A Very Clayton Christmas: December 2010

As it turned out this year, only Clayton came home for Christmas. And we had a great time. Chelsea had a baby, Jordan moved to Arizona, Denton moved to Washington state, and Lindsay went to Utah. So it just left us 3.

We started Christmas Eve day with eggs and bacon and then a yummy Christmas lunch at BRIO ( one of our favorite restaurants). They are known for their fabulous bisteca wedge salad with gorgonzola cheese and bacon dressing.....great bread and pasta. After a relaxing and delicious lunch, we went to see " True Grit" at the new "Cinnebistro". It was a beautiful theatre with really comfortable seats. We didn't eat there because we had just eaten ...but we want to go back and try the food. We hear it is good. The movie was great and the boys were really happy. We toured the Stoney Point mall ( Clayton pushing me in the wheelchair) to see the decor and festivities. We came home and set up our new Christmas present. Jordan's family and Clayton gave us Apple TV this year...so CTR hooked it all up and got us all set-up. It will be so nice to access Netflix's now w/o having to connect the computer. It is awesome. Greg did a smorgasbord of appetizers that we love , including smoked oysters for me. We watched a new DVD/ book we received, more movies and fell asleep.

Christmas morning ( after sleeping in) began with Greg's traditional sourdough pancakes and sausage. We missed all the kids here to help us eat them. We opened gifts , which was over in a few minutes:) Clayton loved his new Panini grill from us and his sliders cookware from Lindsay and Regan.. He is becomnig quite the cook. Lucky for us, because we will really miss all of Denton's gourmet meals. Seems like most of our kids or in-laws love to cook. And we even have some grandkids who love to cook too.

Then we went to another movie ( How do you know?) at the Regal Wheschester Commons). It was fun...not the best show ever but still entertaining. We came out to snow falling and got home quick before it got too bad. We got to skype or talk to all our other kids and grandparents , which made it really seem more like Christmas. Clayton made us his famous pasta for our Christmas dinner by candlelight with Ghiradelli brownies for dessert. More time realxing and watching TV. It was snowing again, so Clayton left around 9pm to get back to DC before the roads got too bad.

It was a quiet, low-key Christmas but we really enjoyed it and appreciated having Clayton all to ourselves. It doesn't happen very often. It was especially meanigful this year, after his scary car accident. We realize all the more how much we love all of our children and grandchildren and value the relationship we have with them. We received lovely gifts from all of them and aappreciate all their kindnesses to us.

It was a very difefrent but very nice Christmas. We have beautiful snowy trees outside to make it a White Christmas and a brand new baby granddaughter right from heaven to remind us of the most important things in life.

Our New Baby Granddaughteri : Marjorie Kate Wood (Gigi)

Our 12th grandchild was born December 21, 2010. Her name is Marjorie Kate Wood. She weighed 5 lbs 12 oz and was 18 inches long. She is our 7th girl. We also have 5 boys. She is so tiny and cute. They nicked named her Gigi. Yesterday, December 23rd, we drove to Raleigh, NC to welcome her home and celebrate with her family for a few hours. Here are a few of the pictures we took. Also below is an explnation of her name.

From Chelsea

We are loving MKW so much. She is strong and alert and she's wearing me out with the nursing :). Love her expressive eyes. We don't know how officially we will refer to her as Gigi (spelled that way), but I love that her first name, Marjorie, means 'child of light,' is a family name on both sides, and is linked to her sisters (the J and the 'ee'). We also love that it is old fashioned and shared by a wonderful woman, Marjorie P. Hinkley.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/46965/Marjorie-P-Hinckley-Best-selling-author.html

I don't own any of MPH's books, but have relished her words. Her husband described her as a great lady with tremendous capacity. I'd like to gift that legacy to this tiny 5 pound miracle.

Her middle name, Kate, pays tribute to her great grandmother, Kathryn Romans. Grandma Katee has been a pivotal example in my life and has become a close friend to me in my grownup years. She is witty, intelligent, a voracious reader, a talented homemaker and genius quilter, and probably the most enterprising person I know. My daughter is lucky to be named for a great grandmother who is not only still alive at her birth, but ONLINE and google chatting. Amazing!

We love her already and are so glad she arrived safe and sound.

$5 pedicure for the Woods Girls : December 2010

Chelsea took Evie and Chloe on a little date to get their toes painted. It only cost $5 and they were thrilled. It is amazing how much joy something so simple can bring. I know because I am smiling all day long after a pedicure. But I pay for the whole enchilada so I can get the leg and feet massage.

I am sure these girls are hooked now and will want "pedicure" in their future. Love the flowers.

