Walking the Line (12.21.25)

I thought my December 21, 2025 Sunday dinner was about the Christmas customs of Norway.  When I looked at the photographs I took, I realize the party was really about the grandchildren and greats having an uninhibited time rousting about in my family room, as their dads watched with only a very occasional eye.  The favorite activity was walking along the top of my living room couch!

Hey, the dads want to have a great Christmas, too!

Christmas is very fun, but exhausting, too.  You can see it in the moms' faces!

And if you're a very little person, you might get the run of the house while the grown-ups talk!

And if Norwegian culture is not emphasized fully, there's always next year to try again!

The Off Year (12.20.25)

I thought it would last forever--my children and grandchildren and greats living close and forever available for Christmas parties and Sunday dinners.  And of course that fantasy does not last, although my family's love for each other and desire to be together hopefully does.  Camille's and Lisa's families now have "on" and "off" years.  During "on" years, Camille's and Lisa's married children spend the Christmas holidays with Camille's and Lisa's families.  During the "off" years, Camille's and Lisa's married children are with their in-laws.  Unfortunately, Camille's and Lisa's "on" and "off" years don't match, so the cousins are rarely together.  Camille worked around her "off" year status this Christmas by holding Christmas a week early, with as many of her married children as she could gather.  Dave and I were thrilled and flattered to have Camille's family drop by to wish us Merry Christmas and drop off thoughtful cards and presents.  We look forward to their "on" year next Christmas! 

Jonny Turns 42 (12.19.25)

Jonny has always been so cute--so happy, funny, and surrounded by friends.  On December 19, 2025, family members gathered at "The Mint", an Asian restaurant in Salt Lake City, to celebrate Jonny's 42nd birthday.  

Jenny planned the event as a surprise party.  She relented and told Jonny about the party when he grumbled that this was his worst birthday ever, with no one remembering him.  When Jonny met Dave and me inside the restaurant, we asked, "Were you surprised?"  "You gave it away when you parked your black Toyota Forerunner right in front of the restaurant with its 'Grevid' license plate," Jonny replied.

It was a treat to spend several hours together, as parents, children, and spouses, talking and eating sushi and "small plates" of gyoza, coconut shrimp, and other delicacies.

Jonny realized he was loved and not forgotten, as we each said "nice things" about Jonny.  Those included his optimism, his great people skills, his talent of throwing himself wholeheartedly into whatever interests him, the energy and creativity he puts into being a good father, his praises of and compliments for Jenny, and so many other things.
 

Jonny even shared bites of his birthday dessert with his family.  We love Jonny!

Tending Calder (12.15.25)

Calder is my special boy.  He was born on my birthday, March 17, and given my maiden name.  On December 15, 2025, Dave and I spent the evening tending Calder, as Mike and Heidi took Audrey to a play at Hale Theater for which you have to be at least five years old.  Calder missed the cut-off by a year and three months.  Dave and I traded off playing with Calder in one-hour segments.  I started, easing myself onto Calder and Audrey's giant teddy bear and reading Calder "The Grinch."

On Christmas morning Calder arrived at my house for breakfast in a new set of Grinch pajamas!

Calder is good at puzzles and very mechanical.

Dave soon spelled me off.

Calder insisted there were ghosts in the house.  Dave and Calder went looking for them, including in Mike's dark theater.

It was treat to spend a few hours with cute Calder, as well as just basking in the beauty of Mike and Heidi's house, all decorated for Christmas.

An Olde English Evening (12.14.25)

Every year we celebrate Christmas with an "Olde English" dinner.  I buy center cut tenderloin at my favorite meat department, Harmons City Creek, as Dave cringes at the price.  I carefully surround 8" medallions with a layer of mustard, a layer of duxelles (sauteed mushrooms with onions and spices), and a final layer of puff pastry.  The concoction is baked and served with brandy peppercorn sauce.  Superb, and very British!  On December 14, 2025 we indulged in beef Wellington, with sticky toffee pudding for dessert.  I tried to roast chestnuts, but with scant success.  Next year.

Dave and I take Sam and Henry to the Parker Theater performance of Scrooge each  year, although this year Jonny and Jenny subbed for us.  "Scrooge" is another British staple, written by Charles Dickens.

This was our last Sunday dinner with Jonny's exchange student, Tomas, who flies back to Santiago, Chile, this week.  Tomas has been a delight--so friendly, polite, and good with Jonny's boys.

Meeting the Challenge (12.8.25)

I am flattered when my great-grandchildren treat me just like one of their other grandmas.  One of Lily's grandmothers lives in Louisiana and the other one, my daughter Lisa, lives in Seattle.  I was the lucky grandma who got to attend the Christmas program at Lily's nursery school on December 8, 2025.  Lily turned four last August, and so she is one of the youngest children in her class. In spite of that, Lily knew the words and actions to all the songs her class sang in their 30-minute program.  She was also resplendent in a reindeer hat.

I admire and appreciate the teachers who train my children, grandchildren, and greats so well.

The highlight of the program, for the children, was when Santa arrived with candy canes!

Michael and Rebekah both attended Lily's program.

Lily wanted to be in a picture with her friends.

Feliz Navidad (12.7.25)

Royalty joined us for our Feliz Navidad dinner on December 7, 2025.  Mike's daughter, Audrey, had a "Bibbibity-bobbity-boo Makeover" at the Japanese Disneyland last month, and she emerged as Cinderella, a princess.  Audrey wore her Cinderella dress to our dinner.  She read books with her grandpa as I finished cooking.

Each week during December, I feature a different country's Christmas celebrations and food.  At our Feliz Navidad, we feasted on cheese enchiladas and posole, a Mexican soup made with roast pork, hominy, and tomatoes.  We drank homemade horchata and ate passionfruit cheesecake for dessert.

Mike's wife, Heidi, sometimes wears "fascinators" in her hair, like the royal family in Great Britain wear.  Heidi excels at crafts and appreciates fine handiwork, like the knit sweater and scarf she bought last year during their family trip to Latvia.  

Lisa's son, Michael K, and his family were also special guests.  They live in Kaysville, which is a 40 minute drive from our home, so we are delighted to see them whenever they can join us.  

Rebekah has a new job at American Express.  She is a compliance specialist for financial transactions.  

Michael K and Rebekah's son, Soren, checked out the Christmas ornaments--our wooden nutcrackers.

Michael and Rebekah's daughter, Lily, was dressed for Christmas in her red velveteen dress with white trim.  She looked like one of Santa Claus' elves!