A Birthday at Grandma's and Grandpa's House

We drive up. Just like always, the small blue house smiles its welcome. The fake candles are in the windows. I know just how it will be. We will all run up to the door. Allison or Sarah of course will be able to ding the door bell. Nathan will hide and we will all tell him not too. Then after a few seconds the door will open to reveal smiling Grandma and Grandpa. We walk inside, take of our shoes. Bethany and Michaela were at Grandma's house already to help her. We all choose a balloon like always. The twins get the special balloon. We go to the table. We all sit down and pray. Then Bethany, Michaela, Nathan, and I pass out the food. We all eat. We all say it was delicious. Then we get up and clear the dishes. Grandma cleans them Bethany loads them into the dish washer. Then we get out the Ice cream pie. We put candles in and sing. We eat it all up. Who can't resist. The phone rings. Grandpa gets it. He talks for awhile. He gets off. We all get up and go to the family room. I go into Dad's old bedroom. I pull the string on a little music box. The music is almost haunting. What story does it hold? I will never know. We bring the presents out. The twins open them. There are ooh's and aah's all around. I remember a little gold elephant in Dad's old room. I bring it out. It was a piggy bank. I find out how to open it. Old coins from 1940 and older come out. Tax tokens. I have never heard of them before but now I do. We search for another piggy bank and find it. Oh dear it is locked. Bethany figures out how to pick it opened. Grandma brings out other coins. I hold a coin from 1887. Wow. My fingers are blackened from the dust and grime. It is time to go. Hugs all around. Presents in the car. We all pile in. Just as we start to drive away we open the windows. We all yell bye. The neighbors must be thinking "another Hammermaster birthday." Yes, I smile as we stop the car infront of the house. I do not know what we will find but all I know is that I will enjoy it. 

A New Years Resolution

What is your New Years Resolution? I have not made one yet. But here seems a good place to make one. I resolute to enjoy this year to its extent. To not look to far into the future, but to take each day, each problem as it comes. But then, in another sense. I will look at the year with a bright eye and a new understanding. Each year brings something I enjoy. Last year was the Carlsons, this year? I do not know. But I have something to look forward at the beginning of this year. I have a year ahead of me, a clean slate. And no matter what the problems are, I will have family and friends by my side. But more importantly, I look at this year, with the reasuranse and peacefulness. That God is there. He knows what is going to happen. He knows what happened. I have a year in front of me and I am going to grab it in the fullest measure. That is my New Years Resolution.  

This year, I met so many people. I saw so many people. I loved so many people. The highlights of my year are as follows.

January: A new year! The twins turned 6! 

February: Valentines passed with no emergencies! (long long story) I turned 11. My cousin Andrew turned 11. 

March: MJ turned 13!!!!! 

April: Rain . . . if that is a highlight. 

May: Not much. End of the month, end of school!!

June: This was probably the best month of the entire year. Our cousins from New Jersey came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We spent two wonderful weeks playing with them. After they left we had a week of rest and then . . . sure enough Camp Hope!!!!!! 

July: The Fourth of July! Summer . . . 

August: Mom's birthday. School started. (that one may NOT be a highlight . . . )

September: Nathan's birthday, Bethany's birthday, Dad's birthday! A trip!!!!!

October: Not much

November: Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December:  Christmas! The prospect of a New Year.

And now, I must go and live my New Year!

The Mystery of the Christmas Code

Our parents put a code on the Christmas gifts each year. Instead of a sweet little sticker with Santa Clause with his presents and big sack and little labels saying From and To there is a series of black numbers and or letters. Last year I knew one of the presents . . . Mom had told me about it. From that we built off of it. The code has not yet come out this year but I will tell you as soon as it does. 

Now for a mystery to keep us busy. I know!!!! In the beginning of this school year, our Aunt from New Jersey sent out her children's used science supplies. MJ and Eowyn needed them for Science. We waited for ever. They did not come. Aunt Karen called later saying that she had insured the mail. She tracked it to the lost and found in Ohio. It ended up that it had gotten from New Jersey all the way to Kent in Washington. That is about 15-20 minuets from our house. Then the label fell off and it was sent to the closest lost and found . . . in Ohio. The mail men apologized and told our Aunt that they would send it in overnight mail. It came a week and a half later. A few things were broken. Not much. Just a few science slides. Why did it take a week and a half instead of two days? Was it a hidden burglary? Why were a few slides broken? This mystery must be solved by the one and only Blog Detectives!!

Friends, Cousins, and Prince Charmings

Have you just sat down and thought about all your friends. Especially around Christmas time when I am getting gifts I think about all the gifts I need to get. Then I realize how many friends I have. And let me tell you, getting gifts for all my siblings and cousins is no easy task. I have 14 related people to get gifts for. And my friends! But I love shopping. Christmas time is one of the best times to thank God for all your Friends, and Cousins. Why did I put Prince Charmings in the title? I do not know. It just seemed to fit. :)

Typo

I meant Mom and Dad's bathroom :)