Breakfast with the girls at Mimi's

This year we were suppose to go overnight to Williamsburg again for our annual girl's Christmas celebration at "Chritmas Town"...but unfortunately Tamara got sick She felt so bad but it worked out for the best. This is my old stake YW presidency. We had so much fun serving together we have maintained our friendship and get together as much as we can. We are missing Genia in the picture this year.....we did meet her for dinner one night later but forgot to take a picture. As it turned out for the original celebration, we had just as much fun and maybe more (since it was freezing and they would have had to push me in the wheelchair) eating Chinese take-out in my family room with Tamara's pretzel dip and Suzie's hot fudge brownies. We had so much fun just talking and relaxing. We decided it was a good new tradtition. Crista spent the night and then we all gathered for a yummy breakfast at Mimi's. We always do a fun gift exchange and this year we even got gifts from Crista's trip to Italy. I love these girls. We are all differnet ages but have so much fun together.

The Annual English Christmas Tea at Thelma's

Every year, for the past several years, our book club has gathered at our dear friend Thelma Bethel's (who is now in her 80's and still partying hardy) for our annual English Christmas tea. She is originally from England so taught us how it is done. For the past few years, we have helped make her delicious recipes and she gives us cookie bags to take extra's home. Sylvia graciously types all the recipe's in a book for us. Her home is decorated just beautiful and she always has out her special manger scene ( that her son made when he was a boy) Her sweet daughters always come to help her entertain us. We usually read a Christmas story and discuss....but then spend the most time munching on all kinds of wonderful goodies. Her cute husband Pete, stands out in freezing cold in front of their town home with ear muffs and gloves helping us to find a parking space. It is a wonderful day and we all look so forward to it every year. Thank you Thelma for your many kindnesses and warm hospitality . We love you and love coming to the special English tea every year. xoxo

Christmas Table 2010!

Another table is set. I used some of the same things because of my knee and my inability to carry down or unpack anything. Luckily, I keep my Christmas dishes. tablecloth, place cards, etc. downstairs. It isn't quite as glitzy as usual but it will do for this year. Hopefully my knee will be working 1oo% by next year. But I have to say, I hardly got anything out except poinsettia's in my kitchen and few things, and it is nice to not have so much work. We didn't put up a tree this year for the first time in 38 years, but I bought a small tabletop one at Marshalls . My girls wanted to put one up while they were here, but they won't be here to take it down, so I said no. I am trying to get in the Christmas spirit......maybe in a few more days.....I will be fa la la la la la...ing. 2010 has been a hard year. But we are expecting a new baby granddaughter soon.....which will be a great way to end the year ( hopefully she will be here on time). I am hoping 2011 will be a little better....except Clayton and I both have to have surgery in January and February. Bah Humbug. huh? NO I refuse to give in......I will put on Christmas Carols and create some magic somehow, somewhere. :)

Lindsay turns 26!

My baby girl turned 26 on November 24th. She and her husband came for Thanksgiving so we celebrated that night. Chloe Jane helped me make her a birthday cake ( her favorite is yellow with chocolate frosting from Ukrop's) We made one similar with 4 layers and Chloe wrote her name on the cake. She was really cute...practicing several different signatures. She also helped me make the pumpkin pies. She is a great little helper. Good thing we made dessert because although we went to Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving dinner, they ran out of pie. So at least we had some dessert to come home to. Lindsay only had 1 piece befre she left so I froze it for next Sunday so I wouldn't be tempted to eat it all myself.

Bass Pro Shop with the Folks

The Woods Family got to come early for Thanksgiving as Dana had business in Richmond.... so we have had fun doing lots of different things.

Yesterday we went to Bass Pro Shop for lunch and games. It is the neatest place. The food is good . It is so huge with a big fireplace and very neat decor. We even had our own private dining room. There are aquariums (we saw a guy with a Santa hat on scuba diving as he was cleaning the giant tanks), big fish, big stuffed bears, deer and raccoons and all kinds of sporting goods things for being out in nature. If you haven't ever been to one, you must try it.

Chloe,Felix and Evie loved it. It is fun to see them get excited. I wish all my kids and grandkids could have been here. They would have loved it. Plus is was all decorated for Christmas so it made it even more magical.

Maddox turns 5!

Jordan and Melissa's only son turned 5 day. He is such a cutie...so sweet and polite. He is good to all those sisters of his and is becoming a real gentleman. I know his mom has something to do with that... teaching him to open the doors and all. I just love to be around him. He is always smiling and happy. He loves to hang out with his dad and help do and learn "boy" things.

His electric eyes remind me so much of Jordan.

I am so excited that we will be going to his new home in Arizona soon to visit him.

Happy Birthday Maddog. We love you so very much.