were too expensive, so this year I hit the sales and got a big wreath and decorations at 70% off at Michael's.  There are solar powered led lights on the wreath which were 75% off at Lowes.  I think the total cost for the finished project was about $65.00 which was less than the original cost of the unfinished wreath.  Now there is just a year to wait to see how it looks.

Into the Christmas Season

Back in the day, I used to do a lot of baking at Christmas.  It wasn't bad, I really do like to cook and the holidays are the best time to go all out and make goodies galore.  Over the years after I started on Weight Watchers and even when I wasn't following the plan, I just quit creating a lot of treats at Christmas. 
This year, while I haven't been overboard, I have baked more than I have in years.  It is all because of the grand kids.  It just seems right to make cookies with them.  I admit to having this fantasy of them telling their kids and grand kids over icing and dough how they made cookies with us when they were kids.  You can't have memories unless you make them and so I guess that is what we are doing.
I also am making cookie trees with Wyatt and Andrea's help.  I know for a fact, that they are not perfect, but the second one was a lot better than the first.  I think I will make one more.  The short first one for us.  The second one in the picture for Nicole's family and another one for Andrew and Theresa.  I am looking forward to seeing if the skills required improve with my next effort.
The non baking picture of Andrea with the reindeer is just commemorate the fact that she now can sing all the words to Grandma got run over by a reindeer, just from listening to the deer on the rocker.  Who says kids aren't listening.

Long Time Friend (Ray says I can't call them old friends)

Just before Thanksgiving, one of our friends from when we were stationed in Turkey called and told us he would be passing through Wichita.  He was invited to spend the night and we had a great time catching up on the last thirty (yes, thirty) years.
Dave Morse and his wife were in the communication squadron at Karamursel Turkey.  We had a great time together, we traveled places, and we kept in touch over the years.  Dave and his wife divorced, but we still are in touch with both of them. 
It is just so great to be able to still visit with friends from over forty years ago.  I consider it a real blessing.