Christmas 2016

As usual, we hosted a family Christmas with Jenn's family, visited my parents' place for my mom's family Christmas, and shared a family Christmas with the Hopwoods. New this year, we enjoyed a really good brunch with Jenn's immediate family, my parents, and our neighbor, Mrs. Hillegas. Jenn's house and meal prep was fantastic, as well as her help getting the tree up. Confession: I enjoy decorating for Christmas less and less every year. I love Christmas, I'm not a humbug, but the setup is exhausting and short-lived. Thankfull, Jenn and the kids were able to be helpful this year.

The kids were as excited as any Christmas. Lincoln got a telescope, and he's been taking excellent care of it in addition to checking out stars on clear nights.

Christmas Season, 2015

The seasons just keep running together. Not so much the seasons of the weather and the calendar, but the seasons of life. The stages that we Gateses move through, they just merge from one to the next.

In my last post I left off with the time-lapse of the Christmas tree decoration. Well, Christmas 2015 has come and gone, and Jenn and I agree that this was one of our favorite episodes. Certainly not contributing to this was the complete lack of winter feeling outside. However, the relative slow pace of the family Christmas gatherings, the delaying of playing Christmas music in the house, and the overall maturing of the kids really made this a neat Christmas time.

One aspect that prevented this Christmas time from being too drug out is the variety of events that broke up the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Jenn made two non-seasonal cakes that were amazing.

Jenn and I also revisited Mountain Horse Farm, our favorite winery (Atwater) and a few new-to-us wineries.

As usual, we shared Christmas parties with our several families.

You know that moment when the kids' presents are opened and the grown-ups have more to open?

Holiday Start-Up

We don't usually like to start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving has passed, but because of our schedules, our options were either to start decorating in late November, or in mid December. And because the kids are into it, we opted for the earlier start.

Some housekeeping items:

Gas has even gotten lower than this!

I had some breakfast time with the kids at Giant Eagle on my day off. We played I SPY from the upper level of the grocery story. Lots to see!

The Old Trail School autumn program was a week ago, and Lincoln participated in the K-2 show. They broke up into small groups and performed Carnival Of The Animals, and it was really cute.

I've been logging some miles lately. The FitBit has done its job of keeping me on task and focused on fitness, and it's pushed me off my previous beaten path into some pretty beautiful areas of the national park less than 10 minutes from the house. (The photos are all from my iPhone.)

In conclusion, I'd like to point out just how interesting it is this year that all of a sudden, we're not, according to Big Media, to view the Pilgrims as evil white men who came to America to commit genocide and spread disease, but rather to take a lesson from both them and the native Americans as the first example of accepting refugees on these shores. There is a certain segment of America that never misses an opportunity to politicize what ought to be an innocuous national holiday, even if today's narrative contradicts their narrative of the past. Clearly I've given a glimpse into my own views on this matter here, but I'll leave it simply with this:

There are so many blessings that we enjoy that I cannot list them all here. Suffice it to say, though, that on this day (and every day), Jenn and I are thankful for each other, our family, the ability to work in areas that bring us enjoyment, and the ability to enjoy fun times as a result of the blessings of our work. We're thankful for a good church home, as well as for friendships, new and old. We wish you a happy Thanksgiving.

(Now bring on Christmas!)

January, Where Have You Gone?

Well, I figured I ought to get something in so I don't end up with my first blank month since this whole blogging adventure started.
Christmas was fun, with family Christmases here at our place, then a trip to Franklin to spend some time with the Hopwoods.
Lincoln's reading is really taking off, and it's a lot of fun to listen to him read to us and to Lydia & Henry. Jenn went to Universal Studios with Auntie Haley for a few days after the new year.

my main man gru A photo posted by haley parkinson ✨💥⚡️ (@haleyparkinson) on Jan 4, 2015 at 12:00pm PST

I became 100% owner at CFVC on January 1, and the transition has been interesting, challenging, and something that I'm getting used to. I have SOOOOOOOOOOO appreciated Jenn keeping up with our checkbook and finances at home, as this just isn't an area of interest for me, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, and I'm staying on top of things at the clinic and haven't had any major fires yet. Kirt (Dr. Kirt, to you!) is working out well, and the staff hasn't missed a beat. There's no replacing ODG (Other Dr. Gates), but over time I ought to move into his role, and Kirt ought to assume my spot. In time. Only a few clients have had a really hard time with the transition.

Flashback to Dad's Retirement Party:

On the horizon is a trip to Zion National Park then Las Vegas for some continuing education. This means bonus grandparent time for the kids, and it also means Dad can get back to the clinic for some relief days. The staff is very excited. And Jenn and I are excited to see a part of the country (Zion) that's been on our list for a while, and another part (Vegas) that we probably ought to see once. But the conference is high on my list, as I'll be able to see some veterinarians in person that I've only ever met online.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I better get something up before Christmas so I can have at least 2 December posts.

The rundown:

Lydia's been making some goodies in the kitchen.

We took a trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express!

Jenn hosted Lincoln's First Grade class's Christmas Party. She organized some neat crafts, put together some good food, and the kids really seemed to have a good time.

And we're all getting into the Christmas Spirit. The kids want to have their stories in front of the Christmas Tree, Lincoln is learning all sorts of Christmas songs. Lydia and Henry can fill in the blanks on a number of Christmas books. And Oodles... he's up to his naughty fun around the house each day.