Hitting Twenty-Three

Another end of the year, another birthday.

Jason turned twenty-three today, at precisely 5:06pm.

There was the usual meal of Mexican chicken, tortilla roll-ups and applesauce.

"Hey...I only get it once a year," he said.

I don't mind, since it's fairly easy.

Here is the raisin cream pie, which was a collaboration of Carolyn: crust, Sharon: filling, and moi: meringue.


Only one gift, this year. Jason is similar to Loren in the respect that I really have no way of getting him anything that would be remotely useful, technology-wise.

So lately I've settled on geeky or quirky gifts.

Oh yeah....something from "demotivators.com."


It's a mug!


Which says:
"Quality: the road to quality has no finish line, so technically, it's more like a death march."

Pretty much sums up life, actually :-)

Jason will be returning to Cedar Rapids, tomorrow, to get in one last week of work and attend the famous CR LeTourneau alumni and friends New Year's Eve Party.

It's been great to have him here over Christmas, but all frivolity (not to mention Dr. Who and Wooster and Jeeves episodes) must come to an end.

Eventually we have to return to the real world.
 

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Fun in the Snow and other Productivity

Fulfilling a lifelong dream to operate hydraulic machinery, Sharon coaxed Ethan into teaching her how to use the skid-loader Didn't take much persuasion AT ALL, thus fulfilling one of Ethan's lifelong dreams to instruct an older sibling in the art of doing cool, manly stuff.


In almost no time Sharon was running that baby with her eyes closed.
(thanks go to Kendra for snapping these photos while her chère maman was out gathering the bacon)

When I arrived back home from shopping, I saw Sharon, Trevor and Ethan hard at work constructing a snowman.
(unfortunately, I took this from the car and didn't realize how out of focus it was)

Here we see the finished product: "Jacques the Jolly Snowman."
They were searching for a hat and Ethan came up with the idea of using a tire.

After this it was lunch and then off to the theater for the kids. Sharon took most of her siblings to see Dawn Treader in 3D. And Trevor wasn't even scared of the sea monster! Too bad we can't say the same for everyone else, right Sharon?

Now it's time for a bit of Wooster and Jeeves, sticking Trevor and Nolan in bed, and then the 4-hour version of Emma.

I don't suppose you can overdose on too much video...
 

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Family at Home

Good times at the Hoytstead :-)

Woke up to the most gorgeous hoarfrost, ever.


Jason made his famous coffee cake for breakfast...
...pineapple coconut !

Had good times, watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, during which we realized the DVD player needed significant cleaning...never saw a movie stop that many times. Later, we viewed Jason's present to the family, How to Train Your Dragon. Excellent :-D

Of course, with more people around, there are also more dishes.
(Kendra can't decide whether to glare at me for taking a picture, or smile)

Had to get a shot of Justin's great T-shirt!
You can see that Trevor's been doing his best to make his presence known. So nice to have extra big guys around to annoy.

We've been having fun just relaxing, watching movies and yakkng. I even got in a significant nap, this afternoon.

Good times in Hoytville :-)
 

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Christmas Eve Doin's

It's been a busy day for Ma, which began with sleeping in. Hey...I'm getting old, after all!

The snow fell all night and continued throughout the day until sixish. Taking into account various snowfall reports from nearby towns, and working my careful method of triangulatory snow metrics, I figure we got around 8.5 inches.

Pretty good, considering we usually hit the low side of the tally.

Ma did a fair amount of the cookie business, this time, and my feet and legs are telling my age. Frankly, I've been whipped all week, so one of these days I am REALLY going to sleep in.

Got the presents wrapped and pulled the last tray of cookies out of the oven as we were sitting down to supper.

Here is the crew, looking all respectable, as usual.
Wait...who is that blocking out poor little Trevor from the picture?

Ohhh, big, bad brother Jason.

OK. Have to take another picture....
NOW what....the kid scooched down and I still can't see him....

