HOLLIDAY MONTH IS HERE

Dear Family,

December is here, the Xmas trees are going up and all seem to be in a Holiday mode well ind advance of Christmas Day. Mom created an unusual Advent Calender for all the families; hope you got yours.

Cheryl and Paul gave us an early Xmas present by sending us two tickets to the Valley West Ballet Company's performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. The seats were the best ever, second row in front of the orchestra pit and so close to everything.

This is a yearly tradition as four of Cheryl's daughters are in the ballet performance. Madeline was one of the servants who brought in the cake, bright smiling and graceful. Annabelle was one of the soldiers and was beating a drum. Mary Clare and Loren were part of the Buffoon kids who come out under the big skirt and they did perfect cartwheels across the stage. They were smiling and happy and so energetic. I have never enjoyed the performance as much as I did this year. The Ballerinas were great but I am never sure about the guys jumping around in tights.

Here are Oma and Opa and the Performers in front of the giant Nutcracker.

Before the Ballet, we usually get a little dinner at Sigfrieds next door; with Schnitzel und Gurkensalat or a Wurst or two mit Kartofelsalat. While we were there, this young man comes up to me and starts speaking in German. It was the son of my Counselor, Lutz Herber from Augsburg, Germany. His son is here on an internship at Franklin Covy. It is such a small world in th Church and we had a rowsing good chat before we ran to the Capital Theater.


Our Tree is up, the family presents have been sent and we are trying to get our Xmas card out. We went to Cathy and Pete's house after Thanksgiving. Here is a picture of their tree in the front room. They are extremely festive and have at least eight Christmas trees decorated in their home and a ton more decorated outside. Macy's window in New York City has nothing on Cathy and Pete!

They have their outside trees decorated with many strands of varied color lights and the whole thing is organized with a computer to go on and off to syncopated Christmas music sent out through a radio transmitter from their home. It is really something.

Alles Gute,
Oma and Opa