2005 - WINTER

IT'S WINTER AND IT'S COLD!

Sophia's third birthday was celebrated with a small group of children her age.  Although the day was warm enough to require only light jackets, the day also signaled the unofficial beginning of winter for the family.

Fall was glorious with relatively warm days and chilly nights.  The arrival of rains that usually come with the change in weather was delayed and we had several weeks to enjoy changing leaf color.  Sophia and Brandon had a great time frolicing in the pile of leaves raked from in front of the garage door.

With the fall of the last leaf, Thanksgiving was here and with it came frigid temperatures and ice on nearby ponds.  Weather doesn't necessitate a change in tradition, however.  For over thirty years when Dawn and Brett were growing up, and for the last seven at the kids' house, a turkey is cooked on the kettle grill.  Crank up the kerosene heater in the garage and leave the garage door ajar. There is no turkey that tastes as good as one cooked over charcoal peppered with hickory chips!

Nearly six years old, Brandon was at last not only willing to sit on Santa's lap but anxious to tell the jolly fellow what he wanted for Christmas.  To be as helpful as possible, before the visit Brandon asked Dawn to help him write a letter to leave with Santa, listing his requests.  As for Sophia, she wanted every- thing she saw advertised on TV.  And some things that weren't ... like pink hair.   For Sophia shopping was easy, if it was pink, she'd be sure to like it.

It's become a custom that I overnight at the Valentine's home Christmas Eve so that I'm already there when Brandon and Sophia wake up Christmas morning.

This year Brandon was willing to go to bed once the cookies and milk were left beside the fireplace for Santa.  Sophia, on the other hand, wanted to be awake to welcome him.  Daddy elf gave up early and went to bed; elves Mommy and Grandma were hard-pressed to stay awake until Sophia finally relented and climbed into her bed.  A little after midnight the house was finally quiet. The guest bedroom is on the ground level, and a little after 7:00 Christmas morning, I heard light, rapid footsteps above me followed immediately by excited little voices.  The day had begun.  Brandon had asked Santa for Batman and Star Wars items.  Santa had listened.  Santa did quite well for Sophia as well.

Copyright ©2005  Kitty Park