Guess I'll have to give it another try.
With Jason holding his head firmly in place, we now see the errant child.

And people call me crazy. It's not me, it's them.

I'm an island of sanity amidst a sea of Hoyts.

For supper we had old-fashioned ham-n-bean soup (or leftover corn chowder, for those who preferred), fresh bread and butter, and applesauce.

Christmas cookies for dessert.

Good times around the table, as Jason and Derek taunted each other about who had the better college major.

Ah, family togetherness.

Hope everyone out there is with family or friends over the holidays.

Merry Christmas!
 

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Ethan turns Fourteen!

Ethan decided to celebrate his birthday one day late, on the 18th, so Kendra could be here to share in the glory.

The big meal included cocktail smokies (3 packs!), which had conveniently been on sale, deviled eggs, and fruit salad.

Yes, it was a little heavy on the protein. But then, no one's really sure what's in those mutant hot dog thingies, so...

The birthday dessert was Texas Sheet Cake, to which those of us with discriminating tastes added ice cream.

He'd been planning on a three layer chocolate monstrosity that would have included one layer of Texas Sheet Cake, one of chocolate cheese cake, and one of something else....equally expensive, no doubt.

However, in the end, my dubious looks and threats to cancel his birthday worked their magic. Ethan chose the more reasonable line of a tested and true recipe.

The blowing of the candles, arranged by the birthday lad in the shape, "14."
All flames were successfully extinguished with one breath. Course, it didn't hurt he'd jammed the candles down to the metal.

First present...Bible cover (old one was too big)....because, well...moms will be practical.


Book full of 3-D puzzles to assemble.


Not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR Redwall books :-)


And more than that, Ethan got to spend part of the day working the skid-loader, so all in all, a pretty successful birthday!
 

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Yes, I KNOW

I know some people have gotten a Christmas letter with no picture included. This is quite possibly because I, in my hurry to get the letters out by Saturday, forgot to put pictures in a few of the letters.

As in, all 70.

Fear not! I have, just today, mailed out all the photocards to each person, so consider this year's Christmas letter to be a two-parter, the likes of which will (hopefully) never happen again.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, not unlike a rare alignment of the planets, or something even more extraordinary, me losing weight.

The pictures should arrive at each person's house exactly one day after the letter. If it doesn't, your local postal service has let you down.

That is all.
 

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A Christmas Carolly Evening

We had our big, family extravaganza of the year, traveling to Waterloo to see the play, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.

Mucho excitemundo by los kiddos, starting with the drive.

For some reason, traveling at nighttime is quite the thrill for the younger ones. I guess it's due to the fact we almost never go anywhere as a family, after dark. It's a crazy idea we've had about not getting kids to bed, too late.

So we're off on our "these-kids-are-so-sheltered-they-think-driving-at-night-is fun" adventure, when someone pipes up from the back seat, "Let's sing Christmas carols!"

The following is a synopsis of what took place...not word for word, but reasonably close:

Ethan: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, some-thing, something something something.."

Carolyn: "Are those all the words you know? Haven't you been listening to Michael Bublé?"

(four different kids singing Jingle Bells, all starting at different places in the song)

Trevor: "Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock..."

Carolyn: "You can't just sing that one line, over and over..."

Trevor: "Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock..."

Everyone: "TREVOR!"

Kids in back: "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree."

Ma, in an aside to Kendra: ("this oughtta keep them busy for a while")

Kids in back: "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,"

Trevor: "FIVE--GO-OLD RINGS!"

"Not yet, Trevor...!"

Trevor: "FIVE--GO-OLD RINGS! (two-second pause) "FIVE--GO-OLD RINGS!"

Ethan: "I'm, dreaming of a nice, Christmas...."

Several: "It's white...it's supposed to be 'WHITE Christmas' ! "

Trevor: "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Mary had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow."

Kendra: "Trevor, that's not a Christmas song..."

Ma: "Yeah, but it's got 'snow' in it."

(meanwhile, others are still plodding through The Twelve Days of Christmas)

"...six maids a milking, Five--go-old rings. Four calling birds...(etc.)"

Carolyn: "I mean...what's with the six maids a milking?"

Ma, to Kendra: "It sounded like they were singing 'six Milk of Magnesias'..."

Carolyn: "And why did the partridge pick a pear tree."

Kendra aside to Ma: ("This is SO typical of Hoyts...have to analyze everything...")

Trevor: "Mary had a jingle-bell-rock, Mary had a jingle-bell-rock..."

There was more. You can squeeze in a lot of songs if you have 2 or 3 people singing separate numbers at any given time. But when we reached Parkersburg, it had quieted down (whew!)

We reached the Gallagher Bluedorn without further incident. Santa was there, being ho-ho-ho-y and passing out candy canes.


A small brass ensemble played Christmasy music.


And there were rather tall and gorgeous trees in the lobby.
Wasn't Ma clever to get that post in the picture and partially block the tree?

We had a wonderful time. Trevor and Nolan--particularly Nolan--were mesmerized by all the visual stimulation of beautiful costumes and lovely carol singing. And he's pretty familiar with the plot, since they've viewed three different versions (over the years) on TV and I read them the story over the past two weeks. Nolan's favorite line is, "Then better they should die and decrease the surplus population."

Ha ha.

Nolan kept looking over at me during the first half, when we were sitting up in the highest balcony, and grinning when he recognized all the different parts. About 15 minutes into it he looked over again and said, "Thank you for bringing us, Mommy!"

That pretty much made my day :-)

During intermission, we met up with the Cedar Rapids crew, and discovering they had three empty rows behind them in the first balcony, we moved our group down to their section.

Too bad I completely forgot to take pictures of the family, but I think we all know my brain is not been in full operation, lately.

Still, a most lovely evening!
 

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More on the Derek

Just some brief jottings of what went on, yesterday.

Derek had a post-pacemaker check-up and needed someone to go with him for driving purposes. This is due to the fact that if he was still in a-fib, they would need to cardiovert him out of it.

Loren went down to Cedar Rapids and picked Derek up to go to Iowa City (the roads were not that great, by the way). And indeed, Derek was in a-fib.

So, they were able to cardiovert him out quite easily, this time only needing 75 joules (they have used up to 200 in the past, which is still not terribly high).

During all this time since the pacemaker was implanted, the doctor was waiting for the lead insertions to heal, and he also couldn't set the device to do anything but monitor the pacing, basically, since Derek was in a-fib.

So now, with Derek back in sinus rhythm, the doctor programmed in all the settings and the hunk of metal is up and running in toto. Meaning, it can now offer some therapies to prevent Derek going into a-fib. It can't get him out of it, but the device should keep him from going off rhythm again. That is the hope, anyway.

And because of the medicine they use for sedation, Derek wasn't allowed to drive afterwards.

Long day for Loren, who wasn't feeling that great, himself, but he got through it.
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For myself, I ended up revising parts of the Christmas letter...again, but it is hopefully done.

Pretty much.

My goal is to have everything mailed by tomorrow, which means I have a lot of envelope addressing to do, today. And also cleaning before Kendra gets here.

And laundry.

Also school.

Bring on the chocolate, baby!
 

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Hoodie and the Arthood

Sorry for neglecting the blog...I've been working on the Christmas letter.

Today was a MUCH better day than yesterday, which is saying something since today wasn't particularly great.

Did capture some great buys at Goodwill, however.

The red hoodie that you see below, was absolutely new, WITH tags, which read...
...$40.00 !! Whoo--ee, what a find :-)

And the VHS's, which were $.79 each, are a very old version of Little Women (with June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Janet Leigh, to name a few), and the ever popular You've Got Mail. Besides the charm of the story, the old computers and email screens are a giggle to watch.

Then there's the shrink-wrapped Swing Kids. Don't know much about that one, but the cast looks interesting.

Ma feels she got a few bargains, today!

When I arose and came down to see who all was alive this morning, Nolan still hadn't eaten breakfast, preferring to work on this drawing, instead:

It appears to be a dreamy computer set-up. VERY large monitor, complete with a detailed screen.

It sits on an impressive looking desk, and you gotta love the screw up stool!

Off to the left is an extra monitor, and quite an array of antennae. Just in case one works for the CIA, I guess.

Hanging on the wall above the monitor is a picture of a LARGE gun (oh brother), and that smaller work off to the left is "abstract art."

Yes, that is exactly as he described it.

To the very far left is a TV where we can see someone reporting the news. Nice to know the dream office contains means for keeping up with current events, while one is playing computer games and checking in with the local spy agency.

All other things aside, Nolan has a great eye for detail.
 

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Blizzard Adventures With Ma

A cold and forbidding landscape presents itself, the morning after the blizzard.

Will it defeat Ma-the-Intrepid?

Never! Ma is determined to brave the frigid weather, all because of the public's right to know!

Donning heavy weather gear, Ma looks in the mirror--the one with the surprisingly attractive sprig of dried flowers so tastefully arranged underneath the glass....
...and mentally prepares herself for the task ahead.

Forcing open the door, she discovers a 23-inch drift in front of the steps.
Isn't it amazing how it formed around this yardstick?

In a selfless act of avian heroism, Altruistic Ma ventures over to the bird feeder stand, where she hangs fresh morsels of sustenance for her tiny, feathered friends.
A large helping of sunflower seed, then fruit-n-nut mix, followed by a safflower seed chaser.

Gingerly picking her way through piles of ice crystals, Ma reaches the driveway.
While a modest 21 inches, this drift can easily prevent passage.

Time to traverse the back forty. Ah...the raspberry bushes.
A very able snow fence.

But what is this? Tracks of the fabled Abominable Snow Ma, perchance?
While knee-deep drifts prove more formidable that anticipated, Intrepid Ma wades through it.

Oh Ma....you are so very, very, brave!

Head bent against the wind--and against all odds--Ma makes her way to the north side of the house...
...where large drifts loom between Steve-o's RV and the propane-tank-of-power. Twenty-six inches, baby! And from only 4 inches of snow!

Pushing yet further north (for pity's sake, Ma...take care...), our faithful heroine catches sight of her favorite stand of trees.
Yes, the very same arborvitae Ma spies while standing in front of her stove, wondering what she can get away with for supper.

The trees, the trees....we LIKES them :-)

And so, with this breathtaking vision of green, blue, and white to sustain her, Ma turns back to the homestead.

You have served well, O Courageous-One-Who-Risked-Life-And-Limb.

'Tis time for hot chocolate...the laundry...a nap.

Time to come in from the cold.
 

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Mr. Awesome Day

In honor of Jason being here for a few days, we have thus proclaimed a holiday:

Mr. Awesome Day

What does this mean?

No school, for one thing!

More bro-time, for the youngin's.

Theoretically it could also mean more time for me to work on the Christmas letter, and I did tap in a few lines, to be sure.

There is no truth, however, to the rumor that Ma called a holiday simply because everyone and everything was getting on her nerves.

Well....perhaps a smidgen.

More importantly, how shall we celebrate this holiday?

At the moment, Loren and Jason are out getting new wheels and snow tires on Mr. A's faithful Toyota (do men know how to whoop it up, or what?).

And just to show you Mr. Awesome's gracious side, he is picking up two forgotten items from the store. For me! Not every superhero would do this :-)

In the kitchen, Carolyn and Ethan are preparing a batch of bread, so their beloved brother will have sustenance for future luncheon repasts.

And speaking of foodstuffs, tonight's menu is as follows:

Spaghetti Pie
Homemade Applesauce
Fresh Frozen Green Peas
Garlic/Italian Toast
Cherry Fluff

Have a happy Mr. Awesome Day, everyone!
 

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New Regimen!

Ma is into Day Two of her new exercise plan. It involves six 10-minute spurts on the treadmill, at 4.0 mph, spaced throughout the day. That adds up to 4 miles total, and since it doesn't come all at one time, it's much easier to deal with. Both from the standpoint of stamina and of time.

Of course there are a few disadvantages. With no gradual warm-up it's a little hard on the stumps...er, legs. Also, my feet hurt. Every time I stand up (started back in 2009). I think the latter stems more from being overweight than anything else.

But so far I'm still able to walk, and I look on that as a good thing.

Those Xenadrine pills didn't seem to be doing much, after that fantastic burst of energy on the first day. I stopped taking them but may start up again now that I've really kicked up the activity.

Anyway, that's all boring stuff, I know, but once in a while I feel the need to relay the fact that I'm trying.
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On the Christmas letter front, a bit of progress has been made. The cards have been picked up from Wal*Mart, for one thing.

I grumbled about this on Facebook, but it's high time I spread my displeasure to the blog....Loren happened to be in Iowa Falls two days ago, so I asked him to stop at Wal*Mart and get the pictures. When he got there he called to say they couldn't find them.

I had visions of the cards being inadvertently sent to the Warsaw, IN store, where I had a few extra made for Sharon, last year. But I carefully checked my order and notification data, and called the Iowa Falls Wal*Mart.

Surprise, surprise....they were there.

Loren wasn't, however, but he recovered them for me today, so all is good. Except for my never trusting those checkers again, obviously.

As for writing the actual letter, I was really having problems getting motivated. But then I decided to inject some sarcasm.

I was immediately inspired :-D
 

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In Which Twins Take Over the Church

A smattering of pictures from Sunday, when we had "Game Day" after the morning services. Click on pictures to enlarge.

It was pretty momentous, as Caleb and Rebekah DeFord brought the twins to church for the very first time! One of those is Shawn and one is Benjamin...


Oh look...it's Ma getting in touch with her (long lost) domestic side.
Linda Weikert brought a small quilt to work on, which will eventually hang in the basement game room.

This photo is actually quite symbolic. It shows Ma doing something totally uncharacteristic, thus demonstrating her unpredictability. In the background, we see the head of Trevor, last child of the family. Ma knows what this feels like, as she was also the youngest. The quilt of the world is indicative of Ma's wide-ranging interests. There is no substance to the rumor she used this time to scope out potential foreign travel.

One would think the rigors of caring for twins might tone down Caleb's innate enthusiasm...
...one would be wrong.

The two cuties.


I guess it runs in the family.
(the game box in the background was a message from God purely coincidental)

The twins aren't the only birth this year. Here's Janet Hennigar, singing to little Susan Bell.


After the twins went to sleep, the young ladies of the church stopped fighting over them kicked back with a "stuff your mouth with popcorn" contest.


There wasn't a LOT of gaming going on. Us old folks are still in the visiting mode. Might need a couple more of these before we can get in the proper spirit.

Or...we could have a "Nap-in," instead.
 

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Christmas decorations went up today. Most of them, anyway.

The tree was top priority, as was hassling about who would do what, when and which things had to be redone because one person-of-youth didn't care for the artistic endeavors of another person-of-youth.

But in the end l'arbre de Noël was done up right proper. The small, fake tree is awash in ribbons, bows, beads, balls, and three strings of lights. Not in that order.

It stands perilously, in danger of blowing over when the furnace kicks on. But until that happens, it'll look nice and full, as did Charlie Brown's après the decoration transfer from Snoopy's doghouse.

In addition to the tree, the main kitchen counter has been cleaned (this happens once a year around Christmas) now sporting blue lights amid blue and silver balls in blue containers. And four "new" blue, ceramic jars from Goodwill.

After years and years I'll finally have easy access to the sugar.

A veritable dream come true for someone with weight issues. At least the kitchen will be color coordinated when they cart me off to the fat farm/mental institution.

Speaking of the Christmas letter, I added those immortal words, "Dear Family and Friends," to the beginning (I did that just now, so I could say I've worked on it). That makes about 3.5 lines so it's really taking shape.

Say...I just had a BRILLIANT idea! Since I seem to have writer's block, I could submit the Christmas letter in the form of "Choose Your Own Ending."

I put down the child's name, age and grade (if I can remember), then leave a nice long line for people to fill in the blank.

Yes, I can picture it now...people sitting around sipping their after-dinner coffee, peacefully contented but still too full to sing carols 'round the spinet...suddenly, someone calls out, "Hey, why don't we get out the Hoyt Christmas Letter and finish the story?!"

*cheers all around*

Matching wits to fill in the missing pieces of our lives. Can a board game be far behind?

And if I include a self-addressed envelop, I could pick the winning submissions and use those answers for next year's letter :-)

Oh yes, I will have to check into this...
 

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My Fun Day

• Got up before 7 to take Carolyn in for the PLAN test.
  
  
• Had Nolan decide he would teach Trevor how to make Cocoa Wheats.
  
  
• Two youngest could not finish their Cocoa Wheats.
  
  
• TY told they would be presented with unfinished cereal for snack and lunch.
  
  
• Gave UCW to TY to eat while running off at 11 to pick up Carolyn.
  
  
• Sat in car during frigid temps while getting gas. Realized 8 gallons too late that automatic shut off lever had not shut off. Couldn't wait to get husband's reaction.
  
  
• Came home...discovered TY had tossed rest of CW, against strict orders..."It tasted funny."
  
  
• Gave grief to TY.
  
  
• Listened to upset Trevor long enough to discover Nolan had gotten "creative" with the salt. Stopped giving grief to Trevor and contemplated running away.
  
  
• Went shopping with TY to keep them out of trouble.
  
  
• Bought them each a magnifying glass at Wal*Mart.
  
  
• Watched them examine everything in grocery store with MG.
  
  
• Home. Supper. Drifted off during half of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Bed for younger kids.
  
  
• Watched Clear and Present Danger with Carolyn. Made applications to own life.
  
  
• Stayed up late because it's the only time I feel "free."
  
  
• Did not achieve goal of not eating too much.
  
  
• Achieved goal of becoming so tired that falling asleep wouldn't be a problem.

 

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News de Mayo

Loren arrived home around noonish and everything looks good!

All the tests checked him as well or better than last year, the one exception being an elevated cholesterol.

However, the doctors do not seem too worried about that. Naturally, they would like to have him start back on the statin, but that medication compromised him in several ways...he has a lot more energy and less muscle pain without it. So as long as they know that HE knows, they aren't going to insist on him taking it.

Increasing the fish oil will probably have good effects...he had decreased it.

So that's done for another year :-)

Several large packages arrived while Loren was gone so that's another reason it's good to have him home, since we were going to have to move a coupla the kids out to the garage.

(incidentally Jason, on an unrelated note, your tires and wheels are here)
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I don't know what it is, but I haven't gotten "into" writing the Christmas letter, yet. I have as my goal that it should be finished and sent out before we go see A Christmas Carol on the 19th. Not including weekends, that gives me about 3 days to get inspired, 7 to write and make edits, 2 to consult lawyers regarding libel suits from the kids, and one or two to address, stuff, and mail, and 1 or 2 to collapse somewhere with a bag of chocolate nearby.
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Another weird thing...I mowed the last part of the lawn, today. It was just over 30 minutes, so I'm pretty sure that counts! Never have stretched this chore into December before. I could have gone around the back side of the house, but I was running low on gas, it was getting dark, and I don't know...there's just something about mowing with gloves, and ear-band, and 3 sweatshirts that seems...wrong.

It's going to snow tomorrow night so I don't suppose people will notice :-D

I do wish I could just hibernate but then, who would be available for those important duties such as ignoring the cobwebs, not cleaning under the couches and putting off Christmas decorations?

Even in sloth I am needed.
 